A Benefit Auction will be held at the 2018 6^thUS National Bonsai Exhibition to support the event. It will take place on Saturday, September 8, 2018 at 4pm, immediately after the last demonstration at the US National Bonsai Exhibition. The event is open to anyone attending the exhibition. Bonsai, suiseki, containers, books, tools and many other items donated by vendors and friends will auctioned by Julian Adams, master bonsai auctioneer.

The following bonsai from the Valavanis Bonsai Collection will be among the items that will be auctioned, unless they are sold between now and September. Please contact me if you are interested in any of these bonsai at WNV@internationalbonsai.com

Dwarf Alberta Spruce, 

Picea glauca‘Conica’

This bonsai was originally shaped by Jerald P. Stowell, first president of the American Bonsai Society and the Bonsai Society of Greater New York in the early 1960s. It was displayed in a bonsai exhibit sponsored by the Bonsai Society of Greater New York in 1964. I was fortunate to purchase the Dwarf Alberta Spruce in 1974 and have enjoyed the training the bonsai for 42 years. The bonsai has grown, developed and is now too large and heavy for my collection. The bonsai was featured on the cover of the 1983/NO. 2 issue of International BONSAI. This historic bonsai, representing nearly 60 years of loving training, represents some of the early developmental bonsai in the United States.

1964

 

1981

 

1982

 

2012

 

Bark detail on the aged Dwarf Alberta Spruce bonsai container grown for nearly 60 years. Indicating age, this type of bark detail requires decades. It is extremely difficult to reproduce this beauty in a short period of time.

Complete information and developmental photos can be seen in my Classical Bonsai Art, A Half Century of Bonsai Studyalbum on pages 165-166.

 

 

 

Willow Leaf Fig, Ficus salicara

This bonsai has an interesting trunk shape which I have named “The Bashful Lady.” I have been shaping her for over 20 years and it was originally trained as shohin bonsai. The bonsai has now developed into a two line cascade bonsai. The Bashful Lady has “gained weight” and is visually too heavy for my taste. It is now time for the lady to find a new friend.

2010

 

2010

 

2018

 

The Bashful Lady has gained weight

Complete information and developmental photos can be seen in my Classical Bonsai Art, A Half Century of Bonsai Studyalbum on page 245.

 

 

 

European Beech, Fagus sylvatica

This bonsai has been trained since 1993 from young two, three and four year old bare root seedlings. They were used for a forest bonsai demonstration. The European beech quickly develops the characteristic white bark and small foliage. This species is very winter hardy in a container, which is a vintage Chinese.

 

 

Japanese Flowering Quince, 

Chaenomeles japonica cv.

In the early 1960s Carl Young dug this Japanese flowering quince from a church where it was growing for over 60 years. It had a very heavy trunk and like many deciduous shrubs the wood is not long lasting. Now over 100 years old and container grown and trained for 60 years the heavy trunks have been reduced, but the base is still there and has produced numerous vigorous healthy shoots for design development. Each spring this bonsai produces lovely small pink blossoms. It now has several small fruit.

 

 

 

Kaze Murasaki Satsuki Azalea, 

Rhododendron indicum ‘Kaze Murasaki’

This bonsai was originally field grown in Kanuma, Japan for over 30 years. In 1999 Tatemori Gondo imported the bonsai and used it for a workshop he conducted in Rochester, New York. Each spring the bonsai displays lovely pink-purple small blossoms for several weeks.

 

 

Japanese Maple, Acer palmatum

Several young seedlings of Japanese red maples were joined at the base to create a multiple trunk style bonsai. The trunks have now fused together and the trunks and branches are being shaped. Each spring this bonsai leafs out with brilliant red foliage.

 

 

 

Trident Maple, Acer buergerianum

In 1983 I obtained numerous field grown heavy trunk Trident maple stumps which were originally eight to ten feet in height. They were drastically pruned for trunk development. As the tree grew the young shoots were immediately wired into desired positions. This particular bonsai developed a heavy base and surface root system. Some years this Trident maple also flowers and sets seeds, but they are usually trimmed to give more vigor the bonsai. The bonsai was featured on the cover of the 2002/NO. 2 issue of International BONSAI.

 

1983

 

2001

 

2012

 

 

Complete information and developmental photos can be seen in my Classical Bonsai Art, A Half Century of Bonsai Studyalbum on pages 98-100.

 

 

 

Trident Maple, Acer buergerianum

In 1988 I purchased a flat of young three year old Trident maple seedlings from Miniature Plant Kingdom in California. Two of the young seedlings in four inch pots looked interesting to me so they were saved for my personal training. Each year the roots were carefully trained to develop into impressive surface root display. This bonsai was the finest bonsai from the original group. It is interesting to note that this bonsai has been completely container grown, trained and has never been drastically pruned. I have been lovingly shaped, trimmed and wired this bonsai for 30 years.

 

2012

 

2012

Complete information and developmental photos can be seen in my Classical Bonsai Art, A Half Century of Bonsai Studyalbum on pages 93-94.

 

Benefit Auction

Usually around 100 items are donated for the Benefit Auction for the US National Bonsai Exhibition. Join us for the excitement at the auction as well as the Award Banquet. Kindly contact me if you are interested in any of these bonsai. I hope to welcome everyone at the upcoming 2018 6^thUS National Bonsai Exhibition on September 8-9, 2018 in Rochester, New York. Updated information can be located at:

 

http://www.usnationalbonsai.com