The year’s annual bonsai exhibition & sale took place at the Monroe Community Hospital in Rochester, New York, on May 18-19, 2019. Our society of approximately 150 people have members from Erie and Williamsport, PA, Syracuse, Buffalo, Ithaca, NY as well as in the greater Rochester area. Members from these far distances prepared their bonsai and brought them for display for others to enjoy and learn.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were 76 bonsai on display this year that included 15 Larch, which is approximately 20% of the entire exhibition. Having a single species dominate bonsai exhibitions is quite common and I’ve seen this situation throughout the United States. Exhibitions in California often feature junipers, Southeast areas shows feature bald cypress and buttonwoods, Pacific Northwest society exhibits feature collected junipers. Native species, those easy to grow and are winter hardy in areas frequently dominate exhibitions. Fortunately most have been trained in different styles.

 

For the past several years we have a special themed exhibit: such as Satsuki azalea and maple bonsai. This year the society featured forests and rock planting bonsai from our member’s collections.

 

 

Shohin and small size bonsai are well represented in each of our annual bonsai exhibitions from our award winning bonsai artists.

Additionally, the Suiseki Study Group of the Bonsai Society of Upstate New York had four tables filled with prize suiseki.

The Rochester Chapter 53 of Ikebana International prepare a special exhibit featuring flower arrangements from their teachers. Additionally, three of their members are also bonsai society members who displayed ikebana flower arrangements as well as bonsai and suiseki. Their teachers also present a demonstration each year in addition to a bonsai demonstration.

Finally, a popular area of all bonsai exhibitions feature a sales area and educational display, which show videos between demonstrations.