This autumn’s Open House & Sale took place on Saturday and Sunday, September 7-8, 2019. In addition to many new bonsai creations in the garden most items were offered at a 20% discount, some were even at 50% off too.

Four formal bonsai displays were arranged in the demonstration room as a background for the demonstrating artists. One of the displays needed to be switched at the last minute because the tree finished flowering. However it was displayed in the studio. Also displayed in the studio was a special exhibit of one of the original shohin bonsai from the collection of Count Matsudaira, Japanese bonsai pioneer in the 1930s.

The main alcove display in the studio featured a Hawthorn bonsai in full fruit accompanied by a kusamono accessory created by Diane last year.  Other smaller bonsai were displayed in the studio as well, on the side counter including a small alcove.

Two lectures on suiseki were presented to accompany the Suiseki Exhibit by the Suiseki Study Group of Upstate New York. Photos of the entire display will be illustrated in a forthcoming blog.

Award winning bonsai artists presented different programs on bonsai creation and restoration.

Ron Maggiopresenting his lecture on suiseki on Saturday morning. He emphasized that the important aspect of suiseki is that one like the stone and perhaps remind him of a special person, place or event. Many stones from his vast collection were brought to illustrate different forms and how they were displayed in water basins or daiza.

 

Marc Arpag began Sunday with a lecture on suiseki. He discussed a bit on collecting stones and more importantly on their appreciation and display. At the conclusion of his lecture Marc conducted a critique of the Suiseki Exhibit.

Mark Arpag presented a lecture/demo on Saturday using a Dwarf Arborvitae (Eastern White Cedar) he found on the roadside last year. He got it healthy and established for one year. During the demo he pruned, wired and potted the new bonsai while answering many questions from the audience. Considerable time was presented on carving, even though most of the detail work was done ahead of time. Wiring took considerable time and after his demo Marc continued to wire and brought back the finished bonsai.

 

 

Wm. N. Valavanis

On Saturday afternoon I presented a lecture/demo using an Oregon Green Austrian Pine found in a local nursery. This cultivar was new to me and had needles much shorter than the common Austrian Pine. The four foot tree was reduced in height three times until the final height was established. The tree was rotated to hide a large cut which was not visible from the front. At the end, small pieces of bark were added to conceal the cut. An opposite branch was pulled from the trunk and lowered a couple of inches.

 

 

Harvey Carapella worked on a Mugho pine bonsai, which had severe winter damage. He explained his thoughts and then proceeded to transform the back into a new stunning bonsai with a new front. He showed photos of how the tree was obtained in 2010 from an upright style to a cascade form. The tree was transplanted several times during the nine years and became a beautiful bonsai. During his demo Harvey trimmed and wired most of the branches into a new form, similar to the original design.

 

 

 

Wm. N. Valavanis On Sunday afternoon I used an old established Scots pine bonsai, which was not trimmed for several seasons. Before shaping a discussion on literati bonsai was presented with many examples of fine bonsai and changing the form of an old horizontal Cork Bark Chinese Elm. The tall Scots pine, was originally a small seedling belonging to one of my sons, which required quite a bit of wire. And, since I’m vertically challenged, I stood on a cement block to work on the top of the tree. The cement block did not sit level on the floor and rocked a little… enough to break my foot, again for the 7th time…