We all love bonsai, to many of us it is a way of life, as we care for the trees and shape them into bonsai. Many require decades of timeless hard work which we find pleasurable as we create living art.

For some time now, there have been numerous bonsai masterpieces stolen in Japan, moved to an Asian country then sold to westerners, especially in the United Sates, through the internet. The thieves are disrespecting the years of time, often through multiple generations, Japanese bonsai artists take to create their art. Several bonsai artists are using video cameras to guard their treasurers. Others have closed their gardens to foreigners.

To many, bonsai are more than small trees in pots, having spent years of development. To some thief’s it is an illegal business just make money.

This illegal busines of selling stolen bonsai to foreigners must be stopped. I strongly suggest not purchase famous masterpiece bonsai from out of the United States, especially at low prices. How do you determine if you are offered masterpiece bonsai at a ridiculous low price? Simple, if the bonsai sale deal is too good to be true, it probably is.

Last year in July 2023 my son forwarded a bonsai offered for sale and asked if I recognized the tree. The price was US $500, POSTPAID. I told him to buy as many as he can… just kidding, I did nothing. Of course, I recognized the bonsai as having seen it multiple times in Japan. This multiple award-winning masterpiece Japanese black pine is one of the most famous iconic well-known bonsai in Japan named “Kokuryu.” I have often studied it at many exhibitions and have seen it in Masahiko Kimura’s Garden. Kunio Kobayashi, Shunka-en Bonsai Museum, is responsible for saving the bonsai from death and creating a new design a couple of decades ago.

Japanese black pine “Kokuryu” 1977. Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition prize winner

The last time I saw it was at the 2023 Kokufu Bonsai exhibition (it grew!)

Japanese black pine “Kokuryu” 2023. Displayed at the 2023 97th Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition.

I strongly suggest and urge people think seriously about buying Japanese bonsai offered on the internet at low prices.

I had a rare surprise invitation to visit the private collections of Thang Dinh before the Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition, held in Chicago, Illinois last weekend.

He won the first place award in the open division at the 2024 Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition. His medium size tree, a magnificent Zuisho Japanese five-needle pine, was displayed on two large tables. After winning the award the society moved his bonsai to an alcove display. This left a large vacant area, so he returned home to bring a collection of his fine quality suiseki to display. It appeared that most of his suiseki were of Japanese origin, with a special love for Chrysanthemum stones.

In addition, he had a sizeable collection of bonsai masterpieces from Japan. They varied in size, and several were in training with long shoots for future design possibilities. 

There was also a sizeable collection of fine quality bonsai containers for future use. In the United States I have never seen such a large collection of containers made by Gyozan, considered to be the finest artist handcrafting bonsai containers in Japan. Most of the other top level container artists from Tokoname, Japan was well represented.

There were many developed and developing American bonsai as well. He is refining his bonsai collection as well as training new specimens.

He also had an outstanding Japanese black pine bonsai which he displayed in the 2023 8^th U.S National Bonsai Exhibition. He likes to share the beauty of his bonsai in exhibitions. It was clear that he enjoyed his collections, and he had a fine taste for bonsai and suiseki.

The 46^th Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition was sponsored by the Midwest Bonsai Society. It was held at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, Illinois, on August 16-18, 2024 and is one of the largest regional bonsai shows in the nation. I have exhibited and sold bonsai in every one of the 46 shows, and in my opinion the tree quality has significantly improved throughout the decades, but took a giant leap forward this year with many refined developed bonsai displays. 

Approximately 100 bonsai were beautifully displayed by bonsai practioners from many states, they all had including accessories. Jack Sustic was the guest artist and judge for the weekend. Thang Dinh was the top award winner in the open division with a refined Zuisho Japanese five-needle pine. During set up of the show a large prominent display table featured his bonsai.

After judging his award winning tree was moved into the center of the room in an alcove. He did not want to leave the table empty so he returned home to pick up about six fine-quality from his collection to fill the table. Tim Priest won the first place award in the professional division with a large impressive Rocky Mountain juniper bonsai.

Additionally, there were workshops, demonstrations as well as two courtyards filled with over 30 vendors. About 40 world class bonsai from the world-class permanent collection of the Chicago Botanic Garden were displayed in two outdoor courtyards. Curator of the bonsai collection, Chris Baker, has done an excellent job maintaining, refinement and promoting bonsai art in one of the largest prestigious botanical gardens in the United States.

The Bonsai Society of Upstate New York has a couple of study groups. On September 7-8, 2024, a special suiseki exhibition will be held at the Autumn 2024 Open House & Sale at the International Bonsai Arboretum. Over 50 suiseki from members will be displayed. Members will there to answer any questions.

Come see some fancy rocks!

This semi-annual popular event will be held at the International Bonsai Arboretum on September 7-8, 2024.

Come and enjoy bonsai art at its finest in an unusual garden showing bonsai from the propagation bench to the developed classical bonsai piece.

Both indoor and outdoor displays will delight your eyes and deepen your appreciation of the art.

Continuous demonstrations will be held throughout the two day event.

My valuable and dedicated Monday Senior Crew has been working hard and watering a lot this past spring and summer.

We have been creating new specimens for future masterpieces, Come and see how are created.

Of course, bonsai, pre-bonsai, containers, tools and more will be available for sale at a discounted price.

It’s been a very busy season this year!

Additionally, The Bonsai Society of Upstate New York will be hosting an exhibit of fine bonsai from the private collections of members. Displayed in the greenhouse, the lighting will be ideal.

Join us for a refreshing day full of bonsai, suiseki and friends!

Want to learn about bonsai?

You will have the opportunity to create four specimens during the Autumn 2024 Introductory Bonsai Course. A complete overview of the art will be presented.

Offered at the International Bonsai Arboretum, this limited course has been popular for over 40 years. Bonsai artist, educator and scholar William N. Valavanis will be conducting the course. Held in the Educational Studio, provides an excellent atmosphere to learn, create and appreciate bonsai.

The next Introductory Bonsai Course will be offered in April, 2025.

Come join us to learn bonsai art!