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10th Upstate New York Suiseki Exhibition

A lush bonsai tree displayed on a red table in front of a building entrance, with signs on either side.

The Bonsai Society of Upstate New York is based in Rochester, but we have dedicated active members who travel long distances, several hours to regularly attend our meetings, workshops and activities. We have members from Syracuse, Buffalo, Ithaca, Elmira, Cortland, Penn Yan, and even in Hector in New York state but also have members from Erie, PA and North Carolina. Our suiseki exhibition is being held on October 10-11, 2026, at the International Bonsai Arboretum in Rochester, New York.

An indoor exhibition space featuring tables draped in blue and burgundy cloths, showcasing various bonsai trees and ornamental stones.
An exhibition hall featuring multiple tables displaying bonsai trees and stones, with decorative elements on the tables and a white backdrop.

Our society recently celebrated our 50th anniversary with about 125 members, and about 45 attend each meeting. Before we start our educational monthly programs, we begin with about a one-hour study group on shohin bonsai, suiseki, display and other interesting topics our members are interested in. Our Suiseki Study Group sets up an exhibition on the years the U.S. Bonsai Exhibition, (celebrating the 10thanniversary next September) is not being held. It is mostly our members who also set up the U.S. National Bonsai Exhibitions, which is quite a bit of hard work for our “ageing” members, me included.

A room showcasing various bonsai trees and decorative stones arranged on wooden tables, with blue carpeting and colorful wall decorations.

The Upstate New York Suiseki Exhibitions are held during the years International Bonsai Arboretum has its Autumn Open House & Sale. In the past the suiseki exhibition was held in the small-heated greenhouse. However for our 10th anniversary we set up in “the Annex” which is much larger and has 20 LED four-foot fixtures. It is so bright that surgeries could be conducted, well bonsai creation operations often take place there.

An indoor exhibition space featuring multiple tables draped with blue fabric, showcasing bonsai trees, rocks, and floral arrangements, separated by white partitions. The background includes various decorative elements and posters related to bonsai.

This year for our 10th anniversary in addition to about 75 suiseki formally displayed with perfectly matched display tables we have added two new features. The first new addition are six formally displayed bonsai with appropriate suiseki so members and visitors can see how we use suiseki with bonsai.

A serene display featuring a bonsai tree on a pedestal, surrounded by decorative Japanese scrolls and wooden frames, set against a green carpet.
A decorative plant in a unique wooden stand, positioned next to a traditional Japanese hanging scroll with autumn leaves and a bird design, set against a simple wall.
A beautifully shaped bonsai tree with vibrant green and orange leaves displayed in a red pot, set against a black background.
A bonsai tree in a blue pot displayed on a wooden stand, with a decorative hanging scroll featuring a landscape in the background, and a smooth stone bowl on a circular mat.
A lush bonsai plant with green leaves and small blue berries in a decorative blue pot, displayed on a wooden stand against a black background.

The next addition is a small display of “Biseki” beautiful stones, which are not actually suiseki but often included in exhibits. This year we have a small, but very heavy meteorite, a large solid piece of copper from Michigan, Ginkgo fossil (I accidently dropped it and broke, but my assistant who also specializes in repairing broken bonsai containers quickly repaired the million-year-old fossil and finally a piece of Fool’s Gold (pyrite) in a new ceramic water basin created by April Grimsby which has a gold colored rim and beautiful green and blue glazed interior. It is so beautiful, our member decided to highlight the colorful water basin with only using water. By the way the same member also has a solid piece of actual GOLD about fist-size but would not display it without an armored guard as it is valued more than many homes. Each of the biseki are also formally displayed in water basins because the shapes are like suiseki.

Three decorative stone arrangements on display, with labels 'ENSHU' and 'BISEKI', set on green grass-like fabric.
A decorative bonsai display featuring a small rock positioned on a mound of sand, set in a blue ceramic tray on a wooden base.
A decorative dish filled with dark soil and a realistic-looking artificial root or tuber resting on top, placed on a wooden base.

This year, in the new annex, most of our suiseki study group members helped set up this special anniversary exhibition and will also come on Monday to help with the take down. On Sunday at 1pm noted suiseki authority Sean Smith (from his Three Mountain Bonsai School in Pennsylvania) will conduct a free critique of our rocks and displays. He has exquisite fine-taste and has been studying the art of display (both for suiseki, bonsai and other art,) for decades and will share his thoughts.

A decorative piece featuring a textured stone-like sculpture atop a shallow, oval dish filled with water, set against a black background.
A fossilized rock displaying two shell impressions, mounted on a wooden stand against a blue background.
An exhibition display featuring various items, including a circular sculpture, traditional artifacts, and potted plants on colorful cloth-covered tables. Posters and a wall clock are visible in the background.
A decorative display featuring a circular metal frame with three stone sculptures on wooden shelves, alongside a small bonsai tree in a wooden pot, against a yellow background.

Our first visitor at 9am on Saturday came from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was surprised to see such a fine suiseki exhibition in addition to the Open House & Sales featuring the masterworks of Wm. N. Valavanis. The deciduous species are just beginning to change color and show bright fruit. An excellent Spindle tree was showcased in an alcove in the bonsai studio. The fruit are now ripe, and this bonsai will also be displayed next weekend at the Hidden Lake Gardens in Tipton, Michigan where the Fall Fruit & Foliage Bonsai Exhibition will be held. Here is the link: https://ipf.msu.edu/hidden-lake-gardens/fall-exhibition.  I hope to welcome you to this inaugural event.

A dark stone sculpture resembling a mountain or abstract shape, displayed on a wooden base.
A polished rock displaying red and white floral patterns, showcased on a wooden stand, with a blue background.

A sculptural representation of a seated figure, abstract in form, made of dark stone and mounted on a wooden base.
A large, smooth stone resembling a natural rock, mounted on a wooden base.
A decorative natural stone sculpture resembling a mountainous landscape, presented on a wooden base.
A large, intricately shaped rock with reddish hues displayed on a wooden stand, showcasing its unique texture and natural beauty.
A decorative natural stone displayed on a wooden stand, showcasing intricate textures and earthy colors.
A decorative rock sculpture resembling a rugged mountain landscape, resting on a wooden base.
A decorative stone arrangement in a green rectangular planter filled with white sand, placed on a wooden display table.
A smooth, dark stone displayed on a wooden stand, showcasing its unique shape and texture.
A decorative stone arrangement featuring a large, dark rock with lighter wood-like elements, positioned on a circular tray filled with fine sand.
A small, dark rock formation resembling mountains, situated on a shallow, oval tray of water, creating a serene, artistic display.
A textured rock sculpture displaying natural formations with a hole, displayed on a wooden pedestal.
A polished stone sculpture with wavy patterns in shades of brown and black, displayed on a wooden base.
A modern display stand with a circular design featuring three decorative stones on different shelves.

My bonsai garden is ready to welcome visitors to the Open House & Sale, where many of my larger-size bonsai are for sale. If you can’t visit us this weekend, our autumn colors are just beginning and usually peak in late-October or early-November. Please make an appointment to see this colorful display of developed classical bonsai in a garden setting. Wishing everyone a colorful autumn season and warm snowless winter.

A serene bonsai garden featuring various bonsai trees and shrubs arranged on platforms, surrounded by lush green foliage and sunlight filtering through the leaves.
A decorative Zen garden featuring a large black rock surrounded by white sand in a circular tray.
A decorative indoor setting featuring a bonsai tree with vibrant red and green leaves on the right, accompanied by a small potted plant with purple flowers on the left, all against a backdrop of a hanging scroll depicting a sunset.
A vibrant bonsai tree adorned with pink flowers displayed on a wooden table. In the background, a hanging scroll featuring a sun motif is visible, alongside a small plant arrangement on the floor.

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