GET A LIFE NOW: Pictures of Bonsai

How did this Praying Mantis change the bonsai exhibition held by the GSBF Convention 37 in Sacramento, California, October 30 - November 2, 2014? Check out the posting at gsbf-bonsai.org/.

Coastal Redwood shown at the Midori Bonsai Club show on Oct 4, 2014. See more photos from the show at gsbf-bonsai.org on Monday.

Here is a Coastal Redwood bonsai. It was shown at the 31st Redwood Empire Bonsai Society (REBS) Annual Show on 23 and 24 August 2014. It is styled as a two trunk tree. More photos of redwoods and other species will be the focus of the Nov/Dec 2014 issue of Golden Statements Magazine due out by November 1st.

The Redwood Empire Bonsai Society (REBS) is holding its 31st annual bonsai show this weekend, August 23 and 24, 2014, at the VA Memorial Building, Santa Rosa, CA. It is the largest bonsai show on the west coast, seven venues from vendors, member sales, bonsai café, demonstrations by Master Kathy Shaner, raffles and silent auctions, dinner, and nearly 200 trees on display. Free admission and parking. Show hours are 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday.

Centerpiece bonsai, a Sierra Juniper, for the 31st Annual Bonsai Show, held this past weekend by Redwood Empire Bonsai Society (REBS), in Santa Rosa, CA.

Stolen Bonsai!

The tree belongs to a member of Sei Boku Bonsai Kai (SBBK), San Mateo, California, and was recently shown at their 2014 Annual Show on May 31 and June 1, 2014. It was stolen from the member’s yard Saturday night August 2, 2014. It is an exposed root Escallonia (Escallonia). If you see this tree anywhere, please notify the Sei Boku Bonsai Kai Club.

Additional information: The tree was purchased at the Redwood Nursery in Scotts Valley about nine years ago. About eight years ago it was potted up and began its training. When it was ready to go into a bonsai pot, Peter Tea was able to find the pot in Japan for it. The pot is a cobalt blue Japanese pot with a length of 22 inches and a width of 16 inches. The height of the tree is approximately 30 inches and the width at the maximum is approximately 36 inches. If anyone has any information on the tree they could contact any SBBK club member or Officer B. Bligh, #91, at the Campbell, California police station at 408-866-2121 or 408-866-2101.

GSBF Golden Statements Magazine
April 30, 2014 ·
Did you know the GSBF Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt is now a museum? Check out more information at gsbf-bonsai.org/gsbf.

For all Golden Statements Magazine subscribers here is a sneak peak at the cover for the May/June 2014 issue! The issue was sent to the printer yesterday. The content features wonderful photo layouts of recent bonsai shows put on by Bay Island Bonsai (BIB) and Bay Area Bonsai Associates (BABA), and much more...

GSBF Golden Statements Magazine
November 24, 2013

GSBF Website gsbf-bonsai.org just posted a reprint of Ryan Neil repotting a collected juniper for the bonsai collection Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt. It's a fine piece of work, detailing the steps to ensure the transplanting does no harm to the tree. Check it out and subscribe to auto notifications of new posts.

Olive bonsai donated by the late John Naka on display at the Huntington.

Tokonoma display at the Yamato Bonsai Kai annual show, October 19 and 20, 2013, Union City, CA.

East Bay Bonsai Society annual show on October 12 and 13, 2013, at Oakland, CA.

It's Tuesday, the big show hosted by the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society (REBS) in Santa Rosa, CA, this past weekend, is now over. Members are busy cleaning up, storing items used for the show and returning their bonsai trees to their original stands. By all measurements, the show was a great success with over 240 trees on display, plus Shohin displays and accent plants. Sensei Kathy Shaner and Show Chair Bob Shimon are no doubt thinking about next year already, planning and scheduling, and reaching out for member volunteers. The show is always scheduled for the fourth weekend of August. Let's take another look at that large, wonderful juniper below. It's old and considered a legacy tree because of its owners and styling transformations. Watch in the coming weeks for quality photographs of the show trees in Golden Statements Magazine and posted to the Golden State Bonsai Federation Website gsbf-bonsai.org.

Just five days remaining before Redwood Empire Bonsai Society (REBS) open their annual show to public viewing. We're going to show some of our best bonsai trees. Informal and formal displays with accent plants and art. You'll be able to see this wonderful bonsai large legacy tree pictured below. Have a seat at the Bonsai Café and view the entire show.

Announcement for Golden State Bonsai Federation club webmasters and newsletter editors: The annual best website URL and best small and large newsletters contest is open. You have until October 1, 2013, to submit your website URL and best three 2013 newsletters. Visit gsbf-bonsai.org for contest rules!
This year's prize is an old Japanese wood block painting print with custom frame under glass.

This is a Japanese wood block painting print featuring a bonsai tree in the forefront. Most paintings show the bonsai in the background. If anyone can translate or provide the story of this painting that would be greatly appreciated. This particular painting print was the prize given to the winners of the GSBF Annual Website and Newsletter Contests and presented at their 2012 Convention "California Dreaming" in Sacramento this past October.

Bay Island Bonsai (BIB) established the bar again with their 2013 annual show held at the Oakland Lakeside Garden Center, Lake Merritt on January 19 and 20. The grafted Shimpaku, photo taken by Don Van Dyke, is just one example of quality bonsai on exhibit. The way to go, BIB!

GSBF Golden Statements Magazine
January 18, 2013
"Monk" hand carved by Master Carver Zoshi, August 2007. How would this be displayed to complete a tokonoma show exhibit?

Takayuki Zoshi is a self trained wood carver. One of his latest works in a orchard near Sebastopol, California.

There is more to write about and more images of Mike's Western Juniper at www.gsbf-bonsai.org. Sign up for auto notifications of the new posts. Support GSBF.

In mid November 2012, Golden Statements Magazine and the Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF) Website combined resources to bring more member club shows and other scheduled events. Visit the GSBF Website http://www.gsbf-bonsai.org/ and be sure to sign up for free notifications of new posts.

California Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) shown here from the 2012 Annual Show of Kofu Bonsai Kai held at the Bowers Museum, Santa Ana, CA. Courtesy of Manny Martinez.

Sierra Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis)

Best Conifer and Best of Show awards in the first-ever judged exhibit during 2012 GSBF Convention XXXV in Sacramento, October 27, 2012

Cover for Jan/Feb 2013 Golden Statements Magazine