Bjorn Bjorholm Demonstration
REBS Bonsai Show
Sonoma Botanical Garden
Sonoma Botanical Garden
On June 10, 2024, Redwood Empire Bonsai Society’s president Ivan Lukrich and member George Haas were treated to a VIP tour and lunch by the Sonoma Botanical Garden’s executive director Jeannie Perales. The visit to the Sonoma Botanical Garden (SBG) was to coordinate efforts in the planning of next year’s exhibition entitled “Wood & Stone: Zen & the Art of Bonsai.”
January 10 – March 30, 2025 (11 weeks)
Opening reception: evening of Thursday, January 9.
A partnership between SBG and REBS.
Featuring elements:
Bonsai
Suiseki
Interactive zen rock garden
Shiski odoshi (Japanese deer scarer)
Moon or Tori gate entrance
Japanese garden lantern
Join us at SBG in Glen Ellen for “Wood & Stone: Zen & the Art of Bonsai,” an exhibition that celebrates the timeless beauty and meditative practice of bonsai. This exhibition, presented in collaboration with the REBS, will feature an exquisite collection of bonsai trees and related stone viewing art, showcasing the delicate balance and profound simplicity of these ancient art forms. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the artistry and philosophy behind bonsai, appreciating the intricate relationship between nature and human creativity. Immerse yourself in the serene world of bonsai and meet the artists behind these living masterpieces.
While touring the SBG property, Ivan and George took in the sights of an ongoing SBG exhibition, entitled
“Ribbit Exhibit: A Whimsical Garden Experience.”
Photos by George Haas
Lake Merritt stolen bonsai
The Re-styling of John Naka’s California Juniper Bonsai
By George Haas
Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt (BGLM) Item #146 California Juniper
Juniperus californica
Date of acquisition: 1999
Height: 45 inches
Style: Informal upright style
Donated by John Naka
History: This tree was collected in 1989 from the northwest end of the California Mojave Desert referred to as the Sand Canyon.
Mojave Desert: The arid region located in southeastern California with portions in Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. The environment has little or no rain, too dry or barren to support much vegetation and hot climate. The climate experiences extreme variations in daily temperatures, frequent winter frosts and averages annual precipitation of two to six inches (50 to 150 mm). The Mojave has mountain-and-basin topography, and sparse vegetation which includes California juniper (Juniperus californica), creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia), burroweed (Isocoma tenuisecta), and occasional cacti (mostly species of Cholla). Named after the Mojave people. The Mojave Desert occupies more than 25,000 square miles (65,000 square km).
[Source: Britannica]
John Naka is referred to as the father of North American bonsai for his efforts to promote the living art of bonsai throughout the U.S. He was present and spoke at the grand opening of the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt in Oakland, California, on November 6, 1999. Naka collected some extraordinary California junipers from the Mojave Desert for bonsai.
From time to time, all legacy bonsai trees such as this John Naka California juniper must undergo re-styling as they continue to grow and increase in foliage mass. BGLM volunteers Samuel Tan and Addison Galambos undertake the task of re-styling this iconic bonsai. It will take several days to clean, prune, wire, and shape the large California juniper.
The tree’s life vein is cleaned to distinguish it from the deadwood. Bending old, large tree branches downward create an aging impression. The bending requires special bonsai artistry and techniques with the carving out the branch, wrapping raffia and copper wire around the branch and then applying downward moving pressure to position the branch just right. It will take time for the branch to set and become semi-permanent. Guy wires are also used to bring down smaller branches. Thick four gauge copper wire is used on interior branches. The pot is placed on wooden blocks to change the overall angle of the bonsai design during repotting. Lastly, smaller gauge copper wires are used to complete the detailed wiring of branch pads.
