BONSAI SPRING FESTIVAL, WASHINGTON, DC MAY 10-12, 2024

[rockm]

It would be great to meet all of you in person! How will we know who is who? I might walk past @rockm and not even know it. I think everyone might roughly know who I am based on my avatar…

I'll probably be up there on Friday morning. It looks like it's going to be rainy, but Saturday looks pretty good (I have to be other places on Saturday though). The rain means everyone is either going to be in the vendor tent or in the exhibition hall bumping into one another.

 

[Gabler]

Is anyone going to stay on Sunday for the entirety of the guest artist's Bonsai Demonstration from 12-4? I'm only able to be there for the morning of Sunday because of mother's day plans, but since I am new it would be nice to see his demonstration. If anyone plans on watching that, not sure if you could record or not (or maybe just summarize what he did) but I'd appreciate if someone could share what he did for the demonstration.

For the same reason, I'm not available at all on Sunday. I'm just planning to head down for the day on Saturday. Maybe we should all plan to wear green or something?

 

[Deleted member 47471]

I will be there waiting in the long line for Mach5 to critique my specimen ficus .

View attachment 541764

Baby got back

 

[MACH5]

Is anyone going to stay on Sunday for the entirety of the guest artist's Bonsai Demonstration from 12-4? I'm only able to be there for the morning of Sunday because of mother's day plans, but since I am new it would be nice to see his demonstration. If anyone plans on watching that, not sure if you could record or not (or maybe just summarize what he did) but I'd appreciate if someone could share what he did for the demonstration. I'm trying to accumulate as much information as possible so I can try to be successful in this new hobby.

I think they have allotted too much time for the demo specially because I believe I will be doing a maple. I don't think the demo will take long... certainly not 4 hours! With that said I have requested that if anyone wants to bring their tree(s) for me to take a look at and discuss design, development next steps, etc that they are welcome to do so. Hopefully we can make those last four hours as productive as possible.

Look forward to seeing you guys in DC. Safe travels!

 

[Wood]

On Sunday, I'll be wearing the shirt that says "VOLUNTEER" and giving the 2pm tour of the museum's collection

FYI, if it gets sunny, hats are very worthwhile. There isn't much shade in the museum

 

[Vinnie Charity]

Is anyone going to stay on Sunday for the entirety of the guest artist's Bonsai Demonstration from 12-4? I'm only able to be there for the morning of Sunday because of mother's day plans, but since I am new it would be nice to see his demonstration. If anyone plans on watching that, not sure if you could record or not (or maybe just summarize what he did) but I'd appreciate if someone could share what he did for the demonstration. I'm trying to accumulate as much information as possible so I can try to be successful in this new hobby.

I’ll only be able to make it on Saturday due to the holiday…

 

[gooeytek]

Leaving for MD after work on Friday, so it's just Saturday for us as well. Mother's Day plans the next day, so we'll be heading back up to LI then.

 

[Stormwater]

Took a "mental health day" off from work. Only can go Friday, better than nothing.

 

[ECMist]

I think they have allotted too much time for the demo specially because I believe I will be doing a maple. I don't think the demo will take long... certainly not 4 hours! With that said I have requested that if anyone wants to bring their tree(s) for me to take a look at and discuss design, development next steps, etc that they are welcome to do so. Hopefully we can make those last four hours as productive as possible.

Look forward to seeing you guys in DC. Safe travels!

Unfortunately I have to leave by 12:00, which was why I was asking if anyone would be there to explain the demonstration. Still looking forward to the display discussion though!

 

[Paradox]

I know there are limited weekends but I really wish event organizers wouldn't schedule on mothers day weekend or memorial day weekend. More people would be able to attend.

Especially memorial day weekend because the cost of travel, hotels seems to double at least that weekend. The ABS always schedules on Memorial day now...it's nuts

 

[vp999]

Dropped my 2 trees off for my club show about an hour ago. The stand for the white pine is too big but it’s a cheap stand and I don’t care if it gets rained on. Probably going back for a bit tomorrow morning to check out the vendors and Sunday around 4pm to pick up my trees. Bonsai Learning Center was pulling up as I was parking.

 

[NashsMan]

I'll probably be up there on Friday morning. It looks like it's going to be rainy, but Saturday looks pretty good (I have to be other places on Saturday though). The rain means everyone is either going to be in the vendor tent or in the exhibition hall bumping into one another.

There is no vendor tent this year.
I was there yesterday morning setting up tables for vendors in the Auditorium of the Admin building and the courtyard outside.
I will be there this morning for myself, and then again on Sunday afternoon as a volunteer.
(Tall bearded guy with a Keith Haring cap to cover the bald spot!)

 

[rockm]

There is no vendor tent this year.
I was there yesterday morning setting up tables for vendors in the Auditorium of the Admin building and the courtyard outside.
I will be there this morning for myself, and then again on Sunday afternoon as a volunteer.
(Tall bearded guy with a Keith Haring cap to cover the bald spot!)

Yep, just got back. Vendors are inside (thank God it was raining hard at times) and on the patio.

 

[vp999]

Just got back too, didn’t know there’s more vendors inside, only saw Meehans and Bonsai Learning Center under the tents outside.

 

[rockm]

A few photos from today.

First is a really nice little winged elm I picked up from Okie Bonsai. Nick Lenz' Western Hemlock--huge tree-over five feet I'd say, with unbelievable ramification and needle reduction. Sorry I cut the top off in the photo. Bjorn Bjornholm's Doug fir--also an enormous tree. was next to Guy Guidry's enormous Bald Cypress and they were about the same height. Bjorn's wire work is phenomenal

 

[rockm]

Just got back too, didn’t know there’s more vendors inside, only saw Meehans and Bonsai Learning Center under the tents outside.

MOST of the vendors are indoor, Jim Doyle Nature's Way, potters, a few others.

 

[vp999]

Damn it, the only indoor I visited was the indoor club display area. I’ll be back Sunday.

 

[rockm]

Some more pics. This is an awesome shohin-sized Portulacaria (elephant bush/jade). The nicest one I've ever seen. Tiny leaves, extreme ramification and no marks on the trunk. Truly a spectacular gem owned by a No.Va. club member.

 

[rockm]

Vendor area, museum's red pine and a mixed hornbeam, pine and beech planting

 

[rockm]

Nick Lenz' Penelope (larch) (on loan) FWIW, the inside exhibition area for the juried competition wasn't open. It opens tomorrow. I did get nosey and poked my nose through the sliding glass doors and asked a lot of questions. The quality of the trees in that exhibit are pretty fantastic. Thinking of going back up tomorrow at some time--IF I can make time.