Any trip to the Huntington Library should include a visit their renowned bonsai collection. On my recent visit to the Huntington Gardens to see the annual Aiseki Kai exhibit, I made sure to stop by the Golden State Bonsai Federation’s (GSBF) bonsai collection despite a rare cold and rainy day in Southern California.
Bonsai Courtyard entrance.
California Juniper donated by Mas Moriguchi.
Cork Oak donated by Tom Chan.
Prostrate Juniper donated Harry Hirao in memory of Alyce Hirao.
Japanese Black Pine donated by Ed Murakami.
Japanese Black Pine from the Toshinori Matsuanga collection donated by Mayumi Shiira.
Cork Bark Japanese Black Pine donated by Ayako Tanita.
California Juniper donated by Ray Blasingame.
California Juniper donated by Ben Oki in memory of John Naka.
California Juniper donated by Harry Hirao in memory of Andy Vu.
Shimpaku grafted onto California Juniper donated by Tsuruo Takata.
Shimpaku Juniper donated by Ayako Tanita.
Shinpaku Juniper donated by Dr. Howard Waldman.
Olive donated by Jack Miller
Shimpaku grafted onto California Juniper donated by Mike Shintaku.
Bonsai on pedestals in the main courtyard.
Silverberry from the Toshinori Matsuanga collection donated by Mayumi Shiira.
California Juniper donated by Chuichi Kawahira.
California Juniper donated by Bob Kinoshita in memory of Bill Southworth.
Italian Cypress donated by Phil Tacktill.
Montezuma Cypress donated by Brian Jackson.
Ginkgo donated by Marty Mann.
Shimpaku Juniper donated by Mr. and Mrs. Kageo Ohara.
Citrus donated by Dr. Howard Waldman.
Pfitzer Juniper donated by Barbara Ajello.
Korean Hornbeam donated by Howard Waldman.
Viewing stones donated by Harry Hiaro.
Newer expansion of the Bonsai Courtyard.
Olive donated by Joseph Cohn.
Hollywood Juniper donated Howard Waldman.
Pyracanth donated by John Naka.
Pomegranate donated by Kathy Boomsma.
Californai Juniper donated by Bob Kinoshita.
Shohin display.
California Juniper donated by Shig Mia.
Californai Juniper donated by Frank Goya.
California Juniper donated by Bob Kinoshita.
Japanese Black Pine.
Japanese Black Pine donated by Junichi Sebata.
Coast Live Oak donated by John Naka.
Bald Cypress donated by Dung Cao in memory of Thu Cao.
California Juniper designed by Masahiko Kimura.
California Juniper donated Grigsby Catcus Gardens.
Japanese Black Pine donate by Kiyoko Yoneda in memory of Kaz Yoneda.
Foemina Juniper donated by Ben Oki in memory of Robert Moor.
Aarin: Happy New Year. Thanks for this, and all, posts. I’m wondering if you’ve heard of Jabuticaba, a Myrtle family tree from South America, used as bonsai. Any in the US?
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Glad to hear you enjoyed it. Yes, I have heard about Jaboticaba, Myrciaria cauliflora. In fact we have one in our collection donated by Ed and Jean Smith. You can see a small picture of it in the NBF newsletter noting its donation, http://www.bonsai-nbf.org/site/images/bulletins/NBF_Bulletin_Fall09.pdf
Wow. Especialy the junipers have great potential. It looks like those trees have not been wired and styled in many, many years. I heard that care of these trees is finally going into younger hands and even a rumor ( I hope it’s true), that if the Huntington approves it, Ryan Neil will start working on the collection. That would make some of these trees the up there with the best in the world outside of Japan. I hope the Huntington see’s the value of bringing this collection to it’s potential by employing Ryan!!
Wow. Thanks for taking and sharing all those pictures, Aarin. I haven’t been there for about a decade–it’s clear to me the collection has grown by leaps and bounds from what I remember. Very nice to see.
There’s an important bonsai event coming to the Huntington and everyone is invited. It’s the annual Bonsai-A-Thon which is a two day event with demos, raffles, an auction and a vendor area. Also, Jim Folsom, director of the gardens and a great friend to the bonsai community will personally conduct a tour each morning during the event. This walking tour usually includes the Chinese Garden, Japanese garden and bonsai collection. Jim is a wonderful speaker and this is an amazing opportunity to spend time with one of the leading botanical garden figures on the planet.
The Bonsai-A-Thon is free and anyone who mentions at the entrance that they’re there for the Bonsai-A-Thon gets in free to the entire Huntington Library, Art Galleries and Botanic Garden.
It takes place on Saturday February 23rd and Sunday February 24th. Please google the Huntington Botanic Gardens site for address, etc. All funds raised by the raffles, auction, etc, go to the maintenance of the Golden State Bonsai Federation bonsai collection at the Huntington.
I hope to see many new faces there this year,
Carol Upston,
Vendor Chair, Bosnai-A-Thon
Vice President, Kofu Bonsai Kai
email me with questions at
carol@mossfactory.com
A truly excellent display but as as Josh has observed many of them are not at their best. Worth seeing nevertheless and great potential in the right hands.
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