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Bonsai Banter Issue #64 Yugi Yoshimura Honored
June 30, 2015

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Yugi Yoshimura Honored

In 2014 the first inductee into the National Bonsai Hall of Fame at the Bonsai and Penjing Museum in Washington, D.C. was John Naka. Bill Valavanis recently wrote a beautiful tribute for the 2015 induction of Yugi Yoshimura.

Bill included many wonderful pictures, it's well worth a read.

I only had one opportunity to watch Yugi work (at a convention in Florida many years ago.)

Two masterfully styled forests were created to be displayed together.

It was truly inspirational.



An Opinion

Last week, I was dining with some friends and another guest asked about his ailing bonsai. He thought for sure it was on its last legs. We went over all the possibilities and I assured him, since it was a Ficus, it had a great likelihood of making it.

As he left, he said "Well, I'm heading home to soak it in Superthrive." I just smiled.

As mother used to say: "Just because everybody says it, it doesn't make it true." I agree with the words of Michael Hagedorn "Superthrive is essentially a brain tonic."

But it wouldn't hurt.



Good News - Bad News



This 60-year old bonsai, worth several thousand dollars, was stolen from the Pacific Bonsai Museum.

It was been recovered in less than great shape. It will be interesting to see the resolution of this destruction.

(I see a potential literati in the making.)



It Can Be Difficult

A bonsai newbie recently asked me "What's the hardest part about doing bonsai?"

Especially in the beginning, I think the most difficult part of creating bonsai is learning to see the future.



Golden State Bonsai Federation

Before the internet, getting the word out about bonsai conventions was brutal. (Yes, I remember those days.) This group in California has taken full advantage of today's technology.

I just watched (all the way through!) the promotional video for the GSBF Oct 29 - Nov 1, 2015 event . . . way to go Cheryl. You can see it here:

GSBF Registration opens July 1.

(Artists:Bjorn Bjorholm, John Wang, David Nguy and Tak Shimazu)



Summer

Earlier this month, I came across the lovely work of Young Choe, kusamono artist.

The simplicity of Young's website is as exquisite as her kusamono designs.

Used in this composition: Houttuynia cordata 'Chameleon' (chameleon-plant), Equisetum hyemale (horsetail), Selaginella rupestris (spike-moss.)

"Kusamono refers to a Japanese botanical art that developed alongside bonsai. Kusamono are potted arrangements of wild grasses and flowers in unique pots or trays selected to suggest a season or place.

"The name is composed of two Japanese characters - “grass” and “thing” - which together suggest humble, everyday plants. Originally, this name referred to the small, potted grasses displayed next to bonsai as accent plants. More recently, creating Kusamono has developed into an art form of its own." - Young Choe



The Village

If you've ever been to Japan, you most likely visited the Omiya Bonsai village near Tokyo. Well, in case you haven't heard ... a Bonsai Village is being created in the USA. This is an exciting and very ambitious project.

"The Village is a group of bonsai professionals in Portland, Oregon who would like to share our gardens, our bonsai art, our teaching, and our love of community with you."

So, who are the Village People?

Sorry, I meant Villagers.



New Pages on BonsaiMary Site

Tanuki Bonsai sometimes called Phoenix Graft

Is it cheating? Is it phony bonsai?



Another page is about Unique Bonsai

- some very unique!



A Favor

At the bottom of every BonsaiMary page there is a place for you to share it on Facebook or Twitter. If you really like a page, your sharing is appreciated!



BonsaiMary Gets Mail

After a bit of back and forth correspondence about their bonsai, I received notes from both of these visitors.

"Thank you very much for taking the time to respond, I have been reading too many sites, my head is spinning. I will stick to your advice from now on." - Charlie B

"Your site and information are amazing. Thank you for the years of effort you have put into this." - Brian C.



BonsaiMary Advertising

Visitors to my site number over 20,000 a month!

Advertising on BonsaiMary literally cost pennies a day.

$50. will give you a large ad, with great exposure for three full months on 5 different pages! And you select the pages.



(A total of 15 ads.)

Even less per day when you purchase 5 pages for 6 months at $85. That is not a per month price ... it's a total for all 6 months on 5 of your choices of my most visited pages.

Advertising intro page



Until Next Time

To USA subscribers, Happy Independence Day!

(No offense meant to our British friends.)

Thanks for your input and for visiting my site.

Sincerely,

Mary Miller

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