2007 Southern Spring Home And Garden Show

Photos below show general shots of the 8 trees on exhibit at the Southern Spring Home and Garden Show held at the Merchandise Mart in Charlotte, North Carolina from February 28 thru March 4, 2007.  The exhibit is produced by the membership of the Bonsai Society of the Carolinas.  Additional information about this show or future shows is available by contacting Spring Show Chairman, Randy Clark at 704-392-9244 or randybonsai@carolinal.rr.com

This year's exhibit featured continuous live demonstrations on bonsai.  Here, club member Mike Brawley works on a small juniper while member Amy Gail encourages visitors to the show to vote for the display they liked the best. 

Club member and Society Treasurer, Bill Gale, seems pretty happy with the way things turned out.  He is seated next to an exhibit only Shimpaku Juniper exhibited by Randy Clark

Exhibitor #1 Was Bob Wymer who displayed this excellent literati style Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecypyrus obtusa nana) planted on a granite slab.  The tree is about 45 years  old and has been in training as a bonsai for the past 13 years.  A detail of the moss work on the planting and a begonia used as an accent plant can be seen below.

Exhibitor #2 was Kitty Craig showing a 10 year old Japanese Quince (Chaenomeles speciosa 'toyo-nishiki) which has been in training for about 4 years.  The planting was in full flower and is highlighted by a accent planting containing Spiral Rush (Juncus effusus).  A close up of Kitty's entry can be seen below.

Exhibitor #3 was club member Steve Pilacik owner of Matsu Momiji Bonsai Nursery in the Raleigh/Durham area.  Steve's entry was a massive Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii) which literally filled the exhibit tokonoma to capacity.  The  tree is 70 years old and has been in training as bonsai only for the past 18 years. 

Exhibitor #4 was John Dixon who displayed this informal upright style Shimpaku juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'shimpaku').  The tree is 12 years old and has been in training as a bonsai for only one year.  A detail of John's entry can be seen below.

Exhibitor #5 was Martin Sweeney who also chose to show an informal upright Shimpaku juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'shimpaku').  The tree is 25 years  old and has been in training by the artist for the past 12 years.  A detail of the planting can be seen below.  The accent plant is begonia.

Exhibit #6  was created by bonsai artist and club member, Ken Duncan of Columbia, SC and featured a magnificent Japanese Garden Juniper (Juniperus procumbens) with massive amounts of jin and shari (deadwood).  The tree is 30 years old and has been trained by the artist  as bonsai for the past 12 years.  The accent planting is a resurrection fern.  Ken's tree received the most votes in the polling  and won the 1007 People's Choice Award for his efforts.  A photo of Ken and his award can be seen in the photo below.  The inscription on the award reads "vox populi,"  latin  for "voice of the people." Congratulations to Ken for an excellent bonsai and a professional presentation. 

Exhibit #7 was by club member Jim Hanley  showing a Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii).  The tree is 30 years old and has been in training as bonsai for the past 25 years.   The accent plant is begonia.

Exhibitor #8 was Mike Brawley showing a slant style, twin trunk, Dwarf Japanese Garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens 'nana'). The planting is 30 years old and has been in training for the past 25 years.  Note the small cricket used as an accent on the slab and also the bird on the scroll (detail below) who seems to have spotted the cricket and is diving to pick him up.  Overall, this composition had the best harmony of any in the show.   

Also on display (but not in competition) was this bonsai by Randy Clark of the Bonsai Learning Center in Charlotte.  The tree is a Shimpaku juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'shimpaku") styled as an informal upright bonsai and in in a class of trees generally referred to as "Tanuki bonsai."  The actual tree is quite young... only about 15 to 20 years, but has been made to appear much older by "attaching" it to a piece of driftwood to give the illusion that it is all one planting.