Bonsai Society of Portland

Bonsai Society Spring Exhibition at the Portland Japanese Garden

Chas Martin — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 16:46:48 +0000

Bonsai Society of Portland members present their annual display of bonsai at the Portland Japanese Garden. Watch as members demonstate techniques and discuss design decisions. View a display of dozens of bonsai from their personal collections including conifer, deciduous, fruiting, and flowering species.
See a wide variety of specimens ranging from three-feet-tall to small enough to hold in the palm of one’s hand.

Saturday & Sunday, April 20-21

9 a.m.—6 p.m.
Portland Japanese Garden
Pavilion Gallery

Admission included with Garden entry fee

February Program Features Ryan Neil and Scott Elser

Chas Martin — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:38:20 +0000

On February 28th we'll have Ryan Neil of International Bonsai Mirai and BSOP's very own Scott Elser, a critically acclaimed U.S. bonsai amateur. The duo will present a multi-part demonstration.

They're both going to do initial styling on some native material and revisit it with us after the growing season in October, then hopefully again twice next year. This is a rare opportunity to watch the progression of bonsai as part of a demo. Ryan will doubtless have something to say about the Artisan's Cup, which is shaping up to be one of the most noteworthy bonsai shows in the West. See you on the 28th!

Portland Japanese Garden Celebrates 50 years

Chas Martin — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 16:26:28 +0000

The 50th anniversary of the Portland Japanese Garden will include 10 days of activities at the Garden. The events will recognize the role of the many groups in the community that helped shape the Garden’s history. Portland Bonsai Society will participate in the celebraton with a full day of presentations, demonstrations and information on the art of bonsai.

You are invited to participate in the celebration. Stop by for a cup of tea and linger in the warmth of the Pavilion. The Pavilion will also feature a display of historical photographs and information commemorating the Garden’s first 50 years.

The full schedule includes:

February 1 - Ikebana International Day
February 2 - Garden History Day, Board members Lynn Connor and Ed McVicker
February 3 - Sunday Lecture, Sadafumi Uchiyama: Portland Japanese Garden History, Design and Construction
February 4 Niwanobikai Day, Professor Andy Bernstein
February 5 - Tea Ceremony Day, Kashintei Kai
February 6 - Bonsai Day, Bonsai Society of Portland
February 7 - Japanese Carpentry Day, Dale Brotherton
February 8 - Professor Tono Day, Ted Sieckman
February 9 - Garden History Day, Board member Lynn Connor
February 10 - Sunday Lecture, Kenneth Brown: Japanese Gardens in North America

The Garden is open daily 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Pavilion hours are 1– 3 p.m. Lectures and presentations are included with Garden admission. More info.

Mentorship Meeting: Soil Mixing

Chas Martin — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 23:24:40 +0000

The December rains have finally stopped (at least for now) and we have experienced some freezing temperatures. Our trees are dormant, and in winter storage and we should be planning out Spring replanting, pruning and development for the next growing season. Ordinarily that would mean that our January Mentorship class would be dedicated to Soil Mixing, but these are not ordinary times.

If you have been looking for components for mixing what we in BSOP refer to as BOON soil,

Mentorship Meeting: Make Your Own Bonsai Pots

Chas Martin — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 23:11:18 +0000

Our September Whack and Chat was well attended with 9 new and old members participating. It was good to see some old friends again and have the opportunity to meet and encourage some new members as well.

Our October meeting will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at St. Phillip Neri Church from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Our topic will be Making your own Bonsai Pots. BSOP member Rocky Lawton will be presenting his technique for making Faux Rock and Bonsai Trays.

Scott Elser’s Elegant Japanese Black Pine Wins Multiple Honors

Chas Martin — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 16:46:06 +0000

Scott Elser's Japanese Black Pine, winner of two awards at the 3rd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition in Rochester, NY.We’ve seen this incredible bonsai displayed before at the Portland Japanese Garden and at Scott’s presentations. We knew it was a spectacular bonsai. Now, it’s received national recognition again. This time, it won the top award at the 3^rd U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition.

Scott Elser's Japanese black pine received two prestegious awards, the The National Award -
Finest Bonsai Masterpiece and the
Nippon Bonsai Society Award - Finest Japanese Style Display. The event was held in Rochester, New York on June 9 and 10, 2012. Over 250 bonsai were on display from all over the country.

The Bonsai Society of Portland is very proud to have such a distinguished member in our group.

Scott is one of the Featured Artists at the 2012 Pacific Northwest Bonsai Clubs Association Convention in September. View the workshops and activities he will lead.

Planning for Summer

Chas Martin — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 16:13:06 +0000

We seem to have shot right through the spring season and are now looking at our trees in fill leave and vigorously growing with watering and fertilizing being our major chores. There is always pruning and styling concerns and of course the ever present question of "what was it I was intending to do with this tree?" But that is why we enjoy this hobby, always something to do or think about as we complete our daily visit with each tree.

Upcoming Mentorship Activities

Chas Martin — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:25:35 +0000

Our April program on Styling, Design and Wiring was well attended, with nine individuals bringing in trees to get help with. Thanks to our own “Professor” Lee Cheatle, we were given an excellent discussion, lecture and demonstration on wiring and proper technique. With his usual humor and personal approach, “Professor” Cheatle reduced the basic skills and techniques for successful wiring to a college like course syllabus of Wiring 101, 102 and 103 covering basic and advanced techniques accompanied by demonstrations of each aspect. Following the lecture and demonstrations, attendees were provided assistance addressed to their own trees and hands on application of wire.

Oh for the love of Spring!

Chas Martin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:08:30 +0000

It's sunny and warm as I write this for you just now...our 'March' into spring was more like a soggy slog, punctuated by a couple of rounds of wet snow thrown in for fun. I've got a love/hate relationship with spring. I just love the awakening of our trees and flowers yet hate that everything decides to go all at once.

It would be some trick if we could graft an on/off switch to our trees wouldn't it?

Annual Spring Bonsai Exhibit at the Portland Japanese Garden

Chas Martin — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 21:13:20 +0000

Plan to view the best bonsai exhibit of the year at the Portland Japanese Garden. Continuous demonstrations on shaping and pruning bonsai on the Pavilion deck. Docent tours of the exhibit at 11:00, 1:00, and 3:00 each day. Approximately forty-five bonsai of varying size and shapes, conifer, deciduous, and flowering trees.

Portland Japanese Garden
Saturday and Sunday, May 19-20
10AM - 6PM