The Bay Area Bonsai Associates, affectionately known as “BABA,” held their 30th annual exhibit last weekend at the Lake Merritt Garden Center in Oakland, California. BABA is one of the best known Bonsai organizations in the Bay Area and their exhibit lived up to expectations. Their trees have improved rapidly in the past few years, evidence of club members’ dedication to bonsai. Notably absent, however, from this year’s exhibit, was longtime member Ruben Guzman. Guzman, an active participant in the Northern California bonsai community since long before I started almost 20 years ago, recently passed away. Some of his trees, including the San Jose juniper below, were displayed in his memory.
San Jose juniper – in memory of Ruben Guzman
BABA chose an early winter date for the event which gave visitors a good opportunity to appreciate the many deciduous trees on display.
Korean hornbeam
Japanese maple
Flowering apricot
Mountain of moss
Crabapple – Malus zumi, Golden Hornet
Flowering apricot
There was also a good selection of broadleaf evergreens and conifers, including the large California juniper below.
California juniper
California juniper
Japanese black pine
Coast redwood
As always, BABA presented a good selection of good bonsai, making the event one I can look forward to year after year. Congratulations for the past 30 years!
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