If seeing tremendous deciduous bonsai on the Pacific Bonsai Expo felt treasure a treat, seeing the conifers equipped a selected feeling. It felt treasure a tremendous opportunity to satisfy up with bushes, and species, that I don’t in discovering to employ comparatively about a time with.
Hemlock is the principle species to spring to mind. We fight to support hemlocks, mountain or Western, wholesome in the Bay Build in declare that they aren’t a fashioned species right here (warm winters and sizzling summers win their toll). Every time I even possess the likelihood, I admire the time I in discovering to leer them.
It used to be moreover enjoyable to survey some bushes I hadn’t seen in person old to, treasure the top-notch blue atlas cedar by Konnor Jensen under.
Blue atlas cedar by Konnor Jensen
(Moderate score: 3.8) Photo courtesy Jeng Fonseca
It’s rare to survey successfully-developed atlas cedars, and without a doubt rare to survey them clinging to a rock at an unparalleled angle. This tree used to be a welcome enhance to the show.
By approach of the rankings the conifers received from the judging panel, the foremost thing that involves mind is the stress is between the percentage of the score attributable to core traits of a tree and the percentage attributable to the work of the artist.
Establish one other approach, how attain we score a tree with a tremendous trunk that’s styled poorly against a tree with a so-so trunk that’s styled beautifully?
Though I will be capable to’t reply the ask with a strict point-price (I will be capable to’t command “subtract 1 point for unhappy wiring” without further context), I will be capable to command that I admire conifers which were bonsai lengthy sufficient to accrue traits that reflect the repeated utility of bonsai systems.
That’s a lengthy approach of claiming I treasure conifers that show tremendous age in the trunk and in the branches.
Right here are among the most coniferous highlights from the show. All of the bushes show tremendous age in the trunks whereas the department sort varies from tree to tree.
Can I voice whether or no longer the rankings reflect traits inherent to the tree (treasure the bark or a tremendous trunk-line) or traits that developed in the backyard (treasure department density)? I will be capable to’t – but I will be capable to command that after bushes possess each and every they’re inclined to attain successfully.
Mountain hemlock by Paul Krasner
(Moderate score: 3.5) Photo courtesy Julian Tsai
California juniper by Cholo Lucero
(Moderate score: 3.2) Photo courtesy Aki Yamakawa
Sad pine by Scott Elser
(Moderate score: 4.3) Photo courtesy Julian Tsai
Western hemlock by Scott Elser
(Moderate score: 3.8) Photo courtesy Julian Tsai
Sierra juniper by Howard Correa
(Moderate score: 3.9) Photo courtesy Aki Yamakawa
Mountain hemlock by Jason Eider
(Moderate score: 3.8) Photo courtesy Julian Tsai
Shimpaku by Boon Manakitivipart
(Moderate score: 3.7) Photo courtesy Aki Yamakawa
Mountain hemlock by Ken Wassum
(Moderate score: 3.9) Photo courtesy Aki Yamakawa
Western juniper by Peter Tea
(Moderate score: 4.0) Photo courtesy Aki Yamakawa
For images of the award-successful conifers and more info about the judging, witness “2022 Award winners” on the Expo net pickle.
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