The 2015 Mammoth kicked off with a celebration of the 15th Anniversary of the opening of the Bonsai Garden Lake Merritt. What better way to celebrate than to honor the three chairmen who gave so much of themselves to fund, create, and grow the Garden. Those honored were Bill Hashimoto (1989-1994), Seiji Shiba (1995-2008), and Gordon Deeg (2008-2014).
Retired BGLM Chairmen, Gordon Deeg and Seiji Shiba receive recognition.
In addition, four volunteers were given awards for over 1,000 hours of service. Those honored were Kathy Shaner, Curator; Andrea Burhoe, Treasurer; Bob Gould, Docent/Tour Guide; and Allen Hightower, Docent. Without our volunteers we could not operate the Garden. Kathy made an appeal for those interested in volunteering at the Garden to email us at [email protected]. Click here to see our video of the Celebration.
Volunteers receive Happi Coats for 1,000 hours of service.
Just as we cannot operate the Garden without our volunteers, we cannot hold the Mammoth Auction & Sale without the dozens who give of their time for months leading up to the event to pull together the many details together. Below are just a few of the team leaders who organized and executed a wonderful event for our hundreds of supporters who purchased auction and sales items as well as vendor products.
Mammoth Volunteer Team Leaders:
Alex Clark: Security
Andrea Burhoe: Cashiers
Bob Gould: Auction & Sales Items coordinator, and Tables Czar
Bob Shimon: Vendor Coordinator
Carl Morimoto: Photographer
Craig Thompson: Mover of Trees
George Haas: Catalog Creator
Gordon Deeg: Auction King
Janet Nelson: Mammoth Chair
Kathy Shaner: Demo Queen
Randi Keppler: T-shirt Creator and Sales Agent
Seiji Shiba: Auction Crew
Suzanne Muller: Food Wrangler
Mike Mello: Plant Sales
Many, many more who made this event a success
One of the innovations of this event was a display set up by 12 clubs and organizations. This was designed to show the breadth of support for the Garden through out the bonsai community. It was also the first time in recent memory that Clubs came together to exhibit and promote their own bonsai and events. There was a competition for the most popular display which was won by the Marin Bonsai Club despite some stiff competition. We plan to hold this again next year with even more than the following clubs participating.
Bonsai Displays:
Bay Area Bonsai Associates (BABA)
Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt (BGLM)
Bonsai Society of San Francisco (BSSF)
East Bay Bonsai Society (EBBS)
Golden Statements
Kusumura Bonsai Club
Marin Bonsai Club
Monterey Bonsai Club
Redwood Empire Bonsai Society (REBS)
San Francisco Suiseki Kai
San Jose Betsuin Bonsai Club
Sei Boku Bonsai Kai, Inc.
We would also like to thank our food sponsors who were generous in helping feed our volunteers.
Food Sponsors:
Trader Joe’s
Arizmendi Bakery
Grand Bakery
Vendors bring their wares and brighten up the event. We wish to thank the following and urge them to join us again next year.
Vendors:
Ami Original Art
Art of the Daiza
Bonsai Fusion
Bonsai Travel
Carman’s Nursery
David Glasiter Designs
David Goscinski
Designs by North
Enchanted Forest
JT Bonsai
Legacy Cork Oaks
Little Trees
Lone Pine Gardens
Lotus Bonsai
Mendocino Coast Bonsai
Muranaka Bonsai Nursery
North American Satsuki Bonsai Center
Round Valley Nursery
So-Jun-En
Suiseki Stones
And last but not least thanks to our supporters who came out in droves, waited in line for the sale to begin and bought most everything we had for sale and auction. Your support keeps us going and we deeply appreciate it.