On Saturday, February 27 and Sunday, February 28, 2016, at the Lakeside Garden Center in Oakland, California, it was the year’s biggest fund raiser for the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt (BGLM). It is referred to as the Mammoth Auction & Sale. The auction of 124 bonsai and bonsai related items took place on Saturday with the preview beginning at Noon and the auction starting at 1:00 PM. The auctioneer, Gordon Deeg, BGLM Garden Master, kept the auction moving along and wrapped business up by 4:00 PM. High bidding went towards bonsai (No. 122 – San Jose Juniper semi-cascade) from the collection of Frank Bardella of Sebastopol, California.
No.-122-San-Jose-Juniper-semi-cascade
Mammoth Auction & Sale continued the next day with a full agenda, including club showcases, vendor and plant sales, demonstrations led by Kathy Shaner, Curator for BGLM, and the drawing and club showcase award. This year food was for sale to all attendees on both days, something that is likely to continue at future fund raisers, since it is difficult for attendees to leave the Garden Center in search of lunch.
This was the second year for inviting local bonsai clubs to showcase their club bonsai display tables. This was a great opportunity for BGLM to thank the club memberships for their loyal support and volunteer ism in providing donations, docents and general tasks at the Garden. It also was an opportunity for the clubs to promote themselves by showing off their bonsai displays and providing club information on membership and club yearlong activities.
The club showcase this year was special in that each club invited was asked to include in their bonsai displays a specific bonsai, Suiseki (Viewing Stone) or object associated with the late Harry “Mr. California Juniper” Hirao. Harry touched and influenced so many bonsai enthusiasts, artists and instructors over the years that it was appropriate to give tribute to him. Harry was such a big part of the North American bonsai community.
Below are the club display tables, starting with the San Jose Betsuin Bonsai Club which collected an overwhelming number of votes for the best display. The back drop for their display was a screen featuring a photo of one of Harry’s California Juniper Collecting Trips. Carl Morimoto created this screen specifically for this display event.
San Jose Betsuin Bonsai Club – California Juniper and Murphy’s Stone
Marin Bonsai Club with Pomegranate
Redwood Empire Bonsai Society with Prostrada Juniper
Bay Area Satsuki Akoikai with Suiseki (Viewing Stone) and imported Satsuki Azalea
East Bay Bonsai Society with California Juniper and Suiseki (Viewing Stone)
Kusumura Bonsai Club
Sei Boku Bonsai Kai, Inc.
BGLM Chair Joe Byrd presenting Garden Museum coffee cups to members and particpants of San Jose Bet- suin Bonsa Club for the best display in tribute to Harry “Mr. California Juniper” Hirao