I am a Volunteer

By George Haas

December 1, 2024

I am an avid volunteer for the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt (BGLM), in Oakland, California. I started soon after becoming involved with bonsai in 2005. My first experience was being a docent or guide for visitors to the Bonsai Garden. I was trained by a senior docent to answer questions about the art form of bonsai, point out specific historic and legacy bonsai in the collection, open and close the Bonsai Garden, and provide security over the collection. In 2016, I was appointed marketing manager for the Bonsai Garden. I became chair of the annual Mammoth fundraiser as well.

What is Volunteerism?

By definition, “volunteerism is the practice of offering one’s time, skills, and resources for the benefit of others or the community without expecting monetary compensation.”

For the Bonsai Garden, it encompasses a wide range of activities. The core volunteers are appointed as director, treasurer and secretary. Some leaders serve on a steering committee and provide guidance and report on their areas of responsibility. It may involve helping out as docent, curator and associate curator for the care and maintenance of the bonsai and plants, managing watering and electrical systems, chairing the annual events such as Mammoth Auction & Sale, Autumn Lights Festival, World Bonsai Day, and helping out with other day-to-day operations. Of course, there are occasions when professional help is call upon providing pro bono services or contracted to do the work.

“The essence of volunteerism lies in its spirit of giving and contributing to the common good. It’s not only beneficial for the recipients but also incredibly rewarding for the volunteers themselves, fostering a sense of community, purpose, and personal growth.”

What are the Benefits of Volunteering?

Volunteering offers a wealth of benefits, both for the individual and the community. Here are some key advantages:

Personal Benefits:

Sense of Purpose: By engaging in meaningful activities and making a positive impact.
Skill Development: Learn new skills or improve existing ones.
Social Connections: New friendships and connecting with like-minded individuals.
Health Benefits: Volunteering can improve mental and physical health by reducing stress and increasing feelings of happiness.
Career Opportunities: Gaining experience and references that can enhance your resume.

Community Benefits:

Strengthened Communities: Volunteers help build a more supportive, inclusive, and engaged community.
Enhanced Services: Non-profits can extend their reach and effectiveness with the support of volunteers.
Economic Impact: Volunteers contribute their time and skills without monetary compensation.

“Volunteering is a win-win, enriching both the lives of those who give and those who receive. Have you ever considered volunteering, or do you have a cause you’re passionate about?”

What can Volunteerism Accomplish:

Volunteerism can achieve a lot more than you might think. Here’s a glimpse into its incredible impact:

Personal Growth:

Skill Development: Volunteers can learn new skills or hone existing ones.
Sense of Fulfillment: Giving back can bring immense personal satisfaction and happiness.
Networking: Connecting with other like-minded individuals and building a strong community.

Community Enhancement:

Strengthened Communities: Volunteers help build a more supportive, inclusive, and engaged community.
Enhanced Services: Non-profits and organizations can extend their reach and effectiveness with the support of volunteers.
Social Impact: Addressing social issues and supporting vulnerable populations, leading to a more equitable society.

“Volunteering is a powerful tool for change, capable of transforming lives and communities. Have you ever considered volunteering or do you have a cause you’re passionate about?”

Volunteering at BGLM:

Volunteers are always needed!

There are many opportunities to invest your time and energy into volunteering at the Bonsai Garden:

Bonsai care and maintenance
Docent
Administration
Gift Shop
IT/Social Media, Writing Skills
Landscaping
Photography/Videography
Special Events

For more information on volunteering, check out the BGLM website at https://bonsailakemerritt.com/join-us-as-a-volunteer or contact Suzanne Muller at queueinteriors@comcast.net.

The 25th Anniversary Celebration for the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt

By George Haas

November 9, 2024

Today, the volunteer members of the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt (BGLM) held a celebration for the first 25 years (November 6, 1999 to November 6,2024) of BGLM, located at Lakeside Park, Gate 4, Lake Merritt, in Oakland, California.

At 1:00 p.m., the sounds of Japanese taiko drums were heard throughout the Gardens at Lake Merritt and beyond, performed by six members of Sonoma County Taiko. The crowd of invited guests and the general public gathered around the entrance gate to the BGLM. Gordon Deeg, Director of the BGLM, spoke to the occasion and informed those in attendance of the past and present efforts of bonsai enthusiasts who created and cared for the BGLM. He honored a list of individuals who were instrumentally responsible for establishing the BGLM.

Folks like Japanese Americans Toicho Domoto and Bill Hashimoto, who as early as 1974 came up with the concept of a permanent home for bonsai. Groundbreaking for the BGLM occurred in 1997, and it wasn’t until 1999 that the bonsai garden’s gate was opened to the public.

A commemorative book was published for the BGLM to honor the donors, supporters and volunteers (more than 1,700 individuals), record the past 25 years and showcase the bonsai and suiseki viewing stones in the collection.

Hideko Metaxas was present for the occasion. She was the former President of the Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF) instrumental in obtaining board approval for two collections, BGLM in northern California and the Huntington bonsai collection in southern California.

Della Shiba and daughters were present as well. Della’s husband, Dr. Seiji Shiba, was a founding member and initial director for the BGLM.

Bob and Polly Gould were also present. They were present in building the BGLM and served in various key positions since its grand opening.

Director Gordon Deeg has been there since the beginning, serving as director twice. He introduced Ms. Mayu Hagiwara, Consul and Director of the Japan Information and Cultural Center, Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco.

Ms. Mayu Hagiwara spoke to those in attendance and was delighted to see how the ancient Japanese art form of bonsai was so popular and continued on to present day. She spoke of growing up in Japan and of being impressed with bonsai miniature trees. She spent time touring the BGLM bonsai and suiseki collection.

Dennis and Joanne Makishima were there too. Dennis was coordinator in the building of the BGLM and managed the installment of both American and Japanese designs in the bonsai garden’s layout. Dennis and Joanne donated their 40 years of bonsai trees and memorabilia to BGLM, resulting in the largest auction and sale ever. All proceeds went to create a curator’s fund.

By mid-day, the folks in attendance grew significantly. Sale of commemorative books and anniversary t-shirts was a success. All were invited to enjoy light refreshments.

I personally would like to thank all who attended to help celebrate the first 25 years of the bonsai garden. I am confident by the popularity and interest shown by bonsai enthusiasts and the general public that BGLM will continue to grow and flourish.

4. Ms. Mayu Hagiwara, Consul and Director of the Japan Information and Cultural Center, Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco Credit: Randi Keppeler

5. Ms. Mayu Hagiwara and Gordon Deeg Credit: Randi Keppeler

Oakland’s Autumn Lights Festival 2024

By George Haas

October 20, 2024

The annual fundraiser for the Gardens at Lake Merritt, Oakland, California is referred to as Autumn Lights Festival. The Gardens at Lake Merritt are a collection of 13 themed gardens which require volunteer help and levels of upkeep. The Gardens were established more than a half century ago. The Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt is located within the Gardens.

Autumn Lights Festival was hosted by the Friends of the Gardens at Lake Merritt (FGLM) on October 17, 18 and 19, 2024. FGLM was formed in 2004 and is an entirely volunteer organization. The mission of FGLM is to partner with the City of Oakland to enhance the seven-acre collection of themed gardens.

Autumn Lights Festival occurs over three nights in October; Thursday, Friday and Saturday, from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m.

The event brings together Oakland’s horticultural, arts and music communities to “delight and amaze attendees”, and to raise funds to sustain the Gardens’ facilities and FGLM programs.

Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt is permanent home to some of the finest bonsai on the west coast. BGLM is the only major all-volunteer bonsai garden in the country and houses some of the most important bonsai in the US. BGLM opened its gate in 1999. It is staffed and maintained by volunteers from throughout the greater San Francisco/Bay Area and is supported entirely by donations from the public and the bonsai community.

During Autumn Lights Festival 2024, more than 7,000 attendees visited the BGLM. They enjoyed the bonsai illuminated designs by BGLM artists Randi Keppeler, Rick Medress and Paul Jones.

This year, BGLM participated in the Art Market by selling its 25^th anniversary book, t-shirts and logo items.

Photographs by Randi Keppeler.

Repotting the California Juniper #418

By George Haas

On September 29, 2024, at the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt, Oakland, California, a special team was assembled to take on the task of repotting a giant California juniper (Juniperus californica), estimated to be over 1,000 years old.

The team leaders were Peter Tea, a notable bonsai professional, and Bill Castellon, a well-known Japanese landscape contractor.

The subject bonsai is #418, California juniper, 58 inches in height, 36 inches in diameter, informal upright style. “Yamadori” means in Japanese “collected from the wild.” This tree was collected sometime in 1980s by Ray Thieme and Richard Ramirez of the Fresno Bonsai Club. Presumably, Harry Hirao escorted them in search of the bonsai material at Jawbone Canyon in the Mojave Desert, located in southern California. It was then six feet tall with a 36-inch diameter trunk. Once collected, it was placed in a 48 by 48-inch wooden box to recover from the digging.

The tree was initially styled by Harry Hirao and Jack Sustic at the 2003 Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF) Convention in Fresno, California. Styling took four men most of the two-day event, and still required many more hours of detailed wiring. The demonstration tree was displayed at the convention next to its future pot, a 48 by 35-inch rectangle clay container. The large pot was purchased by the GSBF Fresno convention.

The impressive California juniper bonsai was donated to the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt by Ray Thieme in 2004. The tree is located outside the bonsai garden’s perimeter fence, next to a large limestone boulder or Chinese Gongshi (also known as scholar’s rock). The giant bonsai beckons visitors to the bonsai garden.

All bonsai require re-potting from time to time. A general rule for a large bonsai tree would be five to seven years due to the following factors:

Age of the tree
Size of the tree and pot
Breakdown of the soil or compacted soil
Root growth or root bound
Water flow decreases

The last time this California juniper was re-potted was 16 years ago.

Peter Tea was requested to repot the California juniper. The task would require the assistance from his apprentice Travis Hendrix, clients and helpers Bob Ricker and Tony Henninger, and volunteer Michal Tiede.

Bill Castellon brought a metal tripod for lifting the giant tree and root ball from the pot.

The wooden flatform required repairs by placing new boards to support the weight of the tree and pot.

The tripod was positioned directly over the tree and pot. Then, a large amount of soil was removed from around the root ball and container in order to free up the tree and make it easier to lift the tree and root ball from the container.

Peter described the overall health of the tree as good though he expected more root growth considering the tree was in the pot for 15 years or so. When removing the soil to get the tree out of the pot, he did notice that the soil was very wet. He used a thick layer of pumice on the bottom of the pot to keep it a bit dryer. The soil mix for the rest was large 33% Akadama, 66% pumice. As he moved to the topsoil, a smaller soil was of the same mix percentages. He also added starter fertilizer on different levels of the soil to help the roots recover from the repot. Peter would recommend using some sort of spray irrigation instead of the soaker hoses because the soil is now so porous that they may not give enough coverage of the soil. Also, the core of the tree was fairly dry so getting water closer to the center would be helpful, especially since the center is where all the roots are now.

1 Tripod positioned directly over the juniper

2 Work begins to remove soil from root ball and container

3 Removing soil to free up the juniper and root ball

4 The tripod and hoist made it easy to lift the tree and root ball from the container

5 The juniper is freed and wheeled into the garden’s workshop area where work would take place

6 Work on repairing the wooden platform is undertaken by garden handyman Fabian

7 The pot is cleaned thoroughly and drain holes are screened off

8 Tie down wires are inserted in the holes through the bottom of the pot

9 Soil mixes are put through a sieve to remove fines

10 Steps are taken to replace the large pot on the newly repaired wooden platform

11 The juniper is again lifted and returned to its pot

12 The tripod is removed and work on replacing soil begins

13 Soil is replaced using a measured amount of sieved pumice and Akadama

14 The work of adding soil mix is crucial and overseen by Peter Tea

15 After a thorough watering, (L to R) Travis Hendrix, Peter Tea, Bob Ricker, and Tony Henninger pose for a photograph and job well done!

16 Bill Castellon gives a thumbs up to the completed task!

17 Thanks to Yuri Aono the automatic drip irrigation hoses are hooked up to water the juniper

The First 25 Years of the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt

On November 9, 2024, the Golden State Bonsai Federation’s Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt, in Oakland, California, will be celebrating its first 25 years. Special arrangements are in the planning for an afternoon of celebration.

Location: Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt (BGLM), 650 Bellevue Ave., Gate 4, Lakeside Park, Oakland, California.

Time: 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.

It was as early as 1974, when the concept for the bonsai garden came about during a conversation between Toicho Domoto and Bill Hashimoto, two notable Japanese American bonsai pioneers. They were interested in preserving bonsai produced in northern California. They understood bonsai required a permanent place to continue to thrive. They asked themselves what will happen when we can no longer care for and maintain our bonsai trees? The answer to their question was and is the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt.

On April 5, 1997, an official groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site located within the Gardens at Lake Merritt. Construction took more than two years. Support for the bonsai and suiseki display garden came from individuals and bonsai clubs throughout the State of California. Hundreds of volunteers and donors were responsible for making the concept into a reality.

BGLM opened its gates to the public on November 6, 1999, by hosting a grand opening celebration of bonsai and suiseki, held on site at the Gardens of Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park Garden Center. Dennis Makishima was master of ceremonies for the grand opening, including then Mayor Jerry Brown, Consul General of Japan in San Francisco, John Naka, Harry Hirao and other Japanese American bonsai artists, Yasuo Mitsuya of Japan, Recreation and Parks Officials, and many more. In addition to the ribbon cutting, there was a lively celebration inside the Lakeside Park Garden Center; well attended. The San Jose Taiko drum performers were present.

Since the gates were opened to the public, the collection has dramatically grown in size. The most significant historic and legacy trees include the historic Daimyo oak brought to the U.S. during President Abraham Lincoln’s administration in the 1860’s, the 500 year old Japanese black pine donated by Mas Imazumi, was featured at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. Other legacy trees were donated by famous bonsai pioneer artists; Harry Hirao, Jimmy Inadomi and John Naka, just to name a few.

A commemorative book, “Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt: The First Twenty-Five Years,” showcases the very best bonsai trees and suiseki viewing stones in the collection and celebrate the many donors and volunteers who have contributed to the evolution of what is now a museum quality bonsai and suiseki garden.

Sale of the book will take place at the following:

Oakland’s Autumn Lights Festival – October 17, 18 and 19, 2024
2024 Pacific Bonsai Expo – October 26 and 27, 2024
Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt Gift Shop – starting October 26, 2024
Mammoth Auction & Sale, March 1 and 2, 2025

Hours of Operation: BGLM is open Tuesday thru Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Sunday from 12:00 to 3:30 p.m. Closed Mondays.

If you would like more information about the bonsai and suiseki display Garden/Museum, check out the BGLM website at https://bonsailakemerritt.com.

George Haas
BGLM Marketing Manager
gwhaas@comcast.net

California Coast Redwood

BGLM Volunteer Appreciation Day

By George Haas

September 7, 2024

1 Volunteer Appreciation Day, September 2, 2024

On September 2, 2024 (Labor Day), the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt, Oakland, California, hosted its Volunteer Appreciation Day. It was a special day to recognize and show appreciation to all volunteers who care for and operate the Bonsai Garden.

The Bonsai Garden is an all-volunteer organization. The Bonsai Garden collection is permanent home to museum quality bonsai and suiseki art. Volunteers for the Bonsai Garden are considered its greatest assets since there would be no collection without the dedication and special talents of so many individuals. The volunteers fill roles that include:

o Bonsai

o Docent

o Gift Shop

o IT/Social Media, Writing Skills

o Landscaping

o Photography/Videography

o Special Events

Volunteers need no special experience since training is provided to individuals wanting to learn and support the Bonsai Garden.

Volunteer Appreciation Day is the opportunity to reward certain individuals for their talent, time and energy contributed to the Bonsai Garden. This year the following individuals were recognized:

Jan Smith, Treasurer

George Haas, Marketing Manager

Linda Soliven, Docent and Historian

Emily Gallivan, Photography and 25^th Anniversary Book

Robert Henderson, former Docent Instructor

Jeanette Arnold, Associate Curator

Rick Trumm, Associate Curator

Janet Nelson, Associate Curator

Bob and Polly Gould, years of support

Mas Nakajimi, Suiseki Collector

Kathy Shaner, Curator 1999-2022

Gary Tom, Curator

Gordon Deeg, Director

The following people did not get recognized due to their absence from the party

John Nackley

Mike Mello

Jerry Carpenter

Janice Dilbeck

Carl Osterholm

Dennis Hawkins

3 Jeanette Arnold, Suzanne Muller and Julie Holcomb

7 Chong Haas, Yuri Aono and Terry Krista

9 Alison and Ron Limoges

10 Robert Henderson, Rick and Alise Offeman and Bev Martinez

13 Gary Tom, Steve Silberblatt and Jeanette Arnold

Hiroshi Sakaguchi

August 12, 2024

Hiroshi Sakaguchi

By George Haas

The Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt (BGLM) main entrance gate was designed and built by Hiroshi Sakaguchi of Occidental, California. Hiroshi is a skilled joinery wood craftsman and “…practices what men in his family have been doing for more than 600 years, the ancient Japanese craft of joinery woodworking, which uses no visible glue, nails or screws.”

Hiroshi is a daiku, an architectural carpenter. He started his own business, Ki Arts (1985), producing fine Japanese furniture and large structures, such as traditional tearooms, bridges and entrance gates. Hiroshi was hired to design and construct the main entrance gate to BGLM in 1999.

Hiroshi described that in Japanese style architecture, the entrance gate is a serious undertaking that symbolizes “the boundary between two worlds.” For the BGLM, that meant someone is crossing over from a public park to a very special and “unique world of bonsai.”

When in 1999, Hiroshi first saw the construction site at BGLM, the perimeter fence was almost complete. He felt the perimeter fence was built too much to American specifications. He would design the main gate based on Japanese culture. It would be modest and not to distract from the high cultural art of bonsai. Bonsai was practiced by high Samurai nobility in Japan from which it gets the reputation of being “a high cultural art form.”

Hiroshi chose to construct a sukiya-style gate. The style was intended not upstage the bonsai. “I am not the star; the bonsai are the stars.” A sukiya-style gate was more simplified and natural in appearance. “… I thought the simple post and beam structure would be a good contrast to the complex twist and turns of bonsai.”

The roof overhangs the gate and is kirizuma-style (ridge or gable). It’s the oldest and simplest of Japanese gates. The roof is considered the most complicated construction portion for the gate. There are two roof sides that connect to the ridge. There is a downward angle to protect the entrance doors from the rain. “I hand carved the two gegyo or wooden ornaments hanging under the gate on each side of the roof.” These features are traditional Japanese. “The roof of a Japanese gate is like “… a crown…” designating the significance of entering. It speaks “Entering here is an important act. Pay attention!”

Hiroshi used traditional gate measurements in proportion width to height. To fill open space after the perimeter fence was constructed, he had to add extension walls on each side of the gate.

The foundation was made with concrete and the footings placed four feet into the ground. Granite stones were placed at the base of the wooden posts. Hiroshi used Port Orford cedar, Western red cedar and redwood in constructing the gate. Port Orford cedar from Oregon is close to the Japanese hinoki cypress used in traditional Japanese construction. Port Orford cedar is dried for one to six years in order to stabilize it from shrinkage. Today, it is very difficult to purchase high quality Port Orford cedar, since most is sent to Japan and China.

Hiroshi relied on traditional joinery, where the work is done in his shop and later brought to the construction site. He works alone mostly and cuts the pieces in his shop, except for the pre-cut red cedar roof shingles.

Hiroshi uses three measuring systems: traditional shaku unit of length, metric and inch. The gate pieces were laid out, cut and shaped accordingly. The joinery was hand cut by saw, hammer and wood chisel, requiring traditional skills. He would hand plane many of the wooden pieces. The work in the shop required a lot longer than assembling the pieces at the construction site. Once the pieces were located on site, Hiroshi constructed the foundation and assembled the gate. The final work involved shingling the roof, attaching the kasugi or decorative wood ornament and installing the doors.

After 25 years, the pre-cut, red cedar roofing shingles were showing signs of wear and tear due to climate conditions. In 2024, Hiroshi was contracted again to repair the roof by installing hand-crafted copper metal panels. The new roof will be resistant to the weather and last for 100 years or more.

BGLM Newsletter – 1

By Gene Heller

August 5, 2024

The best way to keep up to date on what’s going on in the garden is to subscribe to this newsletter. Here you’ll find the answers to all your most urgent questions: What’s going on with volunteers? What’s going on with the trees? What’s going on with infrastructure? What’s going on with snacks?

Subscribe here https://bonsailakemerritt.com/blogs/ and you can relax!

CURRENT PROJECTS

Over the summer we’ve been engaged in a major effort to improve the security system. Assistant Director Suzanne Muller reports that we are about halfway to completing this upgrade – new cameras and motion detectors are in place, along with other measures that are too secret to describe in detail! Suzanne is in talks with a potential contractor to reinforce the fence. This part of the project will be scheduled so as not to interfere with scheduled garden events such as the Autumn Lights Festival (see “Upcoming Events”) and the 25th Anniversary celebration.

The new roof on the front gate was completed in June, and the excellent materials and workmanship ensure that the roof will still be beautiful when the rest of us have lost some of our youthful good looks!

The new BGLM website is up and running. Because you’re reading this newsletter on the website, you already know that it’s easy to navigate and graphically very strong, with links to other useful sites, photos and videos of the garden, an online donation function, and it’s easy to SUBSCRIBE TO THIS NEWSLETTER.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Volunteer Appreciation Day at the Garden will take place on September 2 (Labor Day) from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. All volunteers are welcome! Come to Meet & Greet, enjoy a delicious catered lunch (meat or vegetarian – make your meal request when you RSVP), and you won’t want to miss the Special Program! Be sure to RSVP by contacting Suzanne Muller (925) 787-1349 or queueinteriors@comcast.net today!

Pacific Bonsai Expo 2024, https://pacificbonsaiexpo.org/, takes place on October 26th and 27th at the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center. A shuttle bus, sponsored and paid in part by BGLM, will run between the garden and the Center.

25th ANNIVERSARY! The garden opened on November 6th, 1999.This coming November 9th we will celebrate our first 25 years – our growth from seedling to young, robust home of some of the finest bonsai in the country. The festivities will take place at the garden – details to be announced soon and sent out to everyone who SUBSCRIBES TO THIS NEWSLETTER.

Autumn Lights Festival https://bonsailakemerritt.com/event/autumn-lights-festival/ takes place October 17th-19th. In past years close to three thousand people visited the garden during the festival. Getting the garden in shape for the festival calls for a ton of preparation, so please consider volunteering to take part. Contact Randi Keppeler at calshohin@yahoo.com.

TREES TO KNOW ABOUT

We’ve acquired a number of trees donated by the Lilienthal family, including a very handsome Hinoki cypress. Curator Gary Tom (who has been volunteering at the garden for 24 years and has been Curator for close to two years) reports that the Hinoki cypress, which has unusually small fans of foliage, will require repotting, and will be restyled by Peter Tea.

One of our trees, photo below, has been accepted to the upcoming Pacific Bonsai Expo 2024, (https://pacificbonsaiexpo.org/) which is an important juried show and competition. Rick Trumm has been styling this Sierra juniper, #466. Estimated age: over 900 years! Check it out before it leaves for the PBE – you’ll see a small rock on the surface, but what you won’t see is below the surface, where the roots wind around the unseen part of the rock.

More about curating the trees: In addition to guiding the overall aesthetic and botanical aspects of the garden, Gary manages a team of about eight volunteers. All of them had extensive experience with bonsai prior to joining Gary’s team.

Gary Tom and his assistant Lucky Fung making a tree healthy and beautiful

Gary Tom and his helper Emma Interi making a tree healthy and beautiful (2017)

NEWS FOR DOCENTS

Three new docents have recently joined the team. Nicole Yabut, Mats Hagstrom, and Steffany Dignum completed the minimum requirements to achieve ‘docenthood’, including one or more orientation sessions and attendance at our monthly Introduction to Bonsai class. https://bonsailakemerritt.com/introduction-to-bonsai-by-ebbs/.

John Mekisich (mitygto@aol.com) handles docent scheduling and maintains our Docent Schedule Calendar https://bonsailakemerritt.com/docent-calendar/. John is the guy who periodically sends out those notices that warn us about uncovered docent shifts (the shift is uncovered, not the docent). Help keep John sane by checking the calendar and volunteering to cover an open shift!

TOURS

Two groups from the Center for Elders’ Independence toured the garden recently. In June the group comprised Mandarin speakers, and in July, Korean speakers. Both groups included a translator. The tours lasted about an hour, and the participants were enthusiastic and interested, to judge by the number of questions and comments. CEI plans to schedule a third tour, this time for Cantonese speakers, in the near future. A video of the June tour is here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj9QY0FNVDM.

END NOTES

A major source of the funding that keeps the Garden going comes from donations. You can donate to the Garden here: https://bonsailakemerritt.com/how-to-donate/.

To the many volunteers who do everything from sweeping paths to styling trees, but who aren’t identified by name in the newsletter: Your time will come! I’m lookin’ at you, Randi Keppeler, Rick Medress, John Mekisich, Janet Nelson, Janet Roth, Jan Smith, that shy person who doesn’t want their name mentioned.

And to YOU, because you’re still reading: Thank you for checking out this first issue of the newsletter! Now you have two things to do:

Think about contributing your thoughts to the next issue.
SUBSCRIBE Now.

End

SAN MATEO BONSAI CLUB EXHIBITS TREES DESTINED FOR THE GSBF COLLECTION-NORTH

Reprinted; this article was first published in GSBF Golden Statements magazine November/December 1997.

SAN MATEO BONSAI CLUB EXHIBITS TREES DESTINED FOR THE GSBF COLLECTION-NORTH

By Nancy and Marian Eaton * Photographs submitted by Nancy Eaton

A visit to the San Mateo Bonsai Club show each September is always a treat. Over the years, club members, under the direction of their instructor, Mitsuo Umehara, have developed a multitude of excellent bonsai of many species. They specialize in fruiting bonsai, and more trees hung with colorful fruits are to be seen at their show than at any other in northern California. This year, however, the show promised to be more spectacular than ever before because four of the recent donations to the Golden State Bonsai Federation Collection-North were on display, one for the first time ever in public.

MR. GOTCHER WITH THE DAIMYO OAK READY FOR TRANSPORT

As we entered the crowded hall, our eyes were immediately drawn toward the brightly illuminated center of the room where a Daimyo oak with a massive, furrowed and hollowed trunk and long branches that reached for the ceiling stood. This tree, still planted in its original antique Chinese pot, was the gift of Dr. Robert Gotcher of Hillsborough.

The history of the oak as told to us by Dr. Gotcher, is a long and fascinating one. In 1861, Anson Burlingame was appointed United States Minister to China by President Abraham Lincoln, a post that he held until his resignation in 1867. Immediately thereafter, Burlingame was appointed envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary by the Chinese government to lead a Chinese diplomatic mission to the United States and several European nations. This mission resulted in the “Burlingame Treaty,” concluded with the United States in 1868., which recognized China’s eminent domain over all its territories, and to a great extent normalized relations between China and the United States. Through this work, Mr. Burlingame became a

very important person in U.S.- Asian affairs and undoubtedly received many gifts as he traveled from China by way of Japan back to Washington D.C. One such gift was the Daimyo oak (Quercus denrata), presented to Burlingame in Japan, and presented now, over a century later, by Dr. Gotcher to the Collection-North. We know that Mr. Burlingame acquired land on the San Francisco Peninsula in what is now Hillsborough, and although he died before he could build his retirement home there as planned, the nearby City of Burlingame was named for him. The tree has spent a good part of its life in Hillsborough; however, Dr. Gotcher believes that he is only the third owner of the oak since Anson Burlingame acquired it 130 years ago.

Although the tree was apparently not been trained as a bonsai for years, that it is still healthy and growing is a tribute to the care its owners have given it over time. It is hard to guess how many years the oak had been grown in Japan before it came to the United States. The size of the pot suggests that it was a big tree when it was first potted, and it undoubtedly was trained for many years before it was given as a gift. Although we can only speculate about the actual age of the tree, we can be quite sure that it was imported from Japan earlier and still alive in the United States today.

FOUR MEMBERS OF THE SAN MATEO BONSAI CLUB ARE NEEDED TO MOVE THE TREE. LEFT TO RIGHT: MR. FUKUDOME, MR. SAKUMA, MR. OTA, AND MR. UMEHARA.

Visitors discuss plans and blueprints for the collection-north display grounds. Daimyo oak, as viewed from the probable new front.

Mr. Umehara knew of the oak’s existence, because he was called in as an expert to repot it about 20 years ago. He and Mrs. Hideko Metaxas were instrumental in acquiring the tree for the Collection-North.

Spectacular as the oak is, a number of years of careful training will be required to bring it back to bonsai proportions. This work will be in the capable hands of Mr. Umehara.

A few words about the oak’s antique pot: it is of Chinese origin, with patterns of flowers and a bird painted in cream-colored slip beneath a transparent brown glaze. Because no drainage holes were made in the pot, we know that it was originally not intended for bonsai. We know that pots like it were often exported to Japan, where bonsai growers drilled each with a single small hole low on the wall in an inconspicuous place to provide drainage. The oak’s pot has such a hole, surprisingly small compared to those thought necessary today.

Antique pot viewed from the front

Mr. Umehara’s Japanese white pine group

Although the oak was given the place of honor at the San Mateo show, three very fine donated bonsai were also on display. Two were trees raised by Mr. Umehara from seed planted 37 years ago! One was an informal upright Black pine with a wonderful thick, plated trunk. The other was a group planting of five Japanese white pines. Mr. Tadashi Sakuma, also of the San Mateo Bonsai Club, donated the California juniper styled by Masahiko Kimura at the 1987 Golden State Bonsai Federation Convention in Anaheim.

In a brief ceremony, GSBF First Vice President Seiji Shiba accepted the donated trees on behalf of the Collection-North. He presented certifications of appreciation to each of the donors. (Unfortunately, Dr. Gotcher was unable to receive the due to family emergency.)

Mr. Sakuma’s Japanese black pine

Mr. Sakuma’s California juniper

Dr. Shiba commended the San Mateo Bonsai Club for its efforts on behalf of the Collection-North, and said that he hoped other clubs would follow their lead in finding trees for the collection. He reported that the City of Oakland had granted the final permissions needed to develop the bonsai exhibition site. Work will begin by the end of the year. He stressed the need for establishing an endowment fund for the Collection-North and urged bonsai enthusiasts to contribute both labor and money to help the long dreamed-about Collection-North become a wonderful , permanent reality.

Transplanting a 1,500 Year Old California Juniper Bonsai

By George Haas

On December 31, 2023, the task of transplanting a 1,500 plus year old California juniper bonsai was undertaken by Peter Tea, a notable bonsai professional, at the Golden State Bonsai Federation’s Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt, in Oakland, California.

The California juniper was collected in the 1990’s from the Sand Canyon in the high Mojave Desert located in southern California. The tree was donated by Oliver Kilroy.

“Yamadori” means in Japanese “collected from the wild”. The tree’s first transplanting was soon after being dug up and placed in a large, growing box for three to five years. This period would allow the tree to recover and to grow feeder roots radiating from the trunk, just below the soil surface. When the tree is healthy, foliage is bushy and branch runners appear, can it be fitted to a unglazed, clay bonsai pot. In this case, a very large, rectangle pot.

All bonsai require re-potting from time to time. A general rule for a large bonsai tree
would be five to seven years due to the following factors:

Age of the tree
Size of the tree and pot
Breakdown of the soil or compacted soil
Root growth or root bound
Water flow decreases

The last time this California juniper was re-potted was more than 20 years ago.

Due to the age of the tree and length of time since its last transplanting, Peter was requested to undertake the task. Peter was assisted by his apprentice Eli Iristree, long time client Max Vally and garden volunteer Michal Tiede.

The tree and its root ball had to be gently removed from its current pot. It took everyone’s effort to lift the tree out of the pot. The tree was removed to the workshop area where work would begin on the root ball. Root pruning is necessary to clean up dead roots and shape the root ball to fit into its new pot. An unglazed, oval brown in color clay pot was chosen. The new pot is smaller in size and so careful shaping of the root ball was required.

Fitting the tree to its new pot requires a trained eye. Peter would look for equal distance and balance, making sure the right angle and/or levelness were obtained in settling the root ball into the pot. Next, comes the wire tie down of the root ball and tree. This step
is required of all bonsai trees so that there is no movement to disturb the growth of fine roots. Movement can damage the fine roots causing root rot.

New bonsai soil mix is then added to the re-potted tree. Peter uses a measured mixture of medium size pumice and Akadama pre-mix from Japan. The pre-mix is part Akadama, pumice and lava rock. Here they work to fill all the air pockets that surround the root ball. They moved the bonsai tree back to its bench to complete the work. Only when satisfied that no air pockets remain, Peter will water thoroughly.

Water is important to a healthy bonsai tree. Watering a newly transplanted bonsai tree is critical. Water must soak into the freshly added soil mix and drench the root ball and roots. Peter takes pride in using the water hose to water down the newly completed transplanting of this old, California juniper. The tree will be monitored for weeks to ensure nothing went wrong. From all appearances, the California juniper looks great in its new pot.

Before, front view