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.
