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Originally Posted by Vonsgardens
I always thought bonsai was about the tree.
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One of my trees, a shohin, was recognized at a state show. The tree is a twisted-trunk persimmon, styled entirely by myself from a $12 whip in a 4" plastic pot.
But upon hearing how well it placed amongst so many splended trees, my reaction was not about the good job that I did. I instead was proud for the tree. Out of so many trees and whips, it expressed itself above all others. After years of work, it then expressed itself above nearly all the trees in the show.
When I
did feel pride, it was for the shohin club that I belong to, that they selected it among so many other shohin to go to the state show, that they decided to "showcase" the tree in the display and that one of
our little trees was noticed and recognized amid a forest of famous and exquisite bonsai.
Most shows in Texas are not judged. I think that something has been lost in the effort to be kind to the tender feelings of others. To clearly state that there is confusion about what/who is being judged helps to reconcile our greater loss.
I am always saddened to see trees in a show that are half dead, infested or untidy. If judging shows only encouraged people to prepare their trees before displaying them to the public, this alone would be reason enough to have them judged.
Cheers,
Jim