Page 56 - BSAM 2015 Q1

The event is held at the David H. Murdock Center, a space bathed in natural light.
While winter exhibitions in the United States are not common, this show and hopefully others, will fill a much need- ed gap in the bonsai calendar. Decidu- ous trees and shrubs used for bonsai
are often shrouded in foliage; leaving the subtle el- egance and structure hidden. Winter is a time of year when the usual stimuli from the natural world leaves
something to be desired. A lull if you will, one which a beautifully designed bonsai can fill. Exfoliating bark and intricate ramification of branches can be just as beautiful as new foliage or flowers in Spring.
The best thing about winter bonsai events is that truly excellent deciduous bonsai can be seen in all their structural perfection. There is no moving of foli- age pads or creative branch maneuvers here. Presence
2nd Annual Winter Silhouette Bonsai Expo
Structural Elegance
By Owen Reich, USA
Venue Photos by Owen Reich, Bonsai Photos courtesy Joseph Noga, USA
56 | BCI | January/February/March 2015