From the Curator
November 1, 2011
To All Our Friends and Visitors,
As autumn slips toward winter, we see daily changes taking place in the bonsai on display at the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection. All trees, even evergreen conifers, shed at least some of their old foliage this time of year. Our gardeners and volunteers are kept busy grooming the trees to remove yellowed interior foliage on the conifers, and leaves that have faded on deciduous trees. The loss of leaves and gray, drizzly days lead many would-be visitors to think that the best season for viewing the bonsai has passed; but such is not the case.
Most of the major bonsai exhibits in Japan take place between November and February. Why? Because this is the “Winter Silhouette” season – the time of year when, minus a concealing cover of leaves, the true architecture of each deciduous tree is revealed. Bonsai artists spend years, even decades developing mature branches that divide repeatedly into ever smaller and more complex patterns. Winter is the ideal time to enjoy bonsai as an elegant fusion of artistic vision with natural beauty.
Photographers will find that a rainy day is their friend, as an overcast sky erases harsh shadows, and colors of wet surfaces are richer and more intense. And, if a passing shower catches visitors by surprise, they can always find umbrellas for loan in the Rhododendron Garden gift shop. A guided tour of the Bonsai Collection is offered each Sunday at 1:00 pm without a reservation and with no minimum group size. Tours start at the courtyard tent or by checking in at the Rhododendron garden shop. Our open hours are 10 AM – 4PM, Tuesdays through Sundays (closed Mondays). Please plan to join us and share in the beauty of our “Winter Silhouettes” this year!
David De Groot
Curator
