NABF Newsletter No. 3

Feature #2

FREDERIC L. AND ERNESTA BALLARD:
A SPECIAL COLLABORATION

by Mary Ann Orlando and Janet Lanman

When Fred Ballard quoted a visitor who described viewing bonsai for the first time at the U.S. National Arboretum as “wonderment and curiosity,” he had no concept that those words might be used to describe the lives of Fred and Ernesta Ballard. Their unique understanding and vision helped develop the Arboretum’s National Bonsai & Penjing Museum in unexpected ways.

Their bonsai journey began in 1960 when Ernesta, a prize-winning horticulturalist, author, women’s rights advocate, and contributor to the redevelopment of Philadelphia’s Cultural and Historical Center, took a bonsai seminar in 1960 at the Arnold Arboretum. It was taught by Yuji Yoshimura, recently arrived from Japan and soon to become an acknowledged bonsai mater in the United States.

Ernesta’s enthusiasm for the art intrigued Fred, and together they continued their journey by developing a large and varied collection of bonsai, including many tropicals. Along with Jerald Stowell, they also became founding members of the American Bonsai Society. At this time in their lives, Fred was involved in a distinguished law practice which included arguing before the Supreme Court. Fred found time, however, to become an outstanding bonsai teacher and in 1969 demonstrated rock planting at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and at the American Bonsai Society’s Symposium.

The Bicentennial of the United States in 1976 then played a pivotal role when Japan presented 53 superb bonsai and six viewing stones as a gift to the United States, signifying a “green peace” road to friendly cultural relations between the two countries. Dr. John Creech, then Director of the National Arboretum, worked with the Japanese to facilitate this magnificent gift and house it at the National Arboretum. After the National Bonsai Foundation was created in 1982, Dr. Creech’s successor at the National Arboretum, Dr. Marc Cathey, needed the interest of a strong and visionary leader. He knew the Ballards, the recognition of their work and respect in which they were held by the horticultural community. He went to Philadelphia to enlist Ernesta and she, in turn, recommended Fred. Although Fred chaired and was involved in numerous educational and service organizations, fortunately he had just retired from his distinguished legal career.

Fred was an accomplished man -- a lawyer from the University of Pennsylvania, an athlete who received the Charles Frazier Memorial Prize for the athlete with the highest academic average in 1937 and 1938; a Phi Beta Kappa; a Rhodes scholar, and a Friar. He was a member of the Pennsylvania State Board of Welfare and an early advocate of expanded support for poor families, and a supporter of Ernesta’s work as a women’s rights advocate. He was so fully committed to these other causes that it took a good deal of urging by John Naka, Janet Lanman, Chase Rosade and others to convince him to accept stewardship of the National Bonsai Foundation’s future.

Some say, “and the rest is history.” The vision and direction he brought to bear with the assistance of Bill Merritt and many others in the bonsai community have resulted in today’s National Bonsai & Penjing Museum; the development of the Naka North American Collection and Pavilion; the Wu Collection and Chinese Garden Pavilion; the Kaneshiro Conservatory and Tropical Collection; and one of his enduring interests, the development of the educational space known as the Mrose International Pavilion. He was generous in his acknowledgment of contributions of others made in a series of advisory convocations; graceful in his expression of the collective vision in several Museum publications; and most appreciative of the support of past and current directors of the U.S. National Arboretum, Dr. John L. Creech, Dr. Marc Cathey and Dr. Thomas J. Elias in the realization of what began as wonderment and curiosity.