NABF Newsletter No. 3

Update 5th World Bonsai Convention

Many people around the world are all ready getting excited by the prospect of attending the 5th World Bonsai Convention, May 28 - 31, 2005 in Washington D.C., held at the Washington Hilton. The host for the convention, and this website, is the North American Bonsai Federation (NABF), and through it the World Bonsai Friendship Federation. The five sponsors have come together in an historic alliance to bring the bonsai world one of its finest convention ever. The sponsors: the American Bonsai Society, Bonsai Clubs International, the National Bonsai Foundation, the Potomac Bonsai Association, and the U.S. National Arboretum.

The WBFF goal of promoting friendship and peace through bonsai is the force behind this assembly of speakers, demonstrators, workshop leaders, vendors, and bonsai aficionados from around the world. The 5th WBC will feature many big name bonsai personalities, including Hiroshi Takeyama (Chairman of Nippon Bonsai Association), and other established talented individuals with unique skills and bright bonsai futures. Mr. Takeyama leads the contingent of five Japanese artists, while plans include three from Latin America, two from Europe, two from China, fifteen from North America, and one each from the other four WBFF regions. We are awaiting confirmation of many of the speakers, so we cannot share the rest of the roster at this time.

The 5th WBC schedule will include sessions on bonsai history, bonsai pots, viewing stones (suiseki and Chinese Scholar’s rocks), bonsai display, and workshops on grass planting. Masterpiece exhibits of bonsai will delight all visitors. Other exhibits will include viewing stones, bonsai pots, and bonsai photography depicting bonsai from many countries. Vendors will have nearly an acre to display their trees, pots, stands, and accessories from across the globe. Workshops with fine material will be available for those who are interested, while raffles and auctions will entice the eager attendees. Social interaction will be strongly encouraged, with several receptions and dinners where all can meet new and old bonsai friends.

This is expected to be the largest bonsai convention ever held outside of Japan. If you have not yet done so, now is the time to make your plans to attend the 5th WBC, May 28 – 31, 2005 in Washington, D.C.