NABF Newsletter No. 3

Feature #4

DOROTHY S. YOUNG

By Jerald P. Stowell

Dorothy S. Young was a leader and teacher in the promotion of bonsai in the Northeast section of the United States. Dorothy Young guided the official publication of the American Bonsai Society from its birth to a healthy six year old from 1967 to 1972. She was appointed consulting editor in 1977 and 1978, and held the position of editorial advisor from 1979 to 1985. Untiring in her efforts to create a stimulating well-designed periodical, she gave unstintingly of her artistic talents and time

She first learned about bonsai when she read from an article about the Larz Anderson Collection at the Arnold Arboretum in Boston, Massachusetts. In the late 1950’s Dorothy became actively interested in bonsai as she had a supply of rejected poorly shaped culls from Keith Valley Nursery operated by her husband, Luther, in Spring House, Pennsylvania. In 1969 Dorothy lead her first trip to Japan. Later trips to Japan and Hong Kong, deepened her appreciation and understanding of the Orient. She studied horticulture at the Barns Foundation and over the years, acquired a good library of horticultural books. She was one of the founders of the Pennsylvania Bonsai Society and a Director of the American Bonsai Society. She was President of the American Bonsai Society from 1973 to 1976. She authored over thirty articles on various subjects from the inception of the American Bonsai Society until 1985. Prentice-Hall published her reference text Bonsai: The Art And Technique in 1985.