NABF Newsletter #5
December 2003

Bonsai in the Northwest U.S.

It is my great pleasure to introduce this fifth issue of the NABF Newsletter focusing on the Northwest region. Although our area of the country is young we have a long and dedicated interest in bonsai. Much of the early bonsai history of the Northwest is summarized by the effervescent, Jane Nelson. She has written an historical perspective on the pioneering days of the Puget Sound Bonsai Association. The PSBA is the ground-breaking organization that serves the bonsai community of the Northwest. It is one of the oldest and largest bonsai organizations in the USA and has proven invaluable in fostering bonsai throughout the Northwest.

We also spotlight a few of the bonsai vendors in our region who have made significant efforts in promoting and encouraging the growth of bonsai. Lynn Boyd has written a thoughtful article on one vendor in her neck of the Northwest, Diane Lund, and the valuable additions Diane has made to their bonsai community.

Sharon Muth, who founded Bonsai Northwest, is another vendor who gives us an inkling into what it is like to run a large bonsai business. It is currently operated and managed by her son, John, who is now having the fun and headaches.

Diane Robinson, wife of Dan, has written a marvelous article on the beauties and unique character of Elandan Gardens, the realization and fulfillment of a lifelong dream. It is indeed a spectacular garden as well as housing Dan Robinson’s bonsai collection. It is a must see for travelers to the Seattle area.

As long as you are in the Seattle area another collection that has to be seen is the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection. The collection is truly one of the finest in the world and is conveniently located near Seattle. If you have never visited it you are missing one of life’s great moments. The collection contains fabulous trees from the countries of the Pacific Rim and the trees are displayed in a truly marvelous setting. Included is a group of photos of some of the trees in the collection. Another very interesting article by Sharon Muth details how the first fifty trees of the collection were obtained.

We were also most fortunate in having David DeGroot, curator of the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection, write an article for this issue on a relatively unknown bonsai material, the Pacific yew. The plant is a relative of the common European and Japanese yews that have proven so valuable in bonsai. David’s article will undoubtedly stimulate much greater interest in this native material.

We are also delighted that Dan Robinson has put his many years of collecting native materials to pen and produced a marvelous article on the native materials of the Northwest and his experiences using them for bonsai. This will be a classic article for collectors of Northwest trees.

John Carleton Jr., a Seattle resident, has summarized his experience working with azaleas and has written a must-have article on azaleas for bonsai. The coastal regions of the Northwest are blessed with a moderate climate and good humidity levels that allow magnificent azaleas to be grown.

Also included is an article on the native five needle pines of Montana summarizing my experience using these materials for bonsai. The plants are pretty much unknown in the bonsai world and deserve more widespread use in areas that do not get too warm. The images of these trees in nature is an inspiration to those of us who can never get out to view these specimens in their native habitat.

Rounding out this issue is an introduction to one of our regions newest bonsai clubs, the Wasatch Bonsai Society. We wish them a hearty welcome. They are well on the way to being a vital contributor to the bonsai culture of Utah.

I wish to thank Dennis Howke of Spokane, Assistant Editor, for his help in editing and preparing this edition of the NABF Newsletter.

Jerry Meislik
Northwest Region Editor