The World Bonsai Convention —but much, much more...

摘要

Taking a break at a little cafe on the conference floor, I'm trying to sort it all out, this experience, our first bonsai world conference. Sometimes it seems quite overwhelming: 950 people mulling around a meeting hosted by the North American BonsaiFederation representing the World Bonsai Federation, sponsored by the American Bonsai Society, Bonsai Clubs International, the National Bonsai Foundation,The Potomac Bonsai Association and the U.S. National Arboretum. And, bringing it all together, a tribute to John Naka and Saburo Kato, bonsai artists, together inspiring peace "to young and old, rich and poor world wide" through nature, through little trees in pots. It started out as something special to do on Memorial Day Weekend and suddenly one daygrew when a letter arrived in May that our suiseki had been accepted for exhibition. And so began the assembling of all its components: stone, stand, companion plant, and the rushing off to Fed Ex to have it mailed in time for exhibition. Ironically, itwas so different from being one with our suiseki, or patiently studying our bonsai trees in peaceful meditation. This was more like holding our breath until it arrived safely and we had caught up with it.