Sorry For the lack of posts lately, readers! I’ve been working on updating the chops database, which is a long and arduous process, as there are more than twice as many chops I need to add as what is already there. Thanks for bearing with me and I hope you’re still reading! Anyway, I’m taking a break from the chops today for this post. Enjoy!

This weekend I attended the Nashville Bonsai Society Regional show and expo, and I wasn’t disappointed! This was my first professional level show where I entered a display, and I walked away with an honorable mention, and an invitation from Bill Valavanis to show my display at the National Exhibition in September. So, all in all, a success for my first show I think. The trees shown were all very top shelf, so to be recognized at all at this show was quite an honor.
Here is my display and the items shown. Thanks to Bill Valavanis for two photos of the haze and Pyracantha, and my full display, his ninja photo skills are so much better than mine.

The full display, the one with my Honorable Mention award courtesy of Bill Valavanis and his awesome Photoshop skills. The awards were painted by Steven Miller. He did an excellent job.

Pyracantha in a Bushuan pot.

Haze(Japanese Sumac) in a second generation Heian Kouzan pot.

Mixed Shitakusa in a very old Japanese Akae porcelain pot from Tarugen.
Other Displays
There were many great trees on display. Here are a few of my favorites(note there were several others that were really sweet, Shannon Salyer’s displays in particular, that I couldn’t get good pictures of).

Two displays from Bill Valavanis. The Shishigashira took an honorable mention as well, and the Koto Hime took Best Professional.

A ponderosa pine from my friend Don Kimble. Great tree and a cool Ram accent.

Red Pine, Jane Kluis variety.

Buttonwood from Michael Fedducia. This tree took the Mike Blanton award for Best Native Species.

Shohin display created by Shannon Salyer.

Very Nice Spruce from John Wall. Also took an Honorable Mention.

Very sweet Chuhin root over rock trident and cascade black pine, from Gary Andes.

A bunjinji pine on a Jiita which took the award for display aesthetics.

An interesting display from the show’s brain, Owen Reich.

And last, but certainly not least, a Rocky Mountain Juniper from the late Mike Blanton, entered by his wife Amy and detail wired for the show by Michael Fedducia. Named “Bucket List”, this tree took best in show, deservedly so. Mike was a dear part of the Nashville community and the bonsai community at large and is greatly missed. Awesome to see his legacy living on, in both his bonsai, as well as in all the enthusiasts and professionals he inspired who were at this event.
This was an excellent show, and I hope next year more of you make it out. It’s definitely worth the trip, and Owen and John do a great job with it!
Thanks for reading!