Golden State Bonsai Collection

The Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF), the non-profit bonsai organization consisting of over 70 local bonsai clubs established and maintains two bonsai collections. These collections provide infrastructures where exceptional bonsai are maintained for public viewing for the current and future generations.

The idea of two world-class masterpiece bonsai collections in the Northern and Southern areas of California was conceived by the Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF) Board during Hideko Metaxas’ presidency in 1979. In the early 90’s, several sites were investigated and considered for the Northern California permanent bonsai garden. Under the leadership of Seiji Shiba and his Site Selection Committee, a lease was signed with the City of Oakland Parks and Recreation Department in 1996. The leased land consisted of approximately one acre of property located in Lake Merritt Park.

The Golden State Bonsai Collection-North subsequently, under the guidance of Jim Ransohoff (Landscape Architect), designed and developed a dry stream Japanese garden, complete with a series of meandering pathways, with strategically located pedestals and benches on which masterpiece bonsai and suiseki were displayed. To complete the project, an entrance gate and perimeter Japanese-style fence was erected. In addition, several structures were designed and built, including a multi-purpose building, docent house, and miscellaneous storage structures.

The bonsai garden was opened to the public in November 1999, and the large multi-purpose building was completed in 2001. There are in excess of 100 bonsai specimens on display in the garden.

The trees in its collection ranges from traditionally styled Japanese Black Pine to tree species collected locally and styled by California bonsai artists. The collection houses the probably the most historically significant bonsai in the United States. The tree, Daimyo Oak (Quercus dentata), is believed to be the first bonsai to have been brought into the United States during the 1860s as a gift to Anson Burlingame, who was the United States minister to China, appointed by President Abraham Lincoln. Photos to follow are among the many other displays at the Collection.

California Juniper (Juniperus californica)
The tree, donated by Chuichi Kawahira, was collected in 1954 from the high desert region near Palmdale in Southern California. After being collected, it was grown in sand for three years to develop a new root system, and then it was transferred to this fine pot about 1964. At one time, it was believed to be one of the most photographed trees outside of Japan. The bonsai was shown in 1973 and 1978 editions of California Bonsai Society’s publication, “Bonsai in California.”Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens)
This was the first tree donated to the garden by the late Bill Sullivan in memory of his wife, Nancy. It was found about 20 years ago in a Marin County slide area. It lay on the ground for two or three years before Bill Sullivan received permission to remove it. Originally, the tree was about 20 feet tall, and one side had rotted. This determined the taper and height of the present tree.
California Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia)
The tree, donated by Katsumi Kinoshita, was collected by him in Carmel Valley area, approximately in the mid 1970’s. Also called the “Carmel Oak,” this tree has very small leaves. It is 22” high with a 9” diameter trunk in a brown oval drum pot, approximately 20 x 15” and 5.5” deep.
California Juniper (Juniperus californica) This tree, donated by the late John Naka, was collected by him on November 29, 1989 from the Northwest end of the Mojave Desert on Quall Mountain Ranch at a place called Sand Canyon. This large tree is named “Heisei” (pronounced “hay-say”), which was derived from the Japanese Era year of its collection. The 1989 was the year the Emperor of Japan named the new era “Heisei.” The earthenware, purple-brown, drum-shaped container was purchased in Japan by John Naka.
Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii)
This tree is a donation from the late Mas Imazumi Estate. This bonsai is reputed to be over 400 years old and was featured in the Pan Pacific Exposition on Treasure Island in 1915. The tree had been in the possession of Mas Imazumi for the past 40 years.
San Jose Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘San Jose’)
The material was initially purchased in 1974 by its donor John Castle from a nursery in West Los Angeles. The tree was propagated from a cutting in 1945, approximately. Pruned, wired, shaped and planted in an oversized bonsai pot in 1976. Ongoing refinement of its original design concept continued for several years. Planted in its present bonsai container in 1987.
Shimpaku Juniper (Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii) grafted on Prostrata Juniper (Juniperus chinensis cv. parsonii)
In the mid 70’s, Dianne Cook acquired a silhouette photograph of the juniper from Southern California and the Bonsai Society of San Francisco (the donor) decided to use it as their club logo tree. Dianne Cook found out that the tree belonged to a prominent Los Angeles attorney. Afraid of a possible lawsuit for using the tree as a club logo, she sought the attorney’s permission to use it, which was ultimately granted by the owner. Some years later, the attorney passed on and in his will, he donated the bonsai to Bonsai Society of San Francisco. The tree originally belonged to Mas Ishii, owner of Chikugo-en Miniature Bonsai Nursery in Gardina, California. His specialty was grafting Shimpaku junipers and Black Pines. On this bonsai, over 80 grafts of Shimpaku Juniper were performed by Ishii in the late 1940’s on to a Prostrata Juniper base – none of the grafts are now noticeable. The cascade has been shortened over the years. Recently in 2003, Yasuo Mitsuya from Japan further refined the tree.


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