Bonsai Club Visits With David DeGroot

Members of the Portland Bonsai Club helped with chores at the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection and for their reward were invited to the home of David DeGroot (the curator) for coffee and treats and to view his private collection. In addition David invited the members to bring one of their own trees for him to evaluate and for his constructive criticism. His garden was spectacular and he and his wife were gracious hosts. It's not hard to understand why David is a world renowned bonsai expert. It was a long day but well worth the effort.

Bonsai Volunteer Work Party

This summer Patty went to the Seattle Pacific Rim Bonsai garden with a group of volunteers from our local bonsai club. Each year we help the garden perform various chores like cleanup and weed pulling. In exchange they get to tour the exhibit and go behind the scenes into the greenhouses where the rest of the exhibit is housed. This exhibit is world famous and has many donated trees that are very old. Click here to see more of their gallery. http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/aboutus/whereweoperate/bonsaicollection/bonsai/photogallery.asp

This year the curator gave them a special treat after working when he invited them to his home to view his private collection of trees. She said it was truly amazing to see these rare specimens and to visit with the curator at his home. I will do another quick blog to show off the pictures from his private collection.

A Quickie At The Beach