The GSBF Collection at The Huntington
Entrance to the lower bonsai court.
In 1968, the Huntington Botanical Gardens developed a Bonsai Court as an expansion of the Japanese Garden, which had been built in 1912. In 1993, The Huntington combined forces with the Golden State Bonsai Federation to expand and improve the bonsai collection. The Huntington now has over 400 bonsai, including some fifty trees that make up the GSBF Collection at the Huntington.
Important Announcements
Event Announcement!
Bonsai-A-Thon at the Huntington Gardens
Two-Day Event | February 26 & 27, 2022
Bonsai-A-Thon at the Huntington Gardens
Two-Day Event | February 26 & 27, 2022
he following trees will be auctioned at the Bonsai-A-Thon at Huntington Gardens on February 26-28, 2022. These trees come from the Huntington's permanent bonsai collection. Please contact minguseyes@gmail.com if you have questions.
Event Postponement!
Shohin Society Seminar 2022 Postponed
Shohin Society Seminar 2022 Postponed
A Message From the California Shohin Society
Sorry to say that the Shohin Seminar 2022 has been postponed until February 3–5, 2023.
COVID-19 has been of concern to many participants and the sudden surge of the omicron variant here in California has consolidated the feeling that extra caution is still needed.
Refunds will be mailed back to everyone who had signed up.
Don’t forget to call the Hotel Mission de Oro in Santa Nella to either cancel your reservation or reschedule it for next year. The hotel has accommodated the postponement plan.
We will miss gathering with everyone this year and hope to see you the first weekend in February 2023.
Sorry to say that the Shohin Seminar 2022 has been postponed until February 3–5, 2023.
COVID-19 has been of concern to many participants and the sudden surge of the omicron variant here in California has consolidated the feeling that extra caution is still needed.
Refunds will be mailed back to everyone who had signed up.
Don’t forget to call the Hotel Mission de Oro in Santa Nella to either cancel your reservation or reschedule it for next year. The hotel has accommodated the postponement plan.
We will miss gathering with everyone this year and hope to see you the first weekend in February 2023.
More About The GSBF Collection at The Huntington
For practical purposes, the GSBF and the Huntington bonsai collections are treated as one. The trees are displayed together in the Upper and Lower Bonsai Courts, and maintained in the Ben Oki Nursery, when not on display.
Photos of the Ben Oki Nursery
The lower bonsai court is entered by walking through the zen garden where you are greeted by a large selectionbonsai on display. Displays are changed depending on season, blooming of plants, leaf color changes and fruit. The ever changing display means no two visits to the bonsai courts will be the same.
Photo of Lower Bonsai Court
In between the two courts sits the Harry Hirao Court, where visitors are encouraged to touch the stones.
Photos of Harry Hirao Court and Harry Hirao working on a California Juniper
The Upper Bonsai Court was added in 2012. There is a memorial to Kay and Khan Komai in remembrance of their work, help and mentoring to the Southern California Bonsai Community. The upper court also houses the Shohin bonsai, which are bonsai that are eight inches or less in height. Housed in their own alcove across from the Komai Memorial Bench, this is a perfect place to sit and listen to the water moving over the stones in the stream and enjoy the bonsai on display.
Photos of the Upper Court
Penjing in the new Penjing Court in the expanded Chinese Garden
