The first time I visited the Kokufu-ten was in 1999. I remember thinking, “wow, that’s a lot of trees.” Over the course of a week I saw the exhibit twice and felt like I was only just starting to gain an appreciation for the subtle artistry that went into the trees. This year I was in and out of the exhibit on several occasions which gave me the opportunity to relax and enjoy the trees that struck my fancy. On a couple of occasions I visited the exhibit with friends – other times I wondered through the aisles of trees alone. Just about every visit led to an encounter with at least one of you (thanks for saying hello!) which I greatly appreciated.
Here, then, is a final pass through the 2014 Kokufu-ten, starting with some of the deciduous trees on display.
Ume – Kokufu Prize
Ume – Kokufu prize
Trident maple – look at the roots!
Chinese quince – great branches
Japanese flowering quince ‘Chojubai’
Trident maple
Japanese maple
Ume
Trident maple
Korean hornbeam
And here’s an accent plant.
Accent plant in an antique roof tile on a hand-crafted slab
And a broadleaf evergreen.
Satsuki azalea
And finally, some more of the conifers on display.
Japanese black pine
White pine
Chinese juniper
Japanese black pine
Chinese juniper
Yew
Chinese juniper
Yew
Chinese juniper
Ezo spruce
White pine
Needle juniper
Chinese juniper
Thanks for joining me on this return to the exhibit – I hope you enjoyed the tour!
