This past weekend marked the GSBF Bonsai Garden Lake Merritt’s Mammoth Fundraiser – the annual auction and sale event that brings so many of Northern California’s bonsai enthusiasts to Oakland each February. This year’s auction comprised nearly 100 lots including some impressive trees from a private collection. Tools, pots, stones and bonsai took their turns on the block and all but a handful sold.
Black pine
Olive
Korean hornbeam
It was fun to see people sizing up the lots, making budgets, and eyeing each other ahead of the competitive bidding. As soon as the first tree went up for bid, the attention turned to the trees.
Garden juniper
Korean hornbeam
Korean hornbeam
Elm and cedar
It was nice for the auction to include some high-quality trees. Although the reserves on some of the nicer trees took some audience members by surprise, the numbers weren’t terribly out of line.
Shimapku on a rock
Japanese maple forest
Gordon Deeg barked while Jay McDonald hefted lots.
Gordon and Jay – 2013
For those of you who missed the event two years ago:
Gordon and Jay – 2011
The GSBS staff has the drill down. Hats off to them for executing another successful fundraiser.
