I just returned
from a fantastic trip to Colorado. It is always good to get out to the Rocky
Mountains but when you can mix them with good people and Bonsai it is truly
amazing! My last trip to Denver was back in June for the ABS/BCI Convention to
compete in the Joshua Roth New Talent Competition, where I took 1st
place. It was a really good show with some top knotch artists and vendors, as
well as, a beautiful exhibit. I was struck by the incredible trees, not only
the exhibit, but the quality of material being offered for the workshops. Rocky
Mountain Juniper, Ponderosa Pine, Colorado Blue Spruce, Sage Brush, the list
goes on. So I knew it was going to be a real treat to get out there as an
artist and get my hands on some of those guys.
I was able to
spend some time with the Rocky Mountain Bonsai Society offering a critique and
BYOT workshop on the first day. Some of the trees were European Euonymus,
Boxwood, Doug Fir, Limber Pine, Rocky Mountain Juniper, and even a few Ficus.
It was a nice mix and a good day to start off the trip.
The following day
was a good long one spent with my good friend and fellow artist Todd Schlafer.
Todd is known for collecting some of the highest quality material in Colorado.
So we picked a couple of world class trees and got busy with a gorgeous Utah
Juniper and a sweet Ponderosa Pine. 11hrs later we were satisfied with the days
labors and called it a night.
After we went and spent a good part of the afternoon with
Jerry Morris studying his collection of collected specimens and propagated
dwarf conifers and viewing the plethora of photos he has taken in his nearly 80
years of hiking and collecting in the Rocky Mountains.
That evening would conclude the journey with a demonstration
for the Rocky Mountain Bonsai Society. We only had an hour so it was short but
sweet with a good turnout. What better species to end a trip to Colorado on
than a nice Colorado Blue Spruce?
