Comprising a Life

The Bonsai, Travels and Haiku of Vaughn Banting

The National Bonsai And Penjing Museum

There is a real treasure hidden in the outskirts of Washington DC and like any real treasure one has to do a little digging to find it. Its The National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, housed within the grounds The National Arboretum.

There you'll find a cluster of special structures and pavilions home to three separate world-class bonsai collections; The Japanese Collection, The American Collection and The Chinese Collection (referred to as Penjing). So the next time you are in Washington DC make sure you plan a visit to this unique Museum and its live artifacts, you won't be disappointed. See also http://www.vlbanting.com/bonsaiandotherfriends.htm

The following photographs include samples of the trees in each collection as well as views taken of the grounds and from inside the International Pavilion. Included also are photographs of  members of the National Bonsai Foundation and other well known bonsai enthusiasts Note: At least half of the photographs under this topic were taken by my good friend Alan Walker then president of BCI.

National Arboretum Visitor's Center

 

On National Arboretum grounds

Entrance to collections

American Pavilion entrance and view of the greenhouse housing tropical bonsai

The "Papa" Kanishiro greenhouse

Seen here (lower left) in his bonsai collection, "Papa" Kanishira was sensei to all the bonsai clubs in Hawaii.

Foemina Juniper, Juniperous chinensis 'Foemina'

John Naka (1914-2004) taken in his studio with "Goshin" in July 1980

 

More American Collection

My donated Red Swamp Maple, Acer rubrum ssp. drummond in Summer

In early Autumn

In early Winter

Its early history; seedlings were collected in 1974 with training beginning that same year

As it looked before it was donated to the American Collection in 1986

Maple forest with earlier currator, Dan Chiplis (1952-2004). We lost Dan late this year after a long struggle with lymphoma.

Taken at 2003 Symposium

Maple grove in 2005

My donated Water Elm, Planera aquatica

In Summer in full leaf. Note; this tree had to be removed from the collection due to its failing health.

My newly donated Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua

Sweetgum 2005 convention

In fall color exhibit at the bonsai museum

Summer leaf pruning when it was still on my benches

In middle Autumn

In Winter

My donated Bald Cypress, Taxodium distichum in flat-top style

Donation of flat-top Bald Cypress, (Taxodium distichum) to American Collection

My donated flattop Cyprus, needing to be straightened a little

 

As it appeared in 2005

Crabapple, Malus sp. donated by Richard Meszler

Bald Cypress, Taxodium distichum donated by Guy Guidry

Guy Guidry with his cypress

Guy in front of my trees

Trident Maple, Acer buergerianum, donated by Brussel Martin

American Collection, Shohin group

Entrance to Japanese Collection

More Japanese Collection

Japanese Collection satsuki azalea

Japanese Collection, Japanese White Pine (Pinus parviflora)

As it looks now in 2005

New entrance gate to collections

Wisteria redirected to new gate

Close-up view International Pavilion

International Pavilion and upper courtyard

The International Pavilion before the façade was added to the front

 

Chase Rosade and Harry Hirao inside International Pavilion

Suiseki Collection, 'puddle stone'

Suiseki Collection 'cascade stone'

Inside International Pavilion showing earlier exhibit of bonsai tools and pots

International Pavilion, showing computerized records of bonsai publications

Remodeled interior of International Pavilion, map showing lay out of museum complex

Newer exhibit in the International Pavilion

A single educational box, opened

International Pavilion, Chinese Scholar Room in honor of Jean Smith

Jean Smith directed the course of BCI (Bonsai Clubs International) for many productive years as its president.

Featured bonsai in Exhibit Wing

Needle Juniper, Juniperous ridgida

More bonsai in Exhibit Wing

John Naka's photograph and famous Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica) just two days after his death in Spring of 2004

Janet Lanman, everyone's sweetheart at the collections and volunteer extraordinaire

In the foreground; John Naka, me, Cheryl Manning and Arschal Morrel

Chris Cochrane, Secratary National Bonsai Foundation

 

Talking with Dan Chiplis, past Head Currator who just passed away late in 2004 after a long illness

Doris Froning famous for her "shohin" size bonsai

 

Upper Courtyard; here bonsai are selected from any of the three collections, featured for a time and then rotated back to their respective pavilions

Soli Rosade, John Naka, Mary Bloomer and Alan Walker

Upper courtyard, another view

The story of the Atrium

When brain cancer threatened end my bonsai teaching career, students, friends and other bonsai teachers, knowing it was a special interest of mine, spontaneously wrote out checks in the amount of $500 payable to the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum (then called The National Bonsai Collection) during ceremonies at the Second World Bonsai Convention in Orlando FL.

This action by these generous individuals remains the greatest single honor ever bestowed upon me and I will never forget all of my friends who were a part of that effort. The money was put towards the cost of building the atrium which today connects the Exhibit's Wing to the International Pavilion.

Vaughn Banting

Looking at plaque, having survived second brain tumor

And still standing after surviving a third brain surgery

Another view of the Atrium showing Exhibition Wing

With fellow Vietnam Veteran and good friend, Ray Casidy

In Atrium from days when I was walking much better

In the Atrium in Spring of 2004 , years after fourth (and hopfully final) brain surgery

Still in need of hardscaping; the lower courtyard showing entrances to Atrium and Chinese Pavilion

Penjing Pavilion, housing a collection of Penjing (a Chinese horticultural art similar to bonsai) showing its beautiful red doors

Group entering Chinese Pavilion

Chinese Pavilion circle entrance gate

Path through pavilion and tree benches

Interior details

Samples of the collection

 

Japanese Black Pine, Pinus thunbergii

Twin Chinese elms, Ulmus parvifolia

Japanese Cedar, Cryptomeria japonica

Fukien Tea, Carmona microphilla

Fukien Tea, Carmona microphylla

View back through Chinese gate looking out on lower coutyard and bonsai workshop / lecture hall building

Roger Case, me, Alan Walker and George Heffelfinger

Pat Lucke Morris, well known bonsai enthusiast

 

A spiritted ride through the gravel with Mary Bloomer

Jack Sustic, living collections Curator and well loved by all

With Mary Homes, Alan Walker and Chase Rosade

An earlier picture of Galyle and I with John and Alice Naka

At a board meeting with Soli Rosade, me, Dr. Elias Director of the National Arboretum and Felix Laughlin President of the National Bonsai Foundation

 

Chris Yeapanis, loyal member of and worker in the National Bonsai Foundation and all around good guy

Johann Klozen, Executive Director. How would we manage without her?

Glen Rausch, a director of The National Bonsai Foundation

Jane and Jules Koetch

We pause now for some pictures from the past

Here are a few pictures that will bring back memories to the earlier bonsai growing community.

Dr. John Creech, Arboritum Director during the time the first bonsai were donated to the National Arboritum by the Japan people

 

Henry Kissinger being welcomed by the Secretary of agriculture at 1976 dedication of the Japanese Collection

 

Dr. Henry Kissinger at the podium

 

At the ceromonies were Connie and Horace Hinds, primary founders of B.C.I. (Bonsai Clubs International).

 

First viewing of trees after they were brought out of quarantine

 

More first viewing of the bonsai sent from Japan to commemorate our nation's Bicentennial in 1976

 

These next pictures are included as a tribute to John Naka

Photo taken just three days after we lost John Naka 1914 - 2004

 

John sweeping up after working on Goshin

 

Jack Billit and John Naka

Howard Vanzant, Cheryl Manning and John Naka

"Back in the day". John Naka with two of his best students, Ben Oki and Frank Goya thril crowds at joint 1973 bonsai convention in Atlanta

Demonstration material; a collected California Juniper

 

John showing tools of the trade

 

The trio beginning work

 

John's tools and view of audiance

 

Working on area to be "jined"(bark removed)

 

Close up of jin work

 

Continued work on jin

 

Finished work. A larger pot would be selected to correct the angle