For the first time the Tucson Bonsai Society will be showcasing their beautiful bonsai (miniature trees) at the newly opened Yume Japanese Gardens, all day on April 27 and 28. The garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

Good things do come in small packages: Yume Japanese Gardens hosts the annual Spring Show of the Tucson Bonsai Society!
Join us Saturday and Sunday to view dozens of artfully trained miniature trees and shrubs, to see pruning demonstrations, and to receive helpful tips on plant selection and care from dedicated Bonsai enthusiasts. Learn about choosing containers and display pots, grafting and root reduction, which species are easiest to train, and the history of this 1,000-year-old Japanese tradtion.

More info: www.tucsonbonsaisociety.com, or
www.tucsonjapanesegardens.org.

The Tucson Bonsai Society states that they are Southern Arizona’s oldest bonsai society, founded in 1972.

bonsai on display at Yume Japanese gardens at grand opening in January, 2013, courtesy of Carolyn Classen

From Tucson Bonsai Society webpage:

Our club meets each month on the third Sunday with a planned program, followed by a raffle and open workshop, instructed by our certified mentors. These meetings are open free to the public, at our new location: Catalina United Methodist Church, Building H, Room 230

I grew up appreciating bonsai, as my parents were bonsai lovers in Hawaii, and attended shows and even owned a few of these trees and worked at maintaining/pruning them in their lovely ceramic pots. My father used to show me with pride his small collection whenever I visited them over the years. And I still attend these bonsai shows & exhibits whenever I can.

Drop by the Yume Japanese gardens for some tranquility, and view these lovely potted trees on display. Demonstrations on bonsai care will also be given throughout the weekend.

For more information on Japanese culture in Southern Arizona, go to our website, www.southernazjapan.org.

Now in its 11th year, the Southern Arizona Association for Japanese Education (SAAJE) is hosting this language contest & exhibition about Japanese culture. The half day event is at PCC West this year.

Program

Exhibitions: 12:00 – 4:00

Opening Ceremony / Speech Presentations (Category A): 12:30 – 1:00

15 Minute Break

Japanese Traditional Dance by Suzuyuki-Kai: 1:15 – 1:35

Audience Contest / Speech Presentations (Category B): 1:40 – 2:10

15 Minute Break

Aikido Demonstration by Sonoran Aikikai: 2:25 – 2:45

Audience Contest / Speech Presentations (Category C, Group 1): 2:50 – 3:15

10 Minute Break

Audience Contest / Speech Presentations (Category C, Group 2): 3:30 – 3:50

Taiko Performance by Odaiko Sonora: 4:00 – 4:30

Awards Ceremony: 4:35 – 5:00

Our Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition will have a table there, with information about us and our new website, www.southernazjapan.org. And I will be teaching hanafuda, a popular Japanese card game in Hawaii and South Korea (but not in Japan). There are also usually tables/exhibits on kyudo, origami, temari, go, koi ponds, Japanese food, calligraphy — and other “all things Japanese”. There will also be information about the newly opened Yume Japanese Gardens at 2130 N. Alvernon Way.

Origami flower on boulder, photo courtesy of M. Craig

Yesterday I watched instructor M. Craig (half Japanese Nisei) teach and fold origami (Japanese paper folding) in a children’s workshop, and also took photos below of her lovely origami creations scattered throughout the newly opened Yume Japanese Gardens in Tucson.

An origami workshop for adults is scheduled for today at 2 p.m. at the Yume Japanese Gardens. The workshop costs $10 and does not include admission to the gardens.

M. Craig teaching two children and a parent to fold origami butterflies

Ursula Hein admiring her origami butterfly

L – R: Origami teacher M. Craig, students Madeline Riccitello, Ursula Hein

Here’s a sampling of some of the beauty of what you will see at this origami exhibit, ongoing till April 14. Yume Japanese Gardens is open daily, 9:30 to 4:30 p.m. at 2130 N. Alvernon Way (just south of Tucson Botanical Gardens). There are many more beautiful & colorful origami creations throughout the gardens to view.

origami butterfly

origami plant boxes

origami turtles

origami fish near koi pond

origami turtle next to koi pond

origami star on display shelf

origami white rose

origami hummingbird on wisteria vine

Fore more information about Japanese culture/events in Tucson, please go to Southern Arizona Japanese Cultural Coalition www.southernazjapan.org. My previous post announcing this first-time 2 week origami exhibit (click here).