Mammoth Sale 2025

Attended the annual fundraiser at Oakland Lake Merritt Garden Center. Met up with Gio, and met a women from the Humboldt County Bonsai Club (Kim).

Got there early but still quite a frenzied first 10 minutes. Mad scramble, hard to give a good look at trees and pots with much regard. It was mostly pick up and hold and then eventually someone puts something down. For the most part there were good values. Some of the trees were still dormant and unmarked species. Some experienced volunteers helped to identify a Pomegranate.

  • Suggest to check or repot with soil that drains more quickly—as the soil looked damp. Likes full sun. Bark was flakey, alternating buds. But not certain. The base was nice for $25. Not sure if should develop as is (taller) or trunk chop for a Shohin.

  • Japanese Black Pine was decent for $50, as a semi-cascade and movement in the trunk. Not a huge base, but with time. The ramification was started—Shohin.

  • Forest planting Oval, large and shallow—Washington state pottery, beautiful light blue speckled glaze. $65.

  • Forest planting Oval, medium and a little deeper—Japanese (?), cream glaze. $45.

Michael Wei