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One of the best kept secrets in the Washington, D.C. panorama of museums is the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the Naitonal Aboretum (another under utilized treasure!)
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As the map shows, NBPM is not a traditional museum. It's not a sterile, climate controlled environment based on classical architectural symmetry. It's mostly an open air space, like a zoo for bonsai, if you will. And it's wonderful.
Today my first stop was the North American Pavilion. Here is one of the treasures I found there.
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North American Collection #267:
Foemina Juniper,
Juniperus chinensis "Foemina". The plant has been in training since 1970 (
for 40 years).
"In Training" is the constant status of a tree subjected to the Bonsai relationship.
From the North American Pavilion, it's a logical cross over to the Japanese Pavilion where I encountered these three Bonsai among so many others.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-4eFF4plQ2MZRte5-YCAYA-7QXAk6bGuEaC3J4-JDK9eCl3BR8D3zfp06G3phmn08N3OEch5EGnvUm9U41GQ09aZuxLkIRP7Bauc0RUrTiB_XzRe5WGQE0ZsMfVvoK6tNjb2/s280/Bonsai01.jpg)
Japanese Collection #52:
Trident Maple,
Acer buergerianum. The plant has been in training since 1895 (
for 115 years). This particular plant was a gift to the NBPM by Japanese Prince Takamatsu. The Trident Maple is also among the most popular/common deciduous trees for training in the art of Bonsai.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWHzhl0IB1t8Q7r3c93OGpOGHvYqBLiXOG4utAAZoSf6jU2PGfUz8T49FxxgAie32_NfMY5l9eeL85sdWAvVKIdPZvQZGUzJpZel4vNIjIYti8Z13nOD2FejPYoX0CLFQ0AUG/s320/Bonsai02.jpg)
Japanese Collection #32:
"Higo" Japanese Camellia,
Camellia japonica "Higo". An example of a bush being Bonsai'd. This one has been in training since 1876 (
for 134 years). It was simply stunning in reality. The trunk not only wraps itself around a stone, but provides a haven for a bed of bonsai'd ferns.
As you prepare to exit the Japanese Pavilion and enter into the intimate Japanese Stroll Garden, you encounter the crown jewel of the collection.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3Ec7ChnQZYcuCKd0UK7xTqNjDwiI_fh41lJG2lE1CGhyphenhyphenQWHQ25PRThVNhLa3T6ZTxigfKQWWh_yWXNA6FibXifoFbOIOq_OCJ_174uPPuPBKxLE8aYbLuo0SBqLP3QxfN6I0/s280/Bonsai03.jpg)
Japanese Collection #2:
Japanese White Pine,
Pinus Parviflora "Miyajima". This quintessential example of the art of Bonsai has been in training since 1625 (
for 385 years). As a thing, this Bonsai is not overly impressive, and yet here you are; standing before a being that was alive 150 year before the found of the nation which it now calls home. Amazing is all I can think to call it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_PVmqw61Wt21uMx-IaS8GAd7XeV3R8OeTA2olP4kl8XofJm_qEr4ucf5K7dmxWvONrCrGQqUEvzj2Jjeuibv4QMAUNHWhe2vTUjZ2j7IEyXke2sI7V-SEEf4CnnaL7Y0ejCJ/s280/CameliaJapanGarden.jpg)
Beautiful pink camellia blooming in the Japanese Strolling Garden.
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Next I entered the Chinese pavilion through this beautiful circular entrance.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdthac9RD6zRZ1w-orQ8B7iKGOuBSqXbQo8SbkRz_SVBC5RDVGWWZlhb6x6yTy0TAUEYeOKGecrSxbvDnpaDaGr6LFnSy54dvrlvjB0DJ4mvR6L2KW7Qe201XB27dNS-3CqAC/s320/Bonsai04.jpg)
And the tree that first caught my attention was this
Trident Maple,
Acer buergerianum which was on display without any other pedigree--
age unknown. Even the mongrels hold the power to thrill.
Chinese Elm,
Ulmus parvifolia. In training since 2004 (
for 6 years).
Further on in the Chinese Pavilion I encountered this absolute gem of the art of Bonsai and Penjing. Penjing is about the stone; Bonsai, the plant. They are placed on a platform that also allows for the inclusion of water. Altogether, the effect is that of an island, a miniature world in which the mind can escape.
As I continued to tour a little girl ran up to it and exclaimed, "
Now, this is what I am saying is BEAUTIFUL!" How can you argue with that?
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Here's a detail of the same Bonsai with a little statute of a fisherman.
My last stop was in the covered International Pavilion. This is the space in which they mount seasonal and/or topical exhibitions. Because it's an interior and the plants need natural light, the shows are usually brief and the space often empty. On the occasion of this visit, I discovered that a show was up:
Fall Fruit & Foliage. And today was the actual opening!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2FjTEB83DEvTNWB_u3QYcofzOcrrg6p9EmOnM8byNIqFri78yL9iCL5D9h28DCVCNsLrIfLSqPa_mo1LtMxIaxjtFtvCPbOc0TEvNxujuMcKri_0yHV0Y81GGoXSxF-3ZFM6/s320/BonsaiPoster.jpg)
Though only the poster let me in on this little fact. Lucky me!
Here are three of the trees in the exhibition.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQm3zQjq0b3HC18Wr1WzZqG02mq_ADrAV9XuItXJwM7nq-ivYHtS8j8_n9181xJqkXF5LaMM4u-390Drup3Ju83esdDoDNJlAql2KUcQCxWv9QToRxZPsFw20UlL51eX00uOes/s320/Bonsai05.jpg)
North American Collection #214:
English Hawthorne, c
rataegus oxycantha. In training since 1953 (
for 57 years).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuEv7SDcTOy4KofWpyjQLHgU0IiR22OGknryY9U3fpGi4aoNe3AnFgJ4QkHoCDAjFGxUCyMTLI6YK7RLbJPAKIilNSFTWBzkiQlW7GxioYX_aPoqIeWGj-VLnt4DcnFVcsIPnv/s280/Bonsai06.jpg)
North American Collection #143:
Pomegranate:
Punica granatum. In training since 1963 (
for 47 years).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirml0RJ1suMrEAaw_CbRoTiUkUNeDZjvCpqAClcKh8O3n6NuXAg0waYl5ma1VXuVdWxX4YcMseuzcXu4yNA4eKKlbqf_nDnS04bBcw8EHTwI1Smn1lhDI_bdZWOkL9Ovc3Z5UO/s320/Bonsai07.jpg)
Chinese Collection #141:
Trident Maple,
Acer buergerianum--age unknown.
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