Bonsai Trees Draw Fans to Washington

NPR | By Petra Mayer

Published May 29, 2005 at 12:00 AM EDT

Fay Sharer took part in a workshop on pruning and training bonsai, working on a California pine.

The Goshin Bonsai was begun in 1953 by John Naka; he is the center of an exhibit at the Washington Arboretum.

The fifth World Bonsai Convention is taking place this weekend at the Washington Hilton, and convention organizers say it's the biggest bonsai event ever. Enthusiasts are gathering to display the plants they have pruned, bound and trained into twisted, complex forms.

The event included both showcases and workshops, as the practitioners of a very patient art exchanged secrets and tips. Bonsai creators say a good plant can take a lifetime -- or several. One famous bonsai at the National Arboretum was first potted in 1626.

Petra Mayer

Petra Mayer died on November 13, 2021. She has been remembered by friends and colleagues, including all of us at NPR. The Petra Mayer Memorial Fund for Internships has been created in her honor.

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