Visit the Ginkgo Awards 2007

September 15-16 2007 Watch simultaneous two-day demonstrations by: Sandro Signeri (Italy) Hans Van Meer (The Netherlands) Udo Fisher (Germany) Bill Valavanis (USA) .
	The Ginkgo Exhibition and Awards is the most prestigious bonsai event outside Japan. Nowhere else could you see, up close and personal, such a gathering of bonsai masterpieces created by ordinary westerners like you and me. Every one of the hundreds of trees on display is rigorously selected from many thousand submissions by European bonsai enthusiasts, both professional and amateur, from Spain to The Czech Republic, from Scotland to Sicily. Selections take place at a number of events held in each country throughout the year preceding the exhibition, guaranteeing the owners time to thoroughly prepare their trees for this great event. The competition to have a tree accepted is intense, and the immensely high quality of the exhibits is a testimony to the dedication and expertise of their creators. In addition to the spectacular display, visitors have the opportunity to meet and mingle with some of Europe's top artists, to watch two-day demonstrations on magnificent material, and to buy products that you simply can't find in the USA. (NB: Unfortunately it is illegal to import plants from Europe without a USDA license and quarantine approval.)
	The founder and organizer of the Ginkgo Exhibition and Awards is nursery owner, Danny Use. As a long-time devotee of bonsai he saw the need for a superior event in Europe and turned his dream into reality in 1997. He began by touring the collections of every known artist in Europe to select personally the trees for display in the first exhibition. Since then, the event has grown so much that it has taken on a life of its own and has become famous throughout the world, attracting visitors form every continent and even Japan.
	Just to prove you don't have to be a 30-year veteran to be able to produce top quality bonsai, last year's overall winner, Teunis van Klein is still wet behind the ears! Nevertheless, his Acer Palmatum was judged by Mr Iwasaki to be the finest bonsai in the exhibition. Teunis is not the only youngster to have such skills; you will be amazed at just how young the average bonsai devotee is in Europe, where their approach is much more ambitious, proactive and dynamic than you might be accustomed to.
	Unlike most shows here, the Ginkgo Exhibition is a judged event and prizes are awarded in several categories. Here you see last year's judge, Mr Iwasaki form Japan, enthralling over one of the prize winners - an escalonia (a common European garden shrub) collected from the owner's front yard. One of the most innovative and popular awards is the Artists' Choice, sonspored by Certre of Italy. In this category the exhibitors themselves vote for their favorits tree.
	Most of you will be familiar with the books "Best of Bonsai in Europe" which commemorate this Kokufu-style (and Kokufu standard) event. If you're not, you have missed seeing the most inspiring and magnificent bonsai produced in the western world. If you are familiar with these books, you'll know exactly what I mean, and I'm sure you'll agree that this is THE bonsai event to see.
If you visit only one bonsai event in 2007, this should be it!