Baikoen opens 61st Winter Silhouettes show at LA Arboretum

Baikoen Bonsai Kenkyukai welcomes the new season with its 61st Winter Silhouettes Exhibition today at the Los Angeles Arboretum & Botanical Garden in Ayres Hall. The long-running January tradition runs from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM through Sunday and puts deciduous bonsai in sharp relief, inviting close study of structure, branch placement, and nebari when trees are stripped of foliage.

This show is the community's first major meetup of the year. Alongside displays that emphasize trunk movement, taper and winter geometry, visitors will find pre-bonsai, pots, and tools for sale—useful if you are looking to start material or refresh your supplies. A giant raffle and auction will offer opportunities to bring home specimens and accessories, and light entertainment rounds out the event for families and members alike.

Hands-on learning is built into the weekend. Demonstrations are scheduled both days at 1:00 PM, giving a chance to watch live techniques for pruning, wiring and structural decisions that are easier to read in winter form. The Nagata-Komai Award presentation to Cheryl Manning is a highlight of the program, recognizing contributions to the club and scene and reinforcing the exhibition's role in community recognition.

Practical value for anyone working with temperate bonsai is immediate. Study the silhouettes to plan spring ramification and wiring, compare nebari on similar species, and use the sales floor to match pots and tools to the styling choices you want to pursue. The raffle and auction can be a direct path to new material without waiting months for nurseries to restock.

For attendees, arriving early helps with parking and gives more time to inspect trees before the demonstrations. Bring a camera for reference shots of branch angles, a notebook to jot down species-specific tips, and plan to attend the 1:00 PM sessions for the most useful takeaways.

Baikoen's Winter Silhouettes keeps the community connected at a strategic moment in the bonsai calendar, when bare branches reveal long-term possibilities. Expect practical lessons, an active marketplace for pre-bonsai and gear, and the social pulse of the club as it honors contributors and prepares members for the growing season ahead.