The Art of Bonsai Project

To determine the winning region we took the highest scoring thirty entries from each, added the scores together and then divided the sum by 30 to obtain the average score per tree. The region with the highest average score per tree is the winner.

North American Top 30 Trees
The following are the thirty trees from North America that have the highest combined scores from the judges. The top 30 below are listed in order of submittal, for the winners of each category, please see
All of the following pictures link to the original full sized image submitted.



Korean Hornbeam (Carpinus turczaninowii)
Artist: Michael Persiano
Height: 28 inches, 71.12 cm
Pot: Japanese
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 6
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 7
Judge Robert Steven Scored 5
Total Combined Score: 18



Kingsville Box (Buxus microphylla 'Kingsville Dwarf')
Artist: Michael Persiano
Height: 17 inches, 43.18 cm
Pot: Ron Lang (USA)
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 5
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 8
Judge Robert Steven Scored 4
Total Combined Score: 17



Pomegranate (Punica granatum)
Artist: Michael Persiano
Height: 26 inches, 66.04 cm
Pot: Japanese
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 8
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 9
Judge Robert Steven Scored 7
Total Combined Score: 24



Japanese Elm (Ulmus davidiana)
Artist: Michael Persiano
Height: 34 inches, 86.36 cm
Pot: Chinese
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 6
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 8
Judge Robert Steven Scored 6
Total Combined Score: 20



Japanese Garden Juniper (Juniperus procumbens nana)
Artist: Mike Page
Height: 24 inches, 60.96 cm
Pot: Japanese
Rock: Japanese
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 6
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 6
Judge Robert Steven Scored 7
Total Combined Score: 19



Willow Leaf Fig (Ficus nerifolia)
Artist:
Height: 52 inches, 132.08 cm
Pot: Natural coral slab
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 9
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 9
Judge Robert Steven Scored 6
Total Combined Score: 24



San Jose Juniper (Juniperus chinensis)
Artist: Ed Trout
Height: 24 inches, 60.96 cm
Pot: Glen Hilton
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 5
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 8
Judge Robert Steven Scored 4
Total Combined Score: 17



Hinoki Cedar(Chamaecyparis obtusa)
Artist: Nick Lenz
Height: 24 inches, 60.96 cm
Pot: Old Ogre of the Valley and Black Rose of Sharon
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 6
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 6
Judge Robert Steven Scored 6
Total Combined Score: 18



Trident Maple (Acer buergerianum)
Artist: Al Keppler
Height: 21 inches, 53.34 cm
Pot: Brook Keppler
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 4
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 6
Judge Robert Steven Scored 7
Total Combined Score: 17



Korean Hornbeam (Carpinus turkzaninowii)
Artist: Melvyn Goldstein
Height: 25 inches, 63.50 cm
Pot: Chinese
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 7
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 8
Judge Robert Steven Scored 7
Total Combined Score: 22

]

Small Leaf Jade (Portulacaria afra)
Artist: Jim Smith / Doug Smith
Height: 32 inches, 81.28 cm
Pot: Chinese
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 7
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 7
Judge Robert Steven Scored 6
Total Combined Score: 20



Willow Leaf Fig (Ficus salicifolia)
Artist: Jim Smith
Height: 25 inches, 63.5 cm
Pot: Chinese
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 7
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 8
Judge Robert Steven Scored 8
Total Combined Score: 23



Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus)
Artist: Jim Smith
Height: 28 inches, 71.12 cm
Pot: Chinese
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 7
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 7
Judge Robert Steven Scored 4
Total Combined Score: 18



Willow Leaf Fig (Ficus salicifolia)
Artist: Jim Smith
Height: 28 inches, 71.12 cm
Pot: Chinese
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 6
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 6
Judge Robert Steven Scored 7
Total Combined Score: 19



Willow Leaf Ficus (Ficus nerifolia)
Artist: Rob Kempinski
Height: 6.5 inches, 16.51 cm
Pot: Sara Rayner
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 6
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 7
Judge Robert Steven Scored 7
Total Combined Score: 20



Pyracantha (Pyracantha angustifolia)
Artist: Al Keppler
Height: 28 inches, 71.12 cm
Pot: Korea (Tongrea)
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 5
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 6
Judge Robert Steven Scored 7
Total Combined Score: 18



Mountain Azalea (Rhododendron Kiusianum)
Artist: Melvyn Goldstein
Height: 22.5 inches, 57.15 cm
Pot: Chinese
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 7
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 7
Judge Robert Steven Scored 6
Total Combined Score: 20



Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum)
Artist: Melvyn Goldstein / Walter Pall
Height: 21.5 inches, 54.61 cm
Pot: Chinese
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 6
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 8
Judge Robert Steven Scored 6
Total Combined Score: 20



Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii)
Artist: Rob Kempinski
Height: 31 inches, 78.74 cm
Pot: Japanese
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 5
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 8
Judge Robert Steven Scored 9
Total Combined Score: 22



Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus)
Artist: Rob Kempinski
Height: 36 inches, 91.44 cm
Pot: Japanese
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 7
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 6
Judge Robert Steven Scored 4
Total Combined Score: 17



Japanese Black Pine (Pinus Thunbergii)
Artist: Rob Kempinski
Height: 9.5 inches, 24.13 cm
Pot: Tokoname
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 5
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 8
Judge Robert Steven Scored 5
Total Combined Score: 18



Japanese White Pine (Pinus parviflora)
Artist: Janet Roth under supervision of Boon Manakitivipart. Most recent wiring and branch setting by Michael Hagedorn.
Height: 18 inches, 45.72 cm
Pot: Japanese
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 7
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 8
Judge Robert Steven Scored 10
Total Combined Score: 25



Korean Hornbeam (Carpinus koreana)
Artist: Jim Doyle
Height: 27 inches, 68.58 cm
Pot: Nick Lenz (USA)
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 5
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 7
Judge Robert Steven Scored 7
Total Combined Score: 19



Neea (Neea buxifolia)
Artist: Jim Smith
Height: 21 inches, 53.34 cm
Pot: Japanese
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 5
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 7
Judge Robert Steven Scored 5
Total Combined Score: 17



Thread branch cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera filifera 'Sungold')
Artist: Eric Newton
Height: 17 inches, 43.18 cm
Pot: Bill Neff (USA)
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 4
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 7
Judge Robert Steven Scored 7
Total Combined Score: 18



Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
Artist: Christine Hayward
Height: 17 inches, 43.18 cm
Pot: Nick Lenz
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 4
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 6
Judge Robert Steven Scored 8
Total Combined Score: 18



Shimpaku Juniper (Juniperus chinensis)
Artist: Boon Manakitivipart
Height: 42 inches, 106.68 cm
Pot: Chinese
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 7
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 6
Judge Robert Steven Scored 7
Total Combined Score: 20



Shimpaku Juniper (Juniperus chinensis)
Artist: John Romano
Height: 6.375 inches, 16.3 cm
Pot: Tokoname (Yamaaki kiln)
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 7
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 8
Judge Robert Steven Scored 8
Total Combined Score: 23



Trident Maple (Acer buergeranum)
Artist: Howard B. Smith
Height: 11 inches, 27.94 cm
Pot: Sara Rayner
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 4
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 7
Judge Robert Steven Scored 8
Total Combined Score: 19



Sierra Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis)
Artist: Howard B. Smith
Height: 16 inches, 40.64 cm
Pot: Tokoname (Yamaaki kiln)
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 5
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 8
Judge Robert Steven Scored 5
Total Combined Score: 18

European Top 30 Trees
The following are the thirty trees from Europe that have the highest combined scores from the judges The top 30 below are listed in order of submittal, for the winners of each category, please see
All of the following pictures link to the original full sized image submitted.



European Larch (Larix decidua miller)
Artist: Mauro Stemberger
Height: 87 cm, 34.25 inches
Pot: Tokoname
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 7
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 8
Judge Robert Steven Scored 7
Total Combined Score: 24



Privet (Ligustrum ovalifollia)
Artist: Mauro Stemberger / Graham Potter
Height: 65 cm, 25.59 inches
Pot: Tokoname
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 5
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 9
Judge Robert Steven Scored 7
Total Combined Score: 21



Pomme granate (Japanese punica granatum)
Artist: Mauro Stemberger
Height: 68 cm, 26.77 inches
Pot: Tokoname
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 7
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 7
Judge Robert Steven Scored 4
Total Combined Score: 18



Sonare' (Juniperus procumbens)
Artist: Mauro Stemberger / Enrico Savini / Francesco Giamona
Height: 89 cm, 35.04 inches
Pot: Tokoname
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 7
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 9
Judge Robert Steven Scored 8
Total Combined Score: 24



Cork Bark Oak (Quercus suber)
Artist: Enrico Savini
Height: 75 cm, 29.53 inches
Pot: Certr? Italy
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 6
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 6
Judge Robert Steven Scored 6
Total Combined Score: 18



Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris)
Artist: Enrico Savini
Height: 65 cm, 25.59 inches
Pot: Isabelia (Rep. Cekia)
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 8
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 7
Judge Robert Steven Scored 7
Total Combined Score: 22



Needle Juniper (Juniperus rigida)
Artist: Enrico Savini
Height: 43 cm, 16.92 inches
Pot: Antique Chinese
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 8
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 10
Judge Robert Steven Scored 7
Total Combined Score: 25



Japanese Red Pine (Pinus densiflora)
Artist: Enrico Savini
Height: 77 cm, 30.31 inches
Pot: Tokoname
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 9
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 9
Judge Robert Steven Scored 9
Total Combined Score: 27



Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
Artist: Walter Pall
Height: 90 cm, 35.43 inches
Pot: Derek Aspinall
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 7
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 10
Judge Robert Steven Scored 6
Total Combined Score: 23



Mountain Pine (Pinus Mugo)
Artist: Marco and Tanja Merschel
Height: 32 cm, 12.60 inches
Pot: Marco Merschel
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 6
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 8
Judge Robert Steven Scored 5
Total Combined Score: 19



Azalea (Azalea Nisho no Hikari)
Artist: Wolfgang Putz
Height: 19 cm, 7.48 inches
Pot: Horst Heinzlreiter (Austria)
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 4
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 8
Judge Robert Steven Scored 6
Total Combined Score: 18



Austrian Pine (Pinus nigra austriaca)
Artist: Wolfgang Putz
Height: 45 cm wide, 17.71 inches wide
Pot: Tokoname
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 5
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 8
Judge Robert Steven Scored 7
Total Combined Score: 20



Trident Maple (Acer buergerianum)
Artist: Wolfgang Putz
Height: 45 cm, 17.72 inches
Pot: Horst Heinzlreiter (Austria)
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 6
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 8
Judge Robert Steven Scored 8
Total Combined Score: 22


European Field Maple (Acer campestre)
Artist: Walter Pall
Height: 70 cm, 27.56 inches
Pot: Derek Aspinall
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 5
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 7
Judge Robert Steven Scored 6
Total Combined Score: 18



Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia)
Artist: Levon Arzooyan
Height: 11 cm, 4.33 inches
Pot: Jaqcues Marty
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 4
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 6
Judge Robert Steven Scored 6
Total Combined Score: 16



Japanese Black Pine (Pinus Thunbergii)
Artist: Levon Arzooyan
Height: 12 cm, 4.72 inches
Pot: Tokoname
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 5
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 7
Judge Robert Steven Scored 6
Total Combined Score: 18



Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)
Artist: Walter Pall
Height: 19 cm, 7.48 inches
Pot: Germany, Handmade
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 4
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 8
Judge Robert Steven Scored 4
Total Combined Score: 16



Chinese Garden Juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'Pfitzeriana')
Artist: Walter Pall
Height: 70 cm, 27.56 inches
Pot: Tokoname
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 7
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 9
Judge Robert Steven Scored 7
Total Combined Score: 23



Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum)
Artist: Walter Pall
Height: 55 cm, 21.65 inches
Pot: Derek Aspinall
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 9
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 10
Judge Robert Steven Scored 10
Total Combined Score: 29



Flaky Juniper (Juniperus squamata)
Artist: Karl Thier
Height: 62 cm, 24.41 inches
Pot: China Yixing
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 5
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 6
Judge Robert Steven Scored 6
Total Combined Score: 17



Juniper (Juniperus communis)
Artist: Morten Albek
Height: 25 cm, 10 inches
Pot: Japanese
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 6
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 6
Judge Robert Steven Scored 5
Total Combined Score: 17



Rockspray Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster horisontalis)
Artist: Morten Albek
Height: 9.5 cm, 3.7 inches
Pot: John Pitt (UK)
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 5
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 7
Judge Robert Steven Scored 4
Total Combined Score: 16



European Larch (Larix decidua)
Artist: John Pitt
Height: 33 cm, 13 inches
Pot: John Pitt (UK)
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 5
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 7
Judge Robert Steven Scored 8
Total Combined Score: 20



Blackthorn (Prunus Spinosa)
Artist: John Pitt
Height: 63 cm, 24.80 inches
Pot: John Pitt (UK)
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 7
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 6
Judge Robert Steven Scored 3
Total Combined Score: 16



Cedar of Labanon (Cedrus libani)
Artist: John Pitt
Height: 96 cm, 37.80 inches
Pot: John Pitt (UK)
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 6
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 5
Judge Robert Steven Scored 5
Total Combined Score: 16



Artist: John Pitt
Height: 90 cm, 35.43 inches
Pot: John Pitt (UK)
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 7
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 9
Judge Robert Steven Scored 7
Total Combined Score: 23



Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo)
Artist: Walter Pall
Height: 20 cm, 7.87 inches
Pot: Peter Krebs
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 5
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 9
Judge Robert Steven Scored 8
Total Combined Score: 22



Mugo Pine (Pinus mugo)
Artist: Walter Pall
Height: 60 cm, 23.62 inches
Pot: Derek Aspinall
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 7
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 9
Judge Robert Steven Scored 7
Total Combined Score: 23



European larch (Larix decidua)
Artist: Walter Pall
Height: 55 cm, 21.65 inches
Pot: Josef Mairhofer
Judge Min Hsuan Lo Scored 6
Judge Budi Sulistyo Scored 6
Judge Robert Steven Scored 7
Total Combined Score: 19

Note: There are only 29 entries for the Europeans listed above. There are 6 trees scoring 15 points that would qualify for the 30th spot here. In order to make the total number of entries to average 30 for each side without having to complicate matters, we will add 15 points to the total points for Europe and still then divide by 30 to get an average score per tree.

North American average combined score per tree = 19.6
(588 total points divided by 30)
European average combined score per tree = 20.03
(601 total points divided by 30)

We are please to announce that the winning region of our North American vs Europe Photo Contest is...
EUROPE!
Congratulations!
Please take a moment today and help us thank all of the people, sponsors and entrants that made this contest the success it is by dropping by our thank you thread and posting a word or two. http://artofbonsai.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1151

The AoB editorial staff

Congratulations!
All trees - from America and from Europe - are looking great!

Congratulations to all the artists and to the contest organizers. It was great to see such a deep selection of trees from both continents, and great to see a number of trees that I hadn't seen on the internet before.
Best regards,
Carl

A big THANK YOU to the AoB and all the sponsors for organizing this contest, and CONGRATULATIONS to the entrants and winners!
It was great viewing to see a variety of trees from both sides of the Atlantic.
I look forward seeing more contests from other regions as well.
Shaukat

Congratulations to Walter Pall and the other winners. Also my thanks and congratulations to AOB and the judges for conducting this photo competition. The competitive process offers much benefit for bonsai. Preparing and showing trees for competition will make all the trees better.
The results are fairly interesting. Walter is no doubt the uber bonsai artist. His vast collection of quality trees and his excellent photography makes him a force to reckon with in photo competitions.
I know there are many more great trees in Europe and also in the US than particiapted in this competition. However they didn't participate in this contest so for purposes of this discussion won't be considered. If one wants to draw opinions about the range of trees from each region, one needs to consider all of the top 30 trees. The mean tells part of the story but not all of it. The distribution of the scores tells a story. One can get a feel for that via the standard deviation of the score distribution. Its clear that of the trees submitted the judges gave the European trees a bimodal distribution. There were several great trees in the high twenties and several in the mid teens. Standard deviation was 3.59. The North American trees (really USA trees as all 30 were from the USA) ranged more tightly together in score. Standard Deviation 2.34. The mixed results tell us that there are great trees in both areas.
It was fun and I enjoyed participating and checking the web page regularly to see who else had entered. I hope we do it, or something like it again. Maybe the USA and Europe can team up to take on South East Asia. That would be a battle!
We also have to figure out how to get more participation in such an event.

Very interesting observation, Rob, particularly given that the majority of the trees in the Kokufu albums are photographed on white, not on black. White clearly works, if you do it right?
What's going on here? My only guess is that in my experience, a black background tends to be far more forgiving with respect to lighting conditions than does a white background. So yes, working with a black background is a good first approach -- but don't give up on white or off-white just yet. It takes more work, and I don't have it right yet, but as the Kokufu albums show, it can really pay off.
Best regards,
Carl

Excellent observations and information Rob.
Of the 124 North American entries 25 (20%) were in the Shohin category, 20 (16%) were in the Forest, Saikei, Penjing, or Planted on Rock category, and 79 (64%) were in the regular bonsai category.
Of the 74 European entries 36 (49%) were in the Shohin category, 5 (7%) were in the Forest, Saikei, Penjing, or Planted on Rock category, and 33 (44%) were in the regular bonsai category.

Numbers taken from http://artofbonsai.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1156

Will

I think Rob may have hit on something with the comment about the tropical trees.Not only do the judges have many.many ,many excellent tropical trees surrounding them every day,but they also have a completely different styling concept of tropical trees(ficus in particular) than do most North Americans.
I thought the banyan nerifolia by(I think) Ed Trout was the most awe inspiring and beautiful tree shown.I don't intend to second guess the judging(I'm not qualified),just stating an opinion.What an incredible tree!I find it interesting how the judges comments so contradicted each other.
Disclaimer...this is NOT a criticism of the judging...just a few of my own thoughts.I hope we are all free to discuss our own opinions of the individual trees.It could be a great learning experience.Is there a different and more appropriate place for this sort of discussion?
andy

Of course, all input is valuable and could led to not only better insights on the entries, but also to better contests in the future.

Will

A moving, very satisfying experience. The judges must have had a really trying time.
Learnt quite a bit from their comments too.
A.V.Ramani

I am not surprised that the judges had contradictory opinions on some of the trees. When dealing with bonsai, there are so many tastes and opinions, that it would be impossible to get the same feedback from different people.
I am rather surprised that the number of divergent comments are very few, compared with the total number of entries.

You mean these three professional judges did not always agree with each other? I find that verging on subjectivity. I couldn't be more happy that their taste in bonsai was all over the board. I find that the most refreshing of all. Not all percieved art is art to everyone.
Cheers, Al