I recently attended the CRAB annual bonsai festival in Cape Town, held in collaboration with the City of Cape Town. The Company’s Garden is the perfect venue for this spectacular event. I look forward to attending the well organized event every year, and I’m eager to share my experience. The festival is divided into four parts: a bonsai show featuring the best trees in different size categories, a club exhibition by local clubs, an auction, and a new talent competition. Before I dive in, please consider subscribing to my social media channels and turning on notifications.
Part 1
I missed the one-day display of Shonin bonsai, but the other trees were impressive. Noteworthy was a grape vine bonsai by Ben-Herman, deviating from traditional bonsai. Each tree tells a unique story, reflecting the diverse talent of bonsai artists in the Western Cape.
It was interesting to see newer artists alongside experienced ones, like Johann Raath, who won a prize for his Num-Num bonsai, a native South African evergreen shrub with lovely little white flowers and bright red fruit.
Part 2
Club Exhibitions Moving on to club exhibitions, I explored a variety of bonsai trees owned by club members. Visitors could interact with members working on their trees, and my own club, Boland Bonsai Kai, had a display too.
Part 3
The Bonsai Auction The auction added excitement to the festival, offering trees, pots, and bonsai-related items. Prices were competitive, and I even bought a landscape at a good price, though its survival in our hot summers remains to be seen.
Part 4
New Talent Competition My favorite part was the new talent competition. Representatives from each club styled a Juniper Procumbens Nana in three hours. The trees were numbered, and participants drew lots to choose theirs. Judges evaluated style, appearance, feel, and the tree’s health post-styling. It was gratifying to see the transformation of the trees and the focused efforts of the participants.
New Talent Competition Winner
What a Source of Inspiration Leaving the festival, I felt inspired and motivated to work on my own bonsai trees. The CRAB annual bonsai festival is more than an event; it’s a celebration of nature’s artistry and the community that embraces it.
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