Page 10 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2014Q1

North Carolina. He has also attended many regional
Bonsai events to teach, exhibit and participate as a
vendor. He has hosted two more Suiseki Study group
Exhibitions as well as continued as an organizer of
the International Viewing Stone Symposium held in
Harrisburg, PA. There is a saying if you want some-
thing done, give it to a busy man. Bill has found time
to teach basic, intermediate and advanced bonsai in
his studio, start a local bonsai meet-up group and cre-
ate a new blog making frequent and fascinating posts
to “Valavanis Bonsai Blog, Welcome to my Bonsai
World!” His blog currently has had close to 50,000
visitors already. Bill is also very active in the Bonsai
Society of Upstate New York and is currently Vice
President. His contributions are the primary reason
this group is 150 members strong and contributes so
much to the bonsai community. Bill is active with
his church and provides flowers and displays during
the year as well as helps out with the annual Greek
festival serving great food to festival goers.
Our local landscape association has been blessed with
Bills leadership and support of the annual “Garden-
scape” show and also “Garden Artisans.” Serving on
planning committees, as a judge for displays, giving
demos and lectures as well as creating award-win-
ning displays of bonsai in garden settings, the local
community is a better place too.
The International Arboretum is treasure to all who
come to marvel at the collection of some of the fin-
est bonsai in the USA. Highly developed and refined
specimens as well as the tokonoma displays have
amazed visitors from around the country as well as
the world. It is here that Bill has introduced many
cultivars to the USA and also where you can find the
Valavanis Cypress in bonsai and in the landscape.
William N. Valavanis is much like the masterpiece
bonsai he has created. His “nebari,” or his roots, are
deep and widely radiating having drawn from the
best sources. His trunk, the body of knowledge and
insight to this art, are full of character and continue
to widen and branch out. His branches, areas of inter-
est, continue to develop, ramify and refine, as does his
quest for insight while sharing with the world.
In June 2013, a special Colloquium and Exhibition
celebrating Bill’s 50 years of bonsai creation and
Top; Koto Hime Japanese Mr. Valavanis is also a great supporter, ambassa- passion was held in Rochester, New York. Count-
maple, Acer palmatum ‘Koto dor and friend of bonsai in the USA and around less hours were spent in preparing and planning
Hime,’ trained from an air layer the world. In the past two years alone, he has done the display. No detail was overlooked. The relation-
rooted in 1986. This bonsai more for bonsai than most professionals will in their ship of all bonsai, pots, stands, accents, suiseki and
was originally the top of the
bonsai featured on the cover. lifetime. With teaching and study engagements, he memorial elements were considered. The result was
Bottom; Dwarf Scots pine, has crossed the Pacific Ocean eight times this year amazing harmony and beauty that created a magical
Pinus sylvestris ‘RAF,’ trained alone. He has authored three important books, Bon- atmosphere. At the banquet, Bill was presented with
from a container grown young sai Fine Art and Nature, 3rd US National Exhibition two special gifts. The first, a beautiful green bound
seedling since the early 1970s. Album and Classical Bonsai Art: 50 Years of Passion, hard cover book of letters expressing appreciation
Five days were necessary to during this short span as well. He has held the Inter- and congratulation’s from friends around the world.
prepare this bonsai for the
2013, 36th Midwest Bonsai national Bonsai Colloquium, another Symposium, Lettered in gold was the title “William N. Valavanis
Show at the Chicago Botanic the 3rd US National Exhibition, as well exhibiting 50 Years of Passion.” Ronald Maggio presented the
Garden where it placed First in and promoting the new “Winter Silhouette” Show in book to Bill on behalf of those who wrote.
the Professional Division.

8 | BCI | January/February/March 2014