The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is celebrating 100 years of its bonsai collection, originally donated by Ernest F. Coe in 1925. The collection has expanded to nearly 400 specimens, preserving three trees from the original donation. Notably, Frank Okamura, the first bonsai curator, played a crucial role in transforming the collection from just 11 trees in 1947 to around 1,000, enriching American understanding of bonsai. This summer, visitors can explore seasonal displays at the C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum, showcasing significant trees, including a remarkable 500-year-old Rocky Mountain juniper.
"Brooklyn Botanic Garden has been the proud caretaker of this remarkable bonsai collection for 100 years, fostering a practice that is equal parts horticulture, art, design, and patience."
"In 1947, Okamura arrived in New York and soon began working at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, where the bonsai collection had dwindled to just 11 specimens."
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