Chicago Show Photos
2015 Chicago Show
Best of Show - Trident Maple / Japanese white pine, Gary Andes
First place professional, American larch, William Valavanis
Second place professional, Rocky mountain juniper, Mark Fields (Indy !)
Award of Merit, Japanese maple, Steve Jetzer
Award of Merit, Boxwoods, Phil Malhiot
Award of Merit, Itogawa shimpaku juniper, Tim Priest
Award of Merit, Satsuki Azalea, Tim Priest
Award of Merit, Black pine, Steve Jetzer
Award of Merit, Japanese beech, Brian Bryzinski
Award of Merit, Dawn redwoods, Larry Stephan
Award of Merit, Shohin display, Gary Andes
(Top: Japanese white pine, - middle level: boxwood, amur maple, lower level: Chinese elm, Hinoki cypress)
2016 Chicago Show
Best of Show - Sierra Juniper , Tim Priest
First place professional, Dwarf Scots Pine, William Valavanis
Second place professional, 5 - point Shohin Display, Mark Fields (Indy !)
Third place professional, Trident Maple, Mark Fields (Indy !)
Award of Merit, Shohin Display, Dan Turner
Award of Merit, Shimpaku Juniper, Bob King
Award of Merit, Ponderosa Pine, Dan Turner
Award of Merit, Trident Maple, Gary Andes
Award of Merit, Yew, Ron Heinen
Award of Merit, European Beech, Gary Andes
Award of Merit, Black Pine, Steve Jetzer
Award of Merit, Itogawa Shimpaku Kishu Juniper, Tim Priest
First Place - Ponderosa Pine, Andrew Smith
First Place - Stewartia, Bob King
First Place - Korean Hornbeam, Kylr Weidner
First Place - Japanese White Pine, Matt Berenberg
First Place - Japanese Red Pine, Dan Turner
First Place - Japanese Black Pine, Matt Berenberg
First Place - Satsuki Azalea, Tim Priest
2017 Chicago Show
Best of Show - Pomegranate , Gary Andes
1st Place Professional - Kashima Japanese Maple , William Valavanis
Award of Merit - Black Pine , Michael Mehmann
Award of Merit - Kishu Sargent Juniper , Gary Andes
Award of Merit - Kishu Shimpaku Juniper & Satsuki Azalea , Tim Priest
Award of Merit - Itoigawa Shimpaku Juniper & Dwarf Azalea , Tim Priest
Award of Merit - Midnight Fig , Dick Ruemmele
Award of Merit - Chinese Hackberry , Fred Holubow
2nd Place Professional - Japanese Black Pine , Mark Fields
3rd Place Professional - 7 Point Shohin Composition , Mark Fields
1st Place Ribbon - Japanese 5 - needle Pine , Helene Magruder
1st Place Ribbon - River Birch , Brendan Berry
1st Place Ribbon - Japanese Maple , Michael Plishka
1st Place Ribbon - Chinese Elm, Tina Chirco
2018 Chicago Show
Best of Show - Itogawa Shimpaku Juniper and Chojubi Quince, Tim Priest
First Place Professional - Full Moon Maple , William Valavanis
Second Place Professional - Sierra Juniper , Tim Priest
Third Place Professional - Koto Hime Japanese Maple , William Valavanis
American Bonsai Society Award - Ponderosa Pine , Andy Smith
Award of Merit (2nd Place Open Division), Japanese Black Pine, Matt Berenberg
Award of Merit (3rd Place Open Division) - Mexican Cypress, Jose Sandoval
Award of Merit - Shimpaku Juniper "Itogawa", Bob King
Award of Merit - Stewartia , Bob King
First Place - Shimpaku Juniper - Dick Ruemmele
First Place - Ficus - Craig Garkle
First Place - Winged Elm - Carl Wooldridge
First Place - Jack Pine - Bob King
First Place - Bougainvillea - Tina Chirco
2019 Chicago Show
Best of Show - Rocky Mountain Juniper, Tim Priest
1st Place Professional - Japanese White Pine, Mark Fields
2nd Place Professional - Variegated Star Jasmine, Owen Reich
3rd Place Professional - Itoigawa Shimpaku Juniper , Tim Priest
Awards of Merit
Black Hills Spruce , Matthew Holt
Japanese Black Pine , Gary Andes
Trident Maple , Matt Berenberg
Black Pine , Steve Jetzer
Opercuilcarya decaryi , Jim Baley
Needle Juniper , Matt Berenberg
First Place Trees
American Larch , Jose Sandoval
Japanese Maple , Bob King
Satsuki Azalea , Tina Marie Chirco
Scots Pine , Gregory Black
Hinoki Cypress , Jacqueline Garkie
White Cedar , Jacqueline Garkie
Shimpaku Juniper , Steve Jetzer
Hinoki Cypress , Victor Zurczak
Common Juniper , Andrew Smith
Trident Maple , Jim Baley
First Place Novice Trees
Ponderosa Pine , Judy Smith (also winner of Innovation Award)
Japanese Pine , Thang Dinh
Dwarf Wisteria , Lila Smith
2021 Chicago Show
Best of Show - Open Class
Ponderosa Pine, Tim Cox
Ponderosa Pine, Tim Cox
Best of Show - Professional
Ponderosa Pine , Andy Smith
Ponderosa Pine , Andy Smith
2nd Place Professional
Itoigawa Shimpaku Juniper , Tim Priest
Itoigawa Shimpaku Juniper , Tim Priest
3rd Place Professional
Rocky Mtn. Juniper , Mark Karczewski + ABS Award for best Indigenous tree
Rocky Mtn. Juniper , Mark Karczewski + ABS Award for best Indigenous tree
Awards of Merit
Ficus retusa , Cat Nelson
Boulevard Cypress , Victor Zurczak
Itoigawa Shimpaku Juniper , Tim Priest
Prostrata Juniper, John Daufeldt
Japanese Hornbeam , Charles Barker
Ponderosa Pine , Steve Carini
First Place Awards
Japanese White Pine , Bob King
Korean Hornbeam , Larry Magee
Japanese White Pine , Victor Zurczak
Pomegranate , Brian Bryzinski
Blue Atlas Cedar , Brian Bryzinski
American Yew , Victor Zurczak
Boulevard Cypress , Alex Klabunde
Azalea , Ngoc Hoang
Ponderosa Pine , Matthew Holt
Shohin Display , Greg Black
Colorado Blue Spruce , John Daufeldt
9 Plant Kusamono , Steve Carini + Innovation Award
Black Pine (Pinus thunbergi) , Dick Ruemmele
2nd Place Awards
Coast Redwood , Steve Carini
Hinoki Cypress , Victor Zurczak
Ponderosa Pine , Ron McAdams
Gingko , Larry Magee
American Larch , Jose Sandova
American Larch , Victor Zurczk
Chinese Lacebark Elm , Karen Schuman
Fig , Dick Ruemmele + Innovation Award
Ficus benjamina "Midnight" , Dick Ruemmele
White Cedar , Carl Wooldridge
Ponderosa Pine , Matthew Holt
Indian Laural Fig ( Ficus microcarpa) , Judith Doll
Japanese White Pine , Hank Martin
Japanese White Pine , Larry Magee
Several 3rd Place Awards
Corkbark Elm , Larry Stephen
European Olive , Wm. Vincent
Colorado Blue Spruce , Larry Benjamin
2022 Chicago Show
Best of Show - Open Class - Colorado Blue Spruce , Steve Jetzer
Best of Show - Professional - Satsuki Azalea , Matthaei Botanical Garden
2nd Place Professional - Rocky Mountain Juniper , Jeff Schutz
3rd Place Professional - Japanese White pine , Jack Sustic
Awards of Merit
Shimpaku Juniper , Tina Chirco
Willow Leaf Ficus , Tina Chirco
Rocky Mountain juniper , Daniel Turner
Japanese White Pine , Robert Pugh
Douglas Fir , Tim Priest
Common Juniper , Brian Bryzinski
First Place Awards
Hinoki Cypress , Victor Zurczak
Trident Maple , James Baley
Japanese Maple 'Sharps Pygmy' , Bob King
African Fig , Bob King
Japanese Black Pine , Jack Sustic
1st Place Innovation Award , Jack Sustic
Ficus macracarpa , Cat Nelson
Coastal Redwood , Matt Berenberg
Eastern White Cedar , Tim Cox
Shohin Display , Daniel Turner
Sport Elm , Stephen Fluett
American Larch , Victor Zurczak
Second Place Awards
Dawn Redwood Forest , Larry Stephen
Japanese White Pine , Daniel Turrner
Douglas Fir , Steve Jetzer
Bougainvillea , Tina Chirco
Shimpaku Juniper & Siegen Japanese Maple , Daniel Turner
Japanese White Pine , Victor Zurczak
Fukien Tea , Gregory Black
Japanese Black Pine & Firethorn , Gregory Black
Portulacaria , Cat Nelson
Juniper Forest , Joe Chirco
Third Place Awards
Cotoneaster , Tim Cox + 2nd Place Innovation Award
Dawn Redwood , Jose Sandovaal
Chinese Elm , Victor Zurczak
Japanese White Pine , Victor Zurczak
Yew , Victor Zurczak
Ponderosa Pine , Nicholas Batista
Japanese White Pine , Lawrence Magee
Colorado Blue Spruce , Joe Chirco
Colorado Blue Spruce , Carl Worldridge
Dwarf Hinoki Cypress , Tim Cox
Novice Division Trees
Portulacaria afra , Mandy Parrish
Variegated Ficus Forest , Robert & Amy Wright
American Larch , John DeMaegd
American Larch , Ronald Shapiro
Portulacaria & Fukien Tea , Mandy Parrish
2023 Chicago Show
Best of Show
Best of show artists in front of their award winning trees
Best of show - Open Class - Ponderosa Pine, Steve Jetzer
Best of Show - Professional Class - Japanese Maple, Bill Valavanis
2nd Place Professional + 1st Place Innovative - Juniper, Jack Sustic
3rd Place Professional - Japanese Black Pine, Thang Dinh
Awards of Merit - Open Class
( + ABS Award ) Colorado Blue Spruce, Larry Magee
Japanese Maple, Travis Falls
Ficus forest, Jose Escobedo
Boulevard Cypress, Victor Zurczak
First Place Awards - Open Class
Japanese Black Pine / Korean Hornbeam, Travis Falls
Eastern White Cedar, Carl Wooldridge
Cypress, Larry Magee
Olive, Steve Carini
Ponderosa Pine, Travis Falls
American Larch, Phil Malhiot
Hinoki Cypress, Victor Zurczak
American Larch, Phil Malhiot
Trident Maple, James Baley
Second Place Awards - Open Class
Rocky Mountain Juniper, Tim Priest
Shimpaku Juniper, Victor Zurczak
Ponderosa Pine, Tim Cox
Colorado Blue Spruce, John Ruth
Willow Leaf Ficus, Judy Doll
+ 2nd Place Innovation Award, Shchefflera, Phil Malhiot
Twisted Pomegranate / Mugo Pine, Jose Sandoval
Japanese White Pine, Victor Zurczak
Japanese White Pine (grafted on Lodgepole Pine), Steve Carini
Third Place Awards - Open Class
Yew, Tom Ungrey
Elephant's Foot (Opercularia), James Baley
Japanese White Pine, Victor Zurczak
Brazilian Raintree, James Fairchild
Oregon Oak, Steve Carini
Ficus Burt Davyii, Judy Doll
Indian Laurel Fig, Judy Doll
White Pine 'Miyajima'
Olive, Charles Barker
Penjing: 5 Chinese Elms, Badar Zulgami
Novice Awards
Award of Merit : Tiger Bark Ficus, Mandy Parrish
Prostrate Juniper, Hector Quintero
Privert, Ellen Veselenak
Satsuki Azalea, Jan Truszkowski
Satsuki Azalea 'Korin', Jan Truszkowski
Golden Gate Ficus, Nicolas Irizarry
2024 Chicago Show
Best of Show - Open Class - Japanese White Pine (Thang Dinh)
Best of Show - Professional - Sierra Juniper (Tim Priest)
2nd Place Professional - Oto Hime Japanese Maple (William Valavanis)
3rd Place Professional - Japanese White Pine (Mark Fields)
Awards of Merit
Limber Pine (Tim Priest)
Climbing Hydrangea (Steve Carini)
Douglas Fir (Tim Priest)
First Place Awards
Sekka Hinoki (Ron Nguyen)
Trident Maple (Ron Fortmann)
Trident Maple (Phil Malhiot)
Hinoki Cypress (Victor Zurczak)
Trident Maple (Ron Fordmann)
White Pine (Ron Nguyen)
Second Place Awards
Japanese Maple (Steve Jetzer)
Red Stem Sea Hibiscus (Mandy Parrish)
Shimpaku Juniper (Tina Chirco)
Japanese White Pine (Joe Chirco)
Japanese White Pine (Victor Zurczak)
Third Place Awards
Trident Maple (Tina Chirco)
Bougainvillea (Tina Chirco)
Japanese White Pine (Victor Zurczak)
Nire Elm (Jason Pale)
Ficus benjamina (Brian Bryzinski)
First Place Novice Award
Rocky Mountain Juniper (Francelle Nieto-Brodrick)