…..for Ralph Komai’s parents who are no longer with us. They were Southern California pioneers in Bonsai and the Japanese Bonsai Garden at the Huntington Botanical Gardens would scarcely exist without them.
To honor Kay and Khan Komai, a memorial bench had been donated to the Bonsai area by the Baikoen Bonsai Kenkyukai, the California Bonsai Society and the Santa Anita Bonsai Society. Ralph had not yet seen it and so after Brush painting class today, Danielle Rudeen, Jim Folsom’s top #1 assistant directed us (in my car) to the Japanese Garden. It was a beautiful ride and even more so when we arrived and saw the Azaleas and Cherry Trees blooming.
Along the way we met Robert Hori, the Gardens Cultural Curator and Program Director. You may remember I blogged some time back about Robert taking Ann Richardson and myself on a fascinating tour of the authentic Japanese Tea House a portion of which is visible here.
It was great fun seeing Robert again and of course you all know how dear to my heart Danielle is…..she has been my angel through the years of teaching Brush painting at the Huntington. We always laugh about the Botanical staff being in trailers when we first met and my classes were held in the ‘Garage’ which is now the Boone Gallery!
On we went to the Bonsai area….Danielle is leading the way to the commemorative bench.
Approaching closer….
I was so moved when I saw it and can’t begin to imagine the pride and sentiment that Ralph felt.
The natural stone is so exquisite and the way the pieces are placed it’s such an integral part of the area that it takes on a timeless feel.
How wonderful to have had this quiet and moving viewing.
May your life be filled with precious memories.
Thank you so much for writing about Ralph's (and our brothers' and my) parents' stone bench in the bonsai court, a tribute to their devotion and dedication to the art of bonsai. I live nearby and have had the pleasure of sitting on the bench and looking at the "mame" (miniature) bonsai across the way. The Komai family is thrilled by this wonderful honor, and we know that our parents would be moved by the peaceful zen quality of the natural stone surrounded by the bonsai trees that they loved so much.
Karen Komai Margolis