Bonsai Exhibition Plaza

The construction of the Exhibition Plaza that lies on the backside of the Kyoudou Center was completed in January 2025. Through our research of other bonsai displays, we had visions of spectacular bonsai adorning our Exhibition Plaza, but we couldn’t wrap our head around how we were going to get there. The change of bonsai instructor’s in March 2025 solidified our vision. Bonsai Master Bobby Curttright took over our bonsai program, and was also ready to move his bonsai collection to a new home. We had the perfect space.

The Exhibition Plaza consists of 13 removable round posts with platforms, and a bench sheltered under the Kyoudou Center’s four foot overhang. And, connecting the Kyoudou Center to GJG’s greenhouse and shade house is 1000 square feet of concrete with inlays of decorative rocks and decomposed granite.

The Story

On a rainy Saturday afternoon in May 2025, almost a year after the family of the late Hal White provided a generous gift, we formally dedicated the bonsai exhibition space in memory of Hal (Skip) White. We can’t thank the family enough for setting in motion a project we never dreamed would turn out so right.

You see, in 2022 when the Kyoudou Center’s remodel was in its planning stages, garden director Jim Card really wanted to have a bonsai display in the front for the public to enjoy. Card tabled that vision due to security issues until he heard from Sue Ellen White. White is a frequent donor of the Garden and on this occasion, she re-purposed monies from her brother Hal’s trust. She met with Card and Sue Protz and requested the money to go for something “meaningful”, like a project. That’s all Card needed to hear for him to strategize re-purposing the workspace behind the Kyoudou Center into a bonsai exhibition plaza. Sue Ellen was excited as well. Hal loved trees. He loved shepherding trail hikes, and he loved volunteering.

The exhibition spaces consists of 13 removable round posts with platforms, and a bench sheltered under the four foot overhang of the Center. And, connecting the Kyoudou Center to GJG’s greenhouse and shade house is 1000 square feet of concrete with inlays of decorative rocks and decomposed granite.   

The last blessing that came to us was our new bonsai instructor, Bobby Curttright. He joined our team in March and has adopted the exhibition space for his personal bonsai collection.

White concludes: “My family is deeply grateful for the opportunity to have a permanent memorial at the Garden where my brother volunteered for years.

The Gresham Japanese Garden is gifted with a team of management and volunteers who are professional in every way, from initial contact to follow through and regular updates. The large project that we helped fund, an outdoor bonsai exhibition space,  went from initial talks to completion in just seven months. And, it was more than initially imagined. This is because the Garden leveraged our donation with partners, adding value and greatly enhancing the project.

“When considering a gift, trust and implementation are two key factors. The Gresham Japanese Garden is what donors hope for: outstanding resource stewardship; creative and thoughtful planning and professional implementation; and the satisfaction of giving back in a meaningful way for public enhancement.”