San Diego Bonsai Club
  • Home
  • Activities
    • Next Meeting
    • 2023 Calendar
    • 2023 Spring Show
    • Bonsai-A-Thon
    • Bonsai Show Maps
  • Education
    • About SDBC Education
    • Beginner's Classes Overview
    • Beginner's Class Schedule
    • Workshops & Skills Classes
    • Study Groups >
      • Shohin Study Group
      • All About Bonsai Study Group
      • Ficus Study Group
    • Private Lessons
  • Resources
    • Newsletter
    • Club Forms
    • Club Library
    • Vendors
    • Photos >
      • 2020 Winter Silhouettes
      • 2018 Fall Show
      • 2018 SD County Fair
      • Spring 2018 Show
      • 2018 Cal Shohin Seminar
      • GSBF Convention #40
      • 2017 Fall Show
      • 2017 Spring Show
      • 2016 Fall Show
      • 2016 Nisei Week Trip
      • 2016 Spring Show
      • 2016 Bonsai-A-Thon
      • 2016 Winter Silhouettes
      • 2015 Fall Show Photos
      • 2015 Nisei Week Trip
      • Bonsai Stolen from San Gabriel Nursery
      • 2015 Spring Show
      • 2015 Bonsai-A-Thon
      • 2014 Fall Show
      • 2014 Nisei Week Trip
      • 2014 July Bus Trip
      • 2014 Spring Show
      • 2014 Bonsai-A-Thon
      • 2014 Winter Silhouettes
      • 2013 Fall Show
      • 2013 Spring Show
    • Articles >
      • Lime Sulfur
      • Bougainvillea Bonsai
      • Soil: It's What Goes in the Pot
      • 'Lyn's Bonsai Soil Mix
      • Back-Budding
      • REBS 2014 Show
      • 2014 Boxwood Dig
      • Club History
      • Club Logo
      • First Show May 1966
    • Video >
      • 2019-2021 Videos
      • 2015-2018 Videos
      • Video
      • More Video
  • Membership
    • Membership Form
    • Membership Benefits
    • Volunteer
  • Safari Park Bonsai Pavilion
    • Overview and History
    • Bonsai Pavilion Trees
    • Stolen Bonsai
  • Looking Back
    • Time Traveler
    • Remembering... >
      • Remembering Big Dave Rochester
      • Remembering Marty Mann
      • Remembering Ko Tsushima
      • Remembering Harry Hirao
      • Remembering Bob Meyer
  • About
    • Overview of Club
    • By-Laws
    • Past Presidents
  • Contact

Safari Park Bonsai Pavilion

Picture



View bonsai currently on display at the Bonsai Pavilion.

See the Safari Park's website for park hours and admission information. 

Self-guided information is available in the kiosk inside the Pavilion. Volunteers from San Diego Bonsai Club and San Pu Kai are available to answer questions at the Bonsai Pavilion on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month from 9AM to noon.

John Jackson is the Pavilion curator and Dennis Wagner is the assistant curator.  
'Lyn Stevenson is the Pavilion liaison.  Use the contact page to contact John, Dennis, or 'lyn.

Pavilion History

Picture
Over 25 years ago, The San Diego Zoological Society provided land for the Bonsai Pavilion at the Wild Animal Park. The Bonsai Pavilion was initially constructed through joint efforts of The Wild Animal Park and volunteer members of the San Diego Bonsai Club and San Pu Kai over a two-year period. World Bonsai Master, John Yoshio Naka, was one of the first to recognize the value of having a bonsai collection in Southern California.

The Pavilion was opened on May 9, 1987 coinciding with The Wild Animal Park's 15th anniversary celebration. John Y. Naka cut the ribbon for the first and largest permanent bonsai display facility in the western United States. Major monetary contributions were given by the Golden State Bonsai Federation, San Diego Bonsai Club, and San Pu Kai along with many bonsai enthusiasts throughout California.

On May 1, 2011, after several years of study and planning, a new Bonsai Pavilion was opened at The San Diego Zoo Safari Park (formerly The Wild Animal Park) above the first pavilion and four times larger. The new features included a waterfall, three bridges, and a meandering stream in a tranquil, secured setting. This allows for more bonsai exhibits as well as an expanded work area.

The San Diego Bonsai Club honored its founder and early president Mas Takanashi with the construction of an impressive entrance gate incorporating the Club's logo in the design.

The combined effort and financial assistance from the Club members, the Horticultural Department of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Bonsai Clubs, San Diego County grants, businesses, and friends throughout California have made this new addition of bonsai in Southern California a reality and a true bonsai treasure. Also, several memorial tributes have been made to honor deceased members and friends. Contributors in several categories are acknowledged on a beautiful Honor Donor Board at the entrance of the Pavilion which is located to the right of the Takanashi gate. 


Videos of the May 1, 2011 Pavilion Opening

Updated: March 7, 2023
All images © 2010-2023.
All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • Activities
    • Next Meeting
    • 2023 Calendar
    • 2023 Spring Show
    • Bonsai-A-Thon
    • Bonsai Show Maps
  • Education
    • About SDBC Education
    • Beginner's Classes Overview
    • Beginner's Class Schedule
    • Workshops & Skills Classes
    • Study Groups >
      • Shohin Study Group
      • All About Bonsai Study Group
      • Ficus Study Group
    • Private Lessons
  • Resources
    • Newsletter
    • Club Forms
    • Club Library
    • Vendors
    • Photos >
      • 2020 Winter Silhouettes
      • 2018 Fall Show
      • 2018 SD County Fair
      • Spring 2018 Show
      • 2018 Cal Shohin Seminar
      • GSBF Convention #40
      • 2017 Fall Show
      • 2017 Spring Show
      • 2016 Fall Show
      • 2016 Nisei Week Trip
      • 2016 Spring Show
      • 2016 Bonsai-A-Thon
      • 2016 Winter Silhouettes
      • 2015 Fall Show Photos
      • 2015 Nisei Week Trip
      • Bonsai Stolen from San Gabriel Nursery
      • 2015 Spring Show
      • 2015 Bonsai-A-Thon
      • 2014 Fall Show
      • 2014 Nisei Week Trip
      • 2014 July Bus Trip
      • 2014 Spring Show
      • 2014 Bonsai-A-Thon
      • 2014 Winter Silhouettes
      • 2013 Fall Show
      • 2013 Spring Show
    • Articles >
      • Lime Sulfur
      • Bougainvillea Bonsai
      • Soil: It's What Goes in the Pot
      • 'Lyn's Bonsai Soil Mix
      • Back-Budding
      • REBS 2014 Show
      • 2014 Boxwood Dig
      • Club History
      • Club Logo
      • First Show May 1966
    • Video >
      • 2019-2021 Videos
      • 2015-2018 Videos
      • Video
      • More Video
  • Membership
    • Membership Form
    • Membership Benefits
    • Volunteer
  • Safari Park Bonsai Pavilion
    • Overview and History
    • Bonsai Pavilion Trees
    • Stolen Bonsai
  • Looking Back
    • Time Traveler
    • Remembering... >
      • Remembering Big Dave Rochester
      • Remembering Marty Mann
      • Remembering Ko Tsushima
      • Remembering Harry Hirao
      • Remembering Bob Meyer
  • About
    • Overview of Club
    • By-Laws
    • Past Presidents
  • Contact