The Opening of the GSBF Bonsai & Suiseki Display Garden was one of the most eagerly anticipated events of the year

A crowd of approximately one thousand persons turned out to tour the newly opened garden.  Opening ceremonies culminated in the ribbon cutting at the Garden Center Building at 2PM on November 6, 1999.

The garden was opened by Dr. Seiji Shiba, President of Golden State Bonsai Federation and Chairperson of the Collection-North; Oakland City Mayor Jerry Brown; Antonio Acosta, Oakland Parks Department; Councilman John Russo, Oakland City Council District 2; Mr. Yutaka Nakamura, Japanese Consolate, San Francisco; Mr. Yasuo Mitsuya, Japanese Bonsai Master from Toyohashi City, Japan.

A line meandered around the building and some folks waited more than an hour to enter the garden area. Once inside, there was a lot to see, with dozens of donated and loaned trees on exhibit

.

Kathy Shaner and Yasuo Mitsuya with an historic Daimyo Oak, one of the first bonsai imported to America.

Mas Imazumi greeted visitors at the entrance gate that was dedicated in his honor and built by Hiroshi Sakaguchi.

Boon, Janet Roth and Morton Wellhaven of Bay Island Bonsai enjoying the fall weather in the garden.

The Bonsai Society of San Francisco dedicated this bench and flowering crabapple tree in memory of Elizabeth  Persson

John Naka posed with his donated California Juniper.