This is the Tokonoma welcoming the visitors of the XVI AIAS Congress  in the 'Franchi' Museum   : the stone 'The flight' by Mrs. Luciana Queirolo and a beautiful maple, still in its green summer livery. Thanks to the generous hospitality of the Franchi  family, to the collaboration of the staff of the company "Franchi - Bonsai Nurseries", the work of the club Tuscany Association Bonsai and Suiseki Amateurs (ATABS) in Florence, which arranged the preparations, also this year the AIAS Congress stands as the event that is able to display 100 and  more suiseki in Italy.

... without forgetting the Suiseki ! In the hinterland of Livorno, among soft hills covered with vineyards, the farm "Costa Nugola" by Marchesi de 'Frescobaldi hosted in its estate the contest-exhibition "Bonsai Horizon" organized by the club "Bonsai Art " in Pisa.

Bonsai Exhibition of soul, mind and heart : the first event of 2013 led us on a clear path, rooted in the word Kokoro, which Mr. Antonio Acampora, president of the organizing club Naples Bonsai Club, wanted to underline along with some thoughts that accompanied us in the days before the show, in an unbroken dialogue that took place in the pages of the Forum of Naples Bonsai Club.

93 stones on display : in Italy it is impossible to see so many suiseki exhibited simultaneously ! For lovers of this art it is a unique opportunity to see the members’ stones among which we publish a selection of the most significant ones.
This edition has been organized by the Bonsai Club of Gonzaga. It took place in the heart of the earthquake zone in Emilia Romagna and was dedicated to the memory of Mr. Willi Benz, who died last year, one of the international experts who several times was called as a judge and a lecturer in the A.I.A.S. Congress.
His wife Mrs. Gudrun Benz was a Judge of the Congress. By her presence she wants to keep alive the memory but above all the teachings of her husband. In fact, we had the pleasure of attending a conference of hers just a week ago at the Crespi Show.

The fountain in the courtyard of the Town Hall at Frascati welcomes visitors with its stone gargoyle which pours water on a cascade of lush ferns. The architecture of stone, water and vegetation seems to anticipate the show set inside the halls of the City Hall by the members of the Bonsai Club Castelli Romani. Here for three days bonsai and Suiseki have been once again the protagonists setting up the fourteenth edition of the Bonsai and Suiseki National Show "City of Frascati".