Koi
fish auctioned at Japanese Garden
Photos
by Matt Logan
Koi
fans bid for their favorite fish at the
Japanese Garden Koi auction Sunday.
By
Matt Logan
On-line Forty-Niner
Going
once, going twice, sold! Koi fish were given
to the highest bidder at the Japanese Garden
Koi Auction Sunday.
Auctioneer Chai Taevanitcharoen shouted
out prices as Charlie Seu held the fish
up for the attendees to bid on. Taevanitcharoen
delighted his bidders when it was their
bid that was followed with the loud shout,
"Sold!"
As
The Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden held
its 18th annual Koi Auction there were over
200 people in the garden and even more fish.
"This
is one of the garden's biggest fund raiser
events of the year, and it's great that
so many people came because we have a lot
of fish," Jeanette Schelin, director
of the garden said.
Bidders hands shot toward the sky with auction
numbers clenched tightly in fist as sounds
of excitement and disappointment could be
heard from attendees as they won or lost.
Kevin Dinh, 30, and Tracy Tran, 26, of Long
Beach have had a Koi pond for little over
a year and they came because the "Koi
auction is usually a really good deal,"
Dinh said. "It's exciting if you just
don't think about the money, we've spent
about $400 for five Koi, and they could
make great Christmas presents."
The
Zen Nippon Airinkai Koi Club has been a
co-sponsor of the event from the start and
also had some of its fish available for
auction.
"The
ZNA brings some beautiful examples of show
quality Koi fishto the auction," Schelin
said.
Those
who arrived before the auction began were
able to participate in the "Koi Round
Up." The water level of the pond was
lowered as the chosen fish were sorted and
selected one by one. The Koi were loaded
into large blue barrels and then plastic
bags to be made ready for the auction.
Koi
care demonstrations were shown to potential
buyers, covering everything from how they
might heal a wound, to what food is good
for those colorful fish.
"I'm
here to learn," said Rick Pickens,
28, of Huntington Beach, "if there
are any good deals, then I might buy a couple
fish, but I'm mostly here for some helpful
knowledge about the different types of Koi."
The
beauty of the Koi fish is a major pull to
many of those in attendance.
"I
used to come by this garden every day to
look at the Koi fish," said Cecile
Oudiz, 78, of Long Beach. "For 12 years
now I've had my own pond."
The
Japanese Garden will be hosting an orchid
workshop and a bonsai workshop early next
year. A sushi workshop, although unofficial,
is in the works as the garden is currently
"seeking a licensed Japanese food establishment
for an evening demonstration of Japanese
cookery," said Vergil Hettick, the
garden curator.
Students
always get in for free, but membership to
the garden offers a barrage of opportunities
such as: invitation to member-only events,
discounts on garden programs and merchandise
and free admission to gardens across North
America.
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