Analyzing PBE 2024 Judging Data

[NaoTK]

The PBE is unique in allowing all participants to judge the trees (on a scale of 1-5), rather than a panel of experts. I enjoy playing with the data to learn what clicked for our community and what didn't.
data: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...P4lbHMXFLQ6eKM/edit?gid=64727763#gid=64727763

The Good

The best deciduous was almost universally praised, tying the most 5's and only two people who needed to go to the restroom?
This tree was also the #1 tree in terms of score total, but did not win best in show, which was scored separately.



The best in show cryptomeria was also almost universally praised, tying the most 5's, but with a larger number of people who considered it a 3 tree.
The triumph of this display, besides the perfect pads, is that they managed to find the perfect antique Chinese container and a Japanese stand with the correct proportions for the long container.



The Bad

Interestingly, there was a notable gap between these 5 worst displays and the rest of the pack.

This was the lowest scored display, receiving 18 1's. Interesting that 5 people considered it a good display.
The trees are individually good, but its a conceptual mess. You got a painting, rock, 2 trees that look similar, and pointing everywhere. If the hornbeam in the middle was removed and the rock brought forward it would improve drastically.




The next worst trees all received primarily 1s, 2s, and some 3s. They are all deciduous shown in leaf and atypical bonsai species. The ramification is not optimal, but that may because they are atypical bonsai species. As a potter I find it interesting that the pots do not provide any contrasting color interest or disappear in the display.

 

[NaoTK]

Always the bridesmaid

This tree had the highest concentration of 4’s. It has great pad control for a sierra but perhaps lacked the size to get the wow factor of 5?




The Contentious

These trees had an unusual distribution of 4’s and 2’s.

This stewartia split the judges the most, either a decently good or moderately bad tree.





This sierra juniper has an unusual form and led to a love it or hate it display





The Meh trees

These trees had the highest concentration of 3’s.





I didn’t study this juniper closely, but a lot of judges thought it was just ok.

 

[NaoTK]

About judges

Most judges graded on a normal distribution:

But some threw out 5’s like they were Benjies



…and others were more discriminating

 

[Hartinez]

This is really cool Nao. Thanks for sharing. Having obviously not been a judge but still very curious about the results, I would love to look at that complete data set. I never ended up taking the time to do my own scoring from the back of the show program, but I wish I would have.

 

[Hartinez]

threw out 5's like they were benjis

 

[Hartinez]

MORE!! MORE DATA!!

 

[NaoTK]

This was probably the most disagreed upon tree where the judges were most evenly divided. Is it good or is it bad or is it so so?
So many traditional and non-traditional elements that is pisses off and pleases everyone simultaneously.

 

[Ruddigger]

I have to agree with the worst trees, those are the ones that stood out to me.

The cryptomeria was 1st for me, Jeremiah’s redwood was right behind, maybe tied with that hornbeam.

There was another display on the first row with two little trees both facing the same direction that was a bit of a mess as well. I wonder where that one ranked.

That pondo, I like the display, but the tree wasn’t quite ready for a show imo. In a few years it could be a stunner though.

 

[NaoTK]

There was another display on the first row with two little trees both facing the same direction that was a bit of a mess as well.

which one?

 

[Ruddigger]

 

[NaoTK]

America is still learning shohin display so the scores show confusion. I think the display would improve if the trees pointed towards eachother

 

[Hartinez]

America is still learning shohin display so the scores show confusion. I think the display would improve if the trees pointed towards eachother

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I have to imagine that the scores for this one or based more on the quality of the individual trees rather than the display. That little elm was exquisitely ramifieid

 

[Wood]

Love it, thanks Nao! It was interesting to see how displays were distinctly important to the score of each tree.

I did not like display 39 (three trees, painting and rock), but individually I thought each tree was quite nice. The hornbeam was a great little tree, but didn't make any sense as close to the main tree as it was. The beech and hawthorn in the bottom 5 also seemed like they were at a disadvantage being displayed in leaf, which is just bad luck

Display 26 felt really weird to me, with the two huge flower spikes on an already big accent

And I can't make up my mind about display 35. The deadwood leg on the stand is fascinating and nicely heterodox, but the hanging scroll seems like it's poorly trying to be orthodox

How'd Jeff Stearns' medium display (semi-cascade juniper and cork bark elm) score? On that and display 70, I thought both the accent trees were better than the main tree, tbh

 

[NaoTK]

How'd Jeff Stearns' medium display (semi-cascade juniper and cork bark elm) score?

Stern's display 61 won best medium display.

The elm on display 70 is poor because it has so much space with no interest in the trunk and the branches just come straight out. Stern's elm is much more interesting.



IS IT CAKE?