Newsletter – March 2014

2014-03-Img01Bonsai Notebook

Jim Barrett will be our presenter at the March 8th meeting.  Involved in bonsai for more than 50 years, Jim has participated in the growth and development of the bonsai art throughout Southern California and around the country.

He was driving by the San Gabriel Nursery in 1954 and noticed their bonsai display out front.  He stopped to look at the trees  and while there purchased his first trees; two Japanese blackpine and two prostrata junipers.  He soon developed a relationship with Khan Komai and became a bonsai teacher, and continues teaching today.

2014-03-Img01Jim was a co-founder of our club, so it is always an honor for us to have hime share his bonsai experience with us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting Time and Place:
March 8, 2014 at 7pm
LAC Arboretum, Palm Room                                                                  

President’s Corner…..

It has been a very dry winter for us this year, with warmer weather in February than we are used to having.  If your trees are reacting like mine, you are seeing new buds popping all over on deciduous trees and new growth on the conifers.  At Baikoen’s Winter Silhouettes show you could see buds popping on many of the trees.

Our Spring has sprung!  You should have your favorite soil mixes ready for repotting, or initial potting from nursery cans into pots.  The Baikoen Show and Bonsai-A-Thon were good sources of soil supplies.  Check our website, www.sabonsai.org for a resource list or visit your local nurseries and bonsai nurseries.

It is usual to start with evergreens and conifers and work on the deciduous trees when the new buds are swelling.  I think it’s safe to say, with buds already leafing, we can be potting now, if you haven’t started yet.

A special “thank you to May McNey for her recent donation to the club. We appreciate her support and long association with SABS.

~Dave Miles

February Meeting Highlights

Al Nelson displayed his usual excellence for us in February with a beautiful saikei.  He narrated the steps for constructing the saikei as his helpers worked through the process.

Starting with a slab rock, they positioned tufa rocks.  The rocks were glued to the slab with polyurethane adhesive, the highest rock near the center, and the others tapering in height the further they were from the high point.  Al left an open area in the center of the slab from back to front.  He called this the “no plant zone”, to later represent water.

Three procumbens nana trees, grown from cuttings by Al, were used in the composition.  Al used “muck” to build a planting area near the rocks and positioned the trees with the tallest near the center.  The shorter trees were placed adjacent, forming a triangular silhouette.  The final step involved covering the muck  with moss and filling in the low center area with small river stones.  The finished saikei resembled a mountain forest next to a stream.

2014-03-Img02Thanks again to Al and his crew for a great learning experience.

 

 

 

 

2014-03-Img03Marge Blasingame had the winning raffle ticket and took the beautiful saikei home. 

What’s New

You have probably noticed postage costs have gone up again.  If you have a good working relationship with your computer, please request your newsletter be sent to your email.  You can also see the newsletter on the website.  The club will continue to mail the newsletter to those who prefer the regular mail.

If you would like to receive the monthly newsletter electronically please send your email contact information to Dave Miles at:  [email protected]  or register on our website by clicking on the “Mailing List” link. (Your email information will be kept confidential for newsletter purposes only and will not be shared.)

The Bonsai Notebook Newsletter will also be posted on the new SABS website. Check out the new SABS website at:  www.sabonsai.org

Upcoming Events

California Bonsai Society Show
March 29 & 30, 2014
Huntington Library and Botanical Garden
1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA

New Members

E.K Waller

Next Meeting

Date: March 8, 2014
Time: 7pm
Location:
LAC Arboretum, Palm Room
301 N. Baldwin Ave
Arcadia, Ca  91007

2014 Monthly Program

March 8th, 2014: Jim Barrett
April 12th, 2014: John Nielson
May 10th, 2014: Roy Nagatoshi  (bring your own show tree workshop)

2014 Refreshment Schedule

March:  B & L Hutchinson, Y.S. Farn, D. Ryerson, J. Anthony, D. Miles
April:  P. Macasieb, M. Jonas, E. Janza, M. Atkison

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