Bonsai Notebook

Our September meeting will feature Cesareo Perez.  Cesareo is another of our local bonsai artists who make the Southern California area so rich with talent.

As a teenager, Cesareo started working at bonsai after seeing trees at the Pittsburgh, PA Arboretum.  He styled trees with no idea how to do it correctly.  After moving to California, he joined the Descanso Bonsai Society.

Cesareo began studying with Jim Barrett and still does today.  Over the years he has studied with John Naka, Khan Komai, and Harry Hirao.  Cesareo is a member of California Bonsai Society, Nampu Kai, and Descanso Bonsai Society.  He is a regular demonstrator at the annual Bonsai-A-Thon.  Come to the Sept. meeting and see Cesareo’s talent at work.

Meeting Time And Place: Sept 13, 2014 at 7pm   LAC Arboretum/ Palm Room

President’s Corner

In his book, “Bonsai Ideas”, Marty Mann describes September as a time when the “growth patterns of most trees begin to slow down…”.  We are getting the last spurts of summer growth, so we should be able to cut back on constant pruning.

Fall is a good time to gather tree seeds such as oaks, pines, and maples.  The seeds can be stored in your refrigerator for the Winter and then planted in the Spring.  Marty

recommends limiting cuttings to hardwood specimens or tropical varieties.  If you take cuttings, keep Ted Matson’s advice in mind and look for interesting lines when selecting cuttings to start a ready-made bonsai.

Enjoy the Fall changes in your trees and spend some relaxing time with your trees every day.

~Dave Miles

August Highlights …

Ted Matson gave us a broad and detailed presentation on shohin bonsai in August.  His unique ability to continually describe and explain what he is doing while working on material.  He worked on several pieces of material while talking about the different aspects of shohin.

Ted defoliated a small ficus to encourage new back-budding in the crown.  He talked about layering the tops of existing bonsai to get a fast start on a new shohin.  He recommended layering in Spring for best results.

Ted talked about using cuttings to start shohin and emphasized looking at the quality of lines in a cutting.  Start with a cutting that has some movement and taper to help ensure an interesting tree.  He described using large transparent plastic jars for mini greenhouses for cuttings;  Turn the jar upside down, punch holes in the lid for drainage, place the small cutting pot on the inside of the lid, water the cutting, and screw on the jar to act as a  greenhouse.

Then watch for condensation on the inside of the jar to see that it is working.  Keep the jar in shade to avoid “cooking” the cutting. He likes finding new material that isn’t well known for shohin use.  Ted showed us a Mexican guava and described how well it worked as shohin material.  He potted and pruned a small guava for the raffle.  He also did extensive pruning on a  Eugenia, starting with a bushy foliage mass and ending with a balanced, traditional shape.  This tree also went in the raffle.

Ted explained the use of sacrifice branches to thicken the base of  branches to create the desired taper and balance moving up from the base of the tree.

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Freeman took home the  Mexican Guava, and Dave Miles won the Eugenia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s New

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.)

August Raffle Donors

Thank you to  Jerry Banuelos, Marge Blasingame, Y.S. Farn, Bill & Lois Hutchinson, Emma Janza, Dave Miles, Dick Ryerson, Paul Terhune, Marilyn Tyler and Frank Yee

Upcoming Events

Sept. 23-28, 2014
Kofu Kai Show at the Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, daily 10:00am to 4:00pm

Sept. 27-28, 2014, San Diego
San Diego Bonsai Club Fall Show Casa Del Prado, Rm. 101, Balboa Park
10a-5p daily with demos at 11a and 1p  Sale table with bonsai related items.
More info: www.sandiegobonsaiclub.com

Oct. 4-5, 2014, Thousand Oaks
Conejo Valley Bonsai Society Exhibition Gardens of the World’s Resource Center
2001 Thousand Oaks Blvd.
9a-4p daily with demos at 11a and 2p  No sales table
More info; www.cvbs-bonsai.org

Oct. 30– Nov. 2 , 2014
GSBF Convention, Sacramento, Ca.
gsbf-bonsai.org/convention

Meeting Dates

Sept 13, 2014
Oct  11, 2014
Nov  8, 2014

Next Meeting

Date: September 13, 2014
Time: 7pm
Location:
LAC Arboretum, Palm Room
301 N. Baldwin Ave
Arcadia, Ca  91007

Board Meeting: 6pm (before start of  general meeting)

2014 Monthly Program

September:  Cesareo Perez
October: Harry  Hirao
November:: Tak Shimazu

2014 Refreshment Schedule

September: J. Gibbs, B & L Hutchinson, P. Macasieb, K. The
October: T & A Freeman, J. Gutierrez,  P. Macasieb, R. Sencer

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