Newsletter June 2023

Bonsai Notebook

Next SABS Meeting:

June 10, 2023

7 pm

LA Arboretum— Ayres Hall

Welcome again to our wonderful club members and those thinking of learning more about bonsai.
The June 10 meeting will be at 7:00pm in Ayres Hall at the L.A. Arboretum.
Our guest demonstrator will be Bill Ward.

Bill has acquired much of his bonsai stock by scouring nurseries and yards all over for good bonsai material.
He will be sharing what he looks for in regular nursery stock to then develop worthwhile bonsai for a reasonable price.

Twelve years ago Bill thought that a bonsai tree would look good next to his koi pond.
He went to House of Bonsai, bought a juniper and a book on how to style it.
That adventure went well, and he began to study bonsai with John Nielson and later with Al Nelson.

Bill enjoys searching for a “diamond in the rough” that can become a beautiful bonsai.
Join us in June to hear and see how he does it.

President’s Corner

As we move from late spring into summer, many of our trees are going through growth spurts.
Deciduous trees push out leggy shoots and larger leaves.
Let new growth harden off before cutting back, and leaf-prune to reduce leaf size.
You can defoliate a healthy deciduous tree in June and July.
This kind of drastic leaf pruning works with maples, liquid amber, and hornbeam.
It works with many other deciduous trees and some evergreens like oak, but be careful.

Insects and fungus are prevalent during the summer, so plan on use of insecticides and fungicides to control them.
Fertilizer is also important for the health and growth of our trees.
There are an abundance of products on the market.
We get advice on fertilizers during demonstrations, but it differs from artist to artist.
Listen to and search out options and use what works for you.
Remember to generally use half the amount the package recommends for potted plants.
Enjoy your summertime trees.

~Dave

Members Corner

Welcome New Members:

Susan & Huong Dao
Christopher & Tracy Brown
Steve Salisian & Izzy Murillo

  • Many thanks to all who have renewed for 2023
  • Our membership drive for 2023 continues….
    Annual dues are $20 for Individuals and $25 for family memberships.
    Dues may be paid by cash or check.
    If you are unable to attend a meeting but would like to join SABS please contact Lorraine at [email protected] to receive a mail–in membership form.

May 2023 Auction Meeting Highlights

May was an exciting month for our club.
We were not able to have our annual Memorial Day Weekend show because of the on-going construction at the Arboretum.
We turned that negative into a positive by hosting our first-ever bonsai auction on our May meeting night.

Thanks to the auction committee, Chaired by Bryan Nicholson, for the planning and successful operation of the event.
We had a nice mix of club members and visiting bonsai enthusiasts who participated as bidders.
Together with a surprising abundance of bonsai trees and pots, the auction was a great success for the club.

Special thanks go to all the volunteers who handled the operation of the auction.
Wendy Tsai and Lorraine Miles handled the check-in, and together with the treasurers Steve and Judy Anthony, handled the pay-outs to all the sellers.
Ellen Keneshea and Kathy Benson did the critical job of tallying the auction results for each item, keeping calm in the midst of chaos.
Manuel Dizon, Ian Killips and Christian Lebano helped set-up and acted as runners throughout and kept the items moving.
The auctioneers, Mike Kelly and Anthony Aguirre kept the event light-hearted and orderly (mostly).
Bryan Nicholson kept all the paperwork in order to round out the night.
The club appreciates all the hard work and effort that went into producing a wonderful night of bonsai enjoyment for all.

We would also like to extend a “thank you” to all of you who so generously donated items to the Auction

Kathy Benson, YS Farn, Joe Galgoul
Mike Kelly, Ellen Keneshea, David & June Nguy
Steve Riley, Gonzalo Rodriguez, Doyle Saito
Vic Shelton, Lindsay Shiba, Carol Upston

Our paperwork is still a little jumbled, so we apologize to anyone we may have missed on this list.
Thank you very much

And to all who so generously participated during this Auction

2023 SABS Monthly Meeting Dates

June 10 —
Location: LA Arboretum —Ayres Hall
Demo: Bill Ward

July 8 —
Location: home of David & June Nguy
Demo: David Nguy

Aug 12 —
Location: home of Peter & Marissa in West Covina
Demo: Peter Macasieb
Air Layering part 2

Refreshment Schedule

Snacks & Appetizers & Desserts

June 10—
P. Macasieb, S. Riley, Y.S. Farn

July 08—
F. Saya

Aug 12 —
P Macasieb, V Shelton

Sign ups for 2023 Refreshments will be available at the June 10 meeting

Upcoming Events


June 11 — (date corrected from original post)
Arcadia Bonsai Swap Meet
405 S. Santa Anita Ave.
Arcadia
north end of parking lot, 10a-12p .
For more info email: [email protected]

Oct 20-22 —
GSBF Bonsai Rendezvous
Hotel Mission De Oro
Santa Nella
209-826-4444 for reservations (rooms going quickly, other motels in town) go to www.gsbfbonsai.org/2023-rendezvous for info.

Come Join Us

Next Meeting

Date:
June 10, 2023

Time:
7 pm

Location:
LA Arboretum– Ayres Hall
301 N. Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007
Enter thru the Ayres Gate in the East parking lot

Newsletter May 2023

Bonsai Notebook

Next SABS Meeting: May 13, 2023

SABS Auction
6 pm
LA Arboretum— Ayres Hall

We have a special event planned for the May 13 meeting.
Our SABS club will be hosting a bonsai auction to serve as a fundraiser for the club since we cannot have our annual show and sale.
Construction at the Arboretum continues…

In addition to our club members, the auction is also open to other bonsai clubs that would like to participate as both sellers and bidders.
Items for auction can include bonsai trees, pots, stands, tools, and any bonsai related items you wish to have auctioned.
This will be a “reserve” auction, so you can put a minimum price on the items you wish to auction.
If the bidding does not reach the reserve limit, the item will not be sold.
As with our annual sale, the club will retain 20% of all auction sales as our fundraiser, and the seller will get 80%.
If you choose to put a reserve price on your items, price them so your 80% share reflects your reserve.

The preferred payment method for winning auction bids is cash or check.
Please keep this in mind if you plan to be a bidder.

The Ayres Hall doors will be open at 6:00pm for auction sellers to bring in their items.
This will allow time for the club to prepare the items for auction and have them available for viewing prior to the auction start.
We will start the auction as close to 7:00pm as we can depending on the quantity of items brought in.

Refreshments will be served, so please help by bringing something you would enjoy as a refreshment.
We look forward to seeing you in May.

At-the-door registration is available but there is still time to RSVP.
Click here https://forms.gle/RBopaxMgT7ZZuTHq9 and let us know you are coming, and if you plan on selling so we have enough tables.

If you have questions or want to volunteer to help, make this fun evening happen, please contact Bryan Nicholson at either 213-709-4171 or [email protected]  

President’s Corner

The construction at the Arboretum is still in progress, so we will meet in Ayres Hall until the classrooms are finally available.
Our meeting June 10 will be the last in Ayres Hall until October.
We will be meeting at alternative sites July, Aug. and Sept. because of summer concerts at the Arboretum on our meeting nights.
We have been making these adjustments for many years now, and we will continue to do so to provide club meetings that our members enjoy.
The July meeting will be at the home of Peter and Marissa Macasieb where we will complete the second part of our pyracantha air-layering project.

Our Aug. and Sept. meeting locations and demonstrations will be shared in upcoming newsletters.

I hope your annual Spring repotting projects have gone well, and your trees are thriving in their new soil and pots. I try to rotate my trees so I only have a small percentage that needs repotting every year. I keep track of the years on tags kept in each pot.
Some use colored tags or ribbons, but having a system and rotating keeps the workload manageable.

It looks like the summer heat is upon us.
We have had a great abundance of watering help this year with all the rain.
Now we have to adjust our watering to counter our warm summer and do the dance between too much water and just the right amount. ~Dave

Members Corner

  • Many thanks to all who have renewed for 2023.
  • Our membership drive for 2023 continues….Annual dues are $20 for Individuals and $25 for family memberships.
    Dues may be paid by cash or check.
    If you are unable to attend a meeting but would like to join SABS please contact Lorraine at [email protected] to receive a mail–in membership form.
  • 2023 current members voted to approve the new SABS By-Laws at the April 8 meeting.
  • It is with much sadness that we share with you the passing of Marybel Balendonck at age 97.
    Marybel was one of the founders of American Bonsai and will be missed by all

We would like to extend a special “thank you” to all of you who donated so generously to the April raffle table

Jerry Banuelos, Jim & Helen Barrett, Ray Blasingame, Kathy Benson, Sue Cook, Y.S. Farn, Ellen Keneshea, Peter Macasieb, Dave Miles, Bryan Nicholson, Steve Riley

And to all who so generously purchased raffle tickets

2023 Monthly Meeting Dates

May 13
Location: LA Arboretum—Ayres Hall
SABS Auction

June 10
Location: LA Arboretum —Ayres Hall
Demo: Bill Ward

July 8
Location: in West Covina
Demo: Peter Macasieb

Meeting Refreshment Schedule

May 13
J. Anthony, F. Saya, V. Shelton, D&D Mauzy-Melitz

Extra snacks & appetizers appreciated

June 10
P. Macasieb, S. Riley, Y.S. Farn

Sign ups for 2023 refreshments will be available at the May 13 meeting

Upcoming Events

May 6 & 7
Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai 36th Annual Bonsai Exhibit & Sale
Ken Nakaoka Community Center
1670 W 162nd St, Gardena.
For more info contact Doyle Saito 310-539-9265

May 13
SABS Auction: open to all clubs,
6pm Ayres Hall, LA Arboretum
for more info contact Bryan Nicholson at 213-709-4171, or [email protected]

July 11
Arcadia Bonsai Swap Meet
405 S. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia,
north end of parking lot, 10a-12p
For more info email: [email protected]

Oct 20-22
GSBF Bonsai Rendezvous
Hotel Mission De Oro, Santa Nella
209-826-4444 for reservations (rooms going quickly, other motels in town)
www.gsbfbonsai.org/2023-rendezvous for info.

April 2023 Meeting Highlights

The April meeting was the first of its kind for us.
It was the beginning of a two-part project to establish multiple shohin-size trees from three six-foot-tall nursery grown pyracanthas.
The project began with the efforts of Mike Kelly and Steve Riley who went on a road trip all over L.A. and Orange Counties. They scoured nurseries until they found the right pyracanthas for the project, based on Peter Macasieb’s specifications.
They also collected the soil and rooting pots for the project.

Peter demonstrated the air-layering process, and our members proceeded to make the girdling cuts as directed up and down the trees.
The cuts were followed by an application of root hormone then small plastic pots were split to fit around the cut, wired closed and filled with soil.
I did not get an exact count, but we finished approximately 25 air-layers on the three pyracanthas.
Everyone enjoyed the learning experience, and we look forward to part two at Peter’s home in July.

Mike Kelly obtained a U-Haul truck to transport the pyracanthas so they were secured upright with all the air-layers, and he took them to Peter’s home to await the next step.
Thanks Peter, Mike & Steve!

Thanks to Becky V for her awesome photography

Come Join Us for The SABS Auction

Date: May 13, 2023

Time: 6 pm

Location: LA Arboretum– Ayres Hall
301 N. Baldwin Ave
Arcadia, CA 91007

Enter thru the Ayres Gate in the East parking lot

Newsletter April 2023

Bonsai Notebook

Next SABS Meeting:

April 8, 2023
7pm
LA Arboretum— Ayres Hall
301 N. Baldwin Ave
Arcadia, CA 91007
Enter thru the Ayres Gate in the East parking lot

The April 8 meeting will be in Ayres Hall at the Arboretum at 7:00pm.

Our program for the evening will be done by club member Peter Macasieb. We have planned an interactive meeting that will involve Peter demonstrating and club members participating in the tree work. Peter will be showing us how to do air-layering to propagate a new tree, and members will have the opportunity to perform air-layering on the demonstration material.

When the air-layering of different branches is complete, the material will be maintained by Peter until a follow-up meeting at Peter’s home, likely in July. At that meeting, members will again participate in the removal and potting of the newly rooted air layers.

This should be a fun learning experience with everyone learning how to make use of this simple way ro propagate new bonsai trees. The multi-meeting format is new for us, and we already plan to use it again next year in a different way.
Join us in April for this fun and useful meeting format.

Peter Macasieb

President’s Corner

In lieu of our annual show and member sales table this year because of construction, our club will host a fund-raising Bonsai Auction at our May 13 meeting. The Auction will be similar to our Annual sale in that 80% of the auction price of an item will go to the owner and 20% will go to the club as our fund raiser to help maintain our club and its ability to provide programs.
The auction will be open to all bonsai clubs who would like to participate in both buying and selling.

More information will follow in this newsletter (see Members Corner). Start thinking about bonsai items you would like to put up for sale. The auction will allow for reserves to be placed on items at the owners discretion.

Our current rain cycle has made for a very unique year so far. I have had my yard sprinkler system turned off for over a month. My bonsai watering needs have been very sporadic. I have used small blocks to slightly tip some of my pots to help with complete draining. I hope all your trees are loving all the rain water as much as mine. They don’t miss the tap water.

I have heard concerns from some of our members that not all of their deciduous trees have leafed out. I am not a plant expert, but my deciduous trees all seem to have their own cycle on when their Spring leaves will come in, some obviously sooner than others. Be patient and enjoy watching as each deciduous tree comes back to life with new leaves.

~Dave

Members Corner

Welcome New Members:
Miguel Torres
Ken Teh
Lisa Wang & John Scotti
And many thanks to all who have renewed for 2023

Our membership drive for 2023 continues….
Annual dues are $20 for Individuals and $25 for family memberships.
Dues may be paid by cash or check. If you are unable to attend a meeting and would like to join SABS please contact Lorraine at [email protected] to receive a mail-in membership form

2023 current members will be voting to approve the new SABS By-Laws at the April 8 meeting.
Copies are available upon request from Lorraine at [email protected] prior to April 7

AUCTION *** AUCTION *** AUCTION

You Are Invited

Join your club for a special evening of camaraderie, nibbles, and bonsai –
Santa Anita Bonsai Society is having an auction.  

On May 13, 2023, SABS Club is hosting a bonsai auction. You are invited to bring trees, pots, stands, and any other bonsai (or plant) related item you want to pass on.  

The deal –
SABS is providing drinks and some snacks, and an auctioneer.
We are asking you to bring something tasty to share and the items you want to sell.
You (the seller) keep 80% of the sale amount, and SABS gets 20%.   

Doors open at 6 pm.

This is SABS annual fundraiser, as we are not able to have our annual show this year.  

It would be very helpful if you would RSVP.
Click here https://forms.gle/RBopaxMgT7ZZuTHq9 to let us know you are coming, and if you plan on selling – so we have enough tables!
If this link doesn’t open please cut & paste into your browser.
If it still doesn’t open then please contact Bryan at [email protected]
or leave an email message at [email protected]

If you have questions or want to volunteer to help make this fun evening happen, please contact Bryan Nicholson at either 213.709.4171, or [email protected].  

Mark your calendars now and start saving your pennies! We look forward to seeing you on May 13

We would like to extend a special “thank you” to all of you who donated so generously to the raffle table

Robert Alderette
Jerry Banuelos
Jim & Helen Barrett
Manuel Dizon
Peter Macasieb
Dave Miles
Bryan Nicholson
Marren Padrones
Tak Shimazu
Ken Teh

And to all who so generously purchased raffle tickets

March 2023 Meeting Highlights

We had a great turnout for the March meeting to watch Tak Shimazu do his magic with a Japanese black pine.
Also, our one-time use of the Oak Room went well and included fresh coffee and tasty cookies from the Peacock Café.

Tak Shimazu

Tak worked on a pine tree the club had purchased at the Bonsai-A-Thon for the demo.
He talked about some of the branches being too elongated for good proportion in the design. The remedy was to cut back to smaller buds on a branch, where possible, to bring the foliage closer to the trunk and make for a more tapered design from bottom to top. Some potential buds needed more time to develop before cutting branches back.

Tak wired and positioned branches into a pleasing informal upright style.
He left a couple of options for the final apex that depended on the future growth of the top.
The final design was a wonderful beginning for the future development of the tree.

Jim Pelling was the enthusiastic raffle winner of Tak’s tree.

In addition to this demonstration black pine, Tak donated a mame elm tree to our raffle. Anthony Giandomencio was the lucky raffle winner of the beautiful little tree.

Thanks to Becky V for her awesome photography

2023 Monthly Meeting Dates

April 8
Location LA Arboretum — Ayres Hall
Demo: Peter Macasieb

May 13
Location: LA Arboretum—Ayres Hall
SABS Auction

June 10
Location: LA Arboretum —Ayres Hall
Demo: TBA

Refreshment Schedule

April 8— J. Anthony, D. Deephouse, P. Macasieb, M.Dizon

May 13— J. Anthony, F. Saya, V. Shelton, D&D Mauzy-Melitz

Sign ups for 2023 will be available at the April 8 meeting

Come Join Us

Newsletter March 2023

Bonsai Notebook

Next SABS Meeting

March 11, 2023
7pm
LA Arboretum— Oak Room
(lower level of Peacock Café)

Tak Shimazu

Board Meeting at 6pm

Prior to general meeting
Everyone Welcome
We will be discussing options for our Annual Sale and more

Our March 11 meeting will be at the Arboretum at 7pm, but in the Oak Room instead of Ayres Hall. This is a one-time change to allow for use of the Ayres Hall kitchen by another organization. We have been promised hot coffee and fresh cookies in exchange. The Oak Room is located directly below the Peacock Café (directions later in the newsletter).

Tak Shimazu will be our guest demonstrator. He is a well-known local bonsai master, and will style a Japanese black pine at the meeting. Tak was born in Kumamoto, Japan and emigrated to the U.S. in 1968, residing in Orange County. He ran his own gardening service for 40 years before retiring.

Tak got started in bonsai as a hobby, being tutored by his brother. From there, he studied with John Naka and Harry Hirao. He specializes in Japanese black pine and juniper bonsai. Tak is an expert at grafting Itoigawa Shimpaku on San Jose and prostrata juniper. He has led many workshops at GSBF events and teaches at his home in Riverside.

Join us in March to watch Tak’s artistry.

President’s Corner

The Spring brings with it bonsai repotting time. I hope you had a chance to attend the Bonsai-A-Thon at the Huntington and pick up potting supplies if you didn’t already have them. The question of “what mix do you use?” always comes up at this time of year. Answers will vary, but presently inorganic mixes seem to predominate. I am referring to mixes that include some combination of pumice, perlite, lava rock and acadama. A popular mix is equal parts pumice, lava rock and acadama. Some people substitute perlite for pumice. Some use only one of the ingredients, or a different ratio. I have been told adding a little organic potting soil to this mix seems to work well with deciduous trees.

Whatever you use, the goal is soil that drains quickly so water doesn’t pool and lead to root rot.

Acadama is unique to bonsai and usually only found at bonsai supply companies such as Bonsai Unlimited in Chino or House of Bonsai in Lakewood. Bonsai-specific nurseries will also carry it. Pumice and lava rock can be found at landscape supply companies like Whittier Fertilizer Company, Orange County Farm Supply, and O.F. Wolfinbarger in Chino. For pumice, I like using Dry Stall, a product used for horse stalls and available at most farm animal feed stores. Dry Stall is pumice that has already been sifted and washed, so it is ready to mix. (addresses & info for resources are available in the links menu on our website at www.sabonsai.org )

Now is the time to collect the soil elements of your choice and mix it up for potting. How often to repot is another topic, but your trees should be ok as long as your soil drains well and has not become rootbound.

~Dave

February Meeting Highlights

We had a wonderful time at the February meeting, making up for our lost January meeting. There was an abundance of food for the potluck dinner, our Board members were officially installed, and we played Bonsai Bingo. The meeting was also the kickoff to our annual membership drive and most of our attendees either rejoined or joined for the first time.
We very much appreciate everyone’s support

Mike Kelly was the energetic m/c of bingo and kept the games going until the bountiful prize table was empty. We learned a lot of bonsai-related words we were unfamiliar with along with words we regularly use. Bingo is still bingo in whatever form you use, and there was lots of laughter and anticipation as each game progressed. We often had multiple winners in games, and every winner got a prize (thanks to all the nice items donated by members). “Rock-Paper- Scissors” made it easy to decide which winner could choose first. I think everyone enjoyed the games. Bonsai Bingo may become one of our annual events if the membership agrees.

Thanks to Becky V for her awesome photography

Members Corner

Welcome New Members

Clark & Emily Taylor
Gabriel Gonzalez
Amanda Tsurutani

And to all who renewed again

  • 2023 current members will be voting to approve the new SABS By-Laws at the March meeting.
    Copies are available upon request from Lorraine at [email protected] prior to March 11, 2023.
  • 2023 Membership to Santa Anita Bonsai Society for the calendar year Jan-Dec 2023 began at the Jan “storm lockout” Meeting. Thanks to those of you who have already joined/ renewed.
    Annual dues are $20 for Individuals and $25 for family memberships. Dues may be paid by cash or check. We are still working on electronic payment but not quite ready to launch. New members who joined in Oct-Dec 2022 will be carried over into 2023. If you are unable to attend a meeting but would like to join SABS please contact Lorraine at [email protected] to receive a mail–in membership form.
  • We would like to extend a special “thank you” to all of you who donated so generously to the raffle table for Bonsai Bingo

Jim & Helen Barrett, Sue Cook, Manuel Dizon, Ron Espiritu, YS Farn,
Gabriel Gonzalez, Mike Kelly, Peter Macasieb, David & Debra Mauzy Melitz,
Dave Miles, Rick Nabor, Bryan Nicholson, Jim Pelling, Steve Riley,
Richard Ryerson, Vic Shelton, Wendy Tsai, Becky Villasenor

and to all who purchased extra bingo cards—what a fun nite we had!!!!

Thanks to all
who donated food to our
Annual Potluck

Upcoming Events

2nd Saturday monthly
Kimura Bonsai sponsors monthly workshops at their new site, Kashi no ki-en in Castaic; contact them for details at 818-343-4090.

April 24
GSBF Golden Zoom Series with Andrew Robson on defoliation

2023 Monthly Meeting Dates

Mar 11
Location: LA Arboretum—Oak Room (lower level of Peacock Cafe)
Demo: Tak Shimazu

April 8
Location LA Arboretum — Ayres Hall
Demo: Peter Macasieb

May 13
Location: LA Arboretum—Ayres Hall
Demo:TBA

Meeting Refreshment Schedule
SABS Club to provide water

Mar 11
J. Anthony, S. Cook, B Villasenor
plus cookies & coffee compliments of the Peacock Cafe

April 8
J. Anthony, D. Deephouse, P. Macasieb

May 13
J. Anthony, F. Saya, V. Shelton, D&D Mauzy-Melitz

Come Join Us

Next Meeting
Date: March 11, 2023
Time: 7pm

Location:
LA Arboretum– Oak Room
lower level of Peacock Cafe
301 N. Baldwin Ave
Arcadia, CA 91007

The main entrance is at Ayres Hall Gate in the East parking lot during construction

Directions to the Oak Room at the Arboretum

Enter through the Ayres Hall gate and follow the cement walking path west until it intersects the asphalt path.
Turn left and you will arrive at the Peacock Café.
Follow the path to the right of the café which will take you to the lower level and the Oak Room.

Newsletter February 2023

Bonsai Notebook

Next SABS Meeting:
February 11, 2023
7pm
LA Arboretum– Ayres Hall
Join us for
The SABS Annual Potluck
Membership Drive
&
Bonsai Bingo

Board Meeting at 6pm
prior to general meeting
Everyone Welcome
We will be discussing options for our May 2023 Annual Show and Sale

The temporary entrance to the Arboretum is through the Ayres Hall Gate while the front area is under construction. Ayres Hall is the building on the left as you enter the gate. The doors will be open on the far side of the building.

President’s Corner

I will start this newsletter by once again welcoming everyone to a new year of bonsai for the Santa Anita Bonsai Society. We had a wet and disappointing experience trying to start off our year in January. Arboretum Security failed to open the gate and Ayres Hall for our meeting. We stood in the rain with our potluck food and called several phone numbers trying to reach the security office with no success. In the end, I had to cancel the meeting, and we all went home wet and with extra food to eat.

I called the Arboretum on the Monday following, and they were very apologetic. Security had a schedule that included our meeting, but someone “dropped the ball”. I was given a new phone number for the security office since, apparently, the previous security company’s contract had expired, and a new company had taken over.

I appreciate the effort of all the members who braved the rain and showed up eager to eat and play bingo.

The February 11 meeting will be a repeat of the January plan. We will have the potluck dinner, a brief officer installation ceremony, and play Bonsai Bingo. The club will provide the main dish and water. Please bring your favorite side, salad or dessert for the potluck.

The meeting will also kickoff our annual membership drive/renewal. Come and help us continue to sustain our club by renewing your membership or joining for the first time. Memberships can be paid with cash or check.

Our meeting entertainment will consist of several Bonsai Bingo games, played one after another. Each member in attendance will receive a game card and additional game cards will be available for purchase. The cards will be reused for each new game. Game winners will get a prize from the prize/raffle table, so please bring a prize item you would like to win. I guarantee you will all enjoy the games.

Thanks to Mike Kelly & daiichibonsaikai.com

For 2023 we have several programs planned to provide a worthwhile learning experience as we celebrate the art of bonsai.

~Dave

Members Corner

  • 2023 Officers Installation and Board members introductions will happen at the Feb 2023 meeting.
    It is time to refill many of our board positions. Post covid, there are multiple vacancies and we could truly use your help and ideas. We are an entirely volunteer board and try to divide up responsibilities and keep the new ideas flowing. If you are interested in helping please contact Dave & Lorraine at [email protected] or call Dave at 909 519 5391 before the Feb 11 meeting to find out more about the following positions:
    Vice President: Program Chair: arranging for demonstrators and workshops for the monthly meetings
    Social Media Director/ Liaison: all things media related
    Secretary: record minutes at board mtgs
    Hospitality Chair and committee of 2-3: manage the monthly meeting refreshment table
    Members at large: varying assignments including badges, raffle table assistant, photographer, historian, and more
  • 2023 Membership to Santa Anita Bonsai Society for the calendar year Jan-Dec 2023 began at the Jan Meeting. Thanks to those of you who joined and renewed in the pouring rain.
    Annual Dues are $20 for Individuals and $25 for family memberships. Dues may be paid by cash or check.
    We are still working on electronic payment but not quite ready to launch.
    New members who joined in Oct-Dec 2022 will be carried over into 2023.
  • We are trying something new– As discussed at the Nov meeting, we are trying to save on printing & mailing expenses.
    Beginning Jan 2023 the newsletter will be available primarily online at the www.sabonsai.org website and via email.
    Those of you who previously received it by US mail will now be able to access more photos and current club & area updates.
    An email will be sent monthly to let you know that the newsletter has been posted.
    Your email changes and corrections should be sent to Lorraine at [email protected].
    For members without computer access the US mailing can continue, just let Lorraine know your status.

Members Corner- Highlights

The Baikoen Bonsai Kenkyukai Winter Silhouette Show on Jan 21-22 was spectacular.
It is truly a unique, one of its kind show.
It was extra special for SABS this year, as our President, Dave, was the recipient of the Nagata-Komai Award. As he explained to us all, it was a humbling honor to receive this award. He began his bonsai journey in 1973 (50 yrs ago) by taking classes at the Komai Nursery with his sensei, Jim Barrett.
An added highlight for the evening was the opportunity to meet with Karen Komai Margolis, Khan and Kay’s daughter, just prior to Dave receiving this award.

Many thanks to Lindsay, Debbie, Big Joe and all the Baikoen Club members from the Miles Family & SABS.

Welcome New 2023 Members

Christian Lebano
Cedric Navarro

2023 SABS Monthly Meeting Dates

Feb 11
Location: LA Arboretum– Ayres Hall
Annual Meeting
Potluck, Membership Drive, Bonsai Bingo

Club will provide main dish & water
Bring your favorite side, salad or dessert

and play
Bonsai Bingo
It will be an evening of fun & learning & prizes.
Bring something for the prize/raffle table that you would like to win– plants, pots, tools, books, accessories, a bag of dirt…
Multiple games will be played.

Mar 11
Location: LA Arboretum—Ayres Hall
Demo: Tak Shimazu

April 8
Location LA Arboretum — Ayres Hall
Demo: TBA

2023 Refreshment Schedule

Please bring food to share for our Feb 11 Potluck.
the main dishes will include:
Pork inihaw (grilled pork), pancit bihon (Philippine noodles) & El Pollo Loco Chicken

Sign ups for 2023 will be available at the Feb 11 meeting

Upcoming Events

Feb 3-5, 2023
California Shohin Society 18th Biennial Shohin Seminar 2023.
Hotel Mission de Oro Conference Center, Santa Nella, CA.
www.calshohin.org

Feb 25-26,2023
GSBF Bonsai-A-Thon,
The Huntington Botanical Gardens, 1151Oxford Rd. San Marino
10a-5p
the link on the reservation portal is: https://forms.gle/kDAwrskj4dNYcsRd8
If link does not open then cut & paste into your browser

Come Join Us Feb 11

Newsletter January 2023

Bonsai Notebook

Next SABS Meeting
January 14, 2023
7pm
LA Arboretum– Ayres Hall

Welcome to a new year of bonsai! Our January 14 meeting will be held at 7:00pm at the Arboretum. We will meet in Ayres Hall, and you will enter the Arboretum through the Ayres Hall gate (the temporary main entrance). Once through the gate, follow the perimeter of the building around the corners to the south side doors.


This meeting will be our annual potluck dinner and will include a brief ceremony for the installation of club officers. The club will be providing the main dish for dinner. Bring your favorite side, salad or dessert for the potluck. The meeting will also be the time for annual membership renewal, so please come prepared to help sustain our club by renewing (or joining for the first time). Memberships can be paid for with cash or check.


Along with all the great food and social time, our program will consist of games of Bonsai Bingo that we are confident you will all enjoy. The bingo card squares are bonsai-related words rather than numbers and letters, making the game both informative and entertaining. We will play multiple games with winners getting a prize from the prize/raffle table, so please bring something for the prize table you would like to win.

Thanks to Mike Kelly & www.daiichibonsaikai.com

Every member in attendance will receive a game card and additional cards will be available for purchase (cash only). The cards will be reused for each new game. There are often multiple winners in each game, making each game exciting for everyone.
We are planning a new year full of interesting bonsai programs, and we look forward to continuing our efforts to provide a worthwhile learning experience as we celebrate the art of bonsai.

President’s Corner

Happy New Year to all of you.
I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and that you are ready for a new year of bonsai events. We start off with our annual holiday potluck dinner and membership drive (see Members Corner for details). Then Baikoen will host their Annual Winter Silhouettes Show Jan 21-22. It is the most unique show of its kind and should not be missed.
The California Shohin Society will have the Shohin Seminar in Santa Nella Feb.3-5, and the GSBF Bonsai-A-Thon will be held Feb.25-26 at the Huntington. These events are a great beginning to the year and a wonderful way to explore the art of bonsai.


We will be back at the Arboretum for at least six meetings this year while the main entrance area is still under construction. Our newsletter/ website www.sabonsai.org will keep you up to date when we schedule a meeting at an alternate site. The meetings will all be held in Ayres Hall, but the Hall will not be available to us for our annual show this year. Other options for a show location are being considered, and if anyone has a suggestion, please let me know.


As president, I want to thank all the members of the SABS Board of Directors for their help in continuing to keep our club viable. We could not operate a club without them. There will be an installation ceremony at the January meeting for the Board officers, so you can see who they are. We will also recognize the other Board members who handle the different tasks to make our meetings possible. We welcome anyone in the club willing to help us and volunteer needs will be shared at the meeting.

~Dave

Members Corner

  • 2023 Officers Installation and Board members introductions will happen at the Jan 2023 meeting.
    It is time to refill many of our board positions. Post covid, there are multiple vacancies and we could truly use your help and ideas. We are an entirely volunteer board and try to divide up responsibilities and keep the new ideas flowing.
    If you are interested in helping please contact Dave & Lorraine at [email protected], or call Dave at 909 519 5391 before the Jan 14 meeting to find out more about the following positions:
    Vice President/Program Chairman: arranging for demonstrators and workshops for the monthly meetings
    Secretary: record minutes at board mtgs
    Social Media Director/ Liaison: all things media related
    Hospitality Chairman and committee of 2-3: manage the monthly meeting refreshment table
    Members at large: varying assignments including badges, raffle table assistant, photographer, historian, and more
  • 2023 Membership to Santa Anita Bonsai Society for the calendar year Jan-Dec 2023 will be available beginning at the Jan meeting.
    Annual Dues are $20 for Individuals and $25 for family memberships. Dues may be paid by cash or check. We are still working on electronic payment but not quite ready to launch.
    New members who joined in Oct-Dec 2022 will be carried over into 2023.
  • We are trying something new–
    As discussed at the Nov meeting, to save on printing & mailing expenses beginning Jan 2023 the newsletter will be available primarily online at the www.sabonsai.org website and via email.
    Those of you who previously received it by US mail will now be able to access more photos and current club & area updates.
    An email will be sent monthly to let you know that the newsletter has been posted and available to download.
    Your email changes and corrections should be sent to Lorraine at [email protected].
    For members without computer access US mailing can continue, just let Lorraine know your status.

Nov 2022 Event Highlights

Al Rivera was our guest demonstrator in November, and he brought his associate Takuma Lenaga along to assist him. Al had three trees for members to chose from for the demo, and their choice was a nice Kishu Shimpaku.
He began his styling by removing undergrowth and cleaning up the inside of branches to make room for wire.
Al jinned several branches for his design and then wrapped the trunk and remaining branches with rubberized electrical tape. He said this type of tape stretched well and provided a tight wrap to protect the tree against severe bending once the wire was applied. Al used heavy wiring and, with the help of Takuma, made tight bends in the trunk and branches to achieve his intended design.
The completed styling produced a beautiful informal upright tree that was drastically different from the material Al started with.

Steve Anthony was the lucky raffle winner of Al’s tree; a great gift for the holidays.

Thank You
To our November Raffle Table Donors

Bob Alderette
Steve & Judy Anthony
Jim & Helen Barrett
Jerry Banuelos
Dave Miles
Al Rivera
YS Farn

And to all who so generously purchased tickets

Welcome New Members

Tom Poplin
David Clark

Upcoming Events

Jan 21-22, 2023
59th Baikoen Bonsai Kenkyukai Winter Silhouette Show and Sale
Temple City Live Oak Park Community Center, Live Oak Room
10144 Bogue St. Temple City, CA 91780
10a– 4:30p
Sales and demonstration at 1pm on both days
www.baikoenbonsai.com

Feb 3-5, 2023
California Shohin Society 18th Biennial Shohin Seminar 2023
Hotel Mission de Oro Conference Center, Santa Nella, CA
Registration must be postmarked by Dec 15, 2022 to be part of the workshop lottery
www.calshohin.org

Feb 25-26,2023
GSBF Bonsai-A-Thon
The Huntington Botanical Gardens, 1151Oxford Rd. San Marino
10a-5p,
watch for link on reservation portal (available after Jan 10)

2023 Monthly Meeting Dates

Jan 14 -– Location: LA Arboretum– Ayres Hall
Annual Meeting
Potluck, Membership Drive, Bonsai Bingo
Bonsai Bingo will be an evening of fun & learning for all
Bring something for the prize/raffle table that you would like to win–
…plants, pots, tools, books, accessories, a bag of dirt… Multiple games will be played

Feb 11 — Location: LA Arboretum—Ayres Hall
Demo: TBA

Mar 11— Location: LA Arboretum—Ayres Hall
Demo: TBA

Come Join Us

Date: January 14, 2023
Time: 7pm
Location: LA Arboretum– Ayres Hall
301 N. Baldwin Ave
Arcadia, CA 91007

Refreshment Schedule

Jan 14– Annual Potluck
Club will provide main dish & water
Bring your favorite side, salad or dessert

Refreshment Sign ups for 2023 will be available at the Jan meeting

Newsletter December 2022

Bonsai Notebook

Next SABS Meeting:
January 14, 2023
7pm
LA Arboretum- Ayres Hall

Santa Anita Bonsai Society Members,

There will not be a general meeting during December.
Please Save the Date– Jan 14, 2023 to attend the SABS Annual Potluck Dinner Meeting
Additional information & details about this meeting will be in the Jan Newsletter posted on our website www.sabonsai.org

We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas Season and many blessings during this most wonderful time of the year.

As Always,
Dave & Lorraine

[email protected]

Newsletter November 2022

Bonsai Notebook

Next SABS Meeting: Nov 12, 2022


7pm- General Meeting & Demonstration
Longo Toyota Meeting Room
3534 Peck Road, El Monte, CA 91731

6pm Board Meeting prior to the General meeting
all members are welcome to attend

The November 12 meeting will be held at Longo Toyota in El Monte at 7:00pm with a Board meeting preceding it at 6:00pm. Our guest demonstrator will be Al Rivera. Al has been with us in the past, and we look forward to watching his design style again. Al has been a member of San Sui Kai and Descanso Bonsai Society and has been active in bonsai for about 15 years. He is known for collecting California junipers and Rocky Mountain junipers, and he enjoys grafting and wiring.

Al has studied with Roy Nagatoshi, and junipers are his favorite material to work with. He will style a juniper at our meeting. Al makes his own fertilizer cakes and prefers using copper wire on his trees. It will be interesting to hear him talk about both as he works.

Join us in November for our last meeting of 2022.

Al Rivera

President’s Corner

I was notified recently that we can return to the Arboretum for meetings beginning in January 2023. The meetings will be in Ayres Hall which is currently used to house office staff while construction continues at the main entrance buildings. We will meet there from January 2023 through July 2023 and then meet at alternative sites, August through October.

We are looking for a location for our Memorial Day Weekend show in May of 2023. The Arboretum will not be available while Ayres Hall is used for staff offices, so we need another location to put on the show. The Baikoen Club will be using a community hall in Temple City for their Silhouettes Show and this site could be a possibility for us. We need to find a site soon to ensure we can lock in a date. If anyone is aware of a meeting hall that can accommodate our show, please let me know.

Flyers for the semi-annual California Shohin Seminar were available at the GSBF Rendezvous. The seminar will be held February 3-5, 2023, in Santa Nella at the same location as the Rendezvous. Registrations are being accepted now and space goes quickly. This is a popular event, and bonsai enthusiasts from across the country will attend. Information is available at www.calshohin.org

Members Corner

***Please join us for the 6pm board meeting before the general meeting. We will be discussing the changes which will be occurring during 2023. These include expanding officer roles, meeting demo ideas, planning for our January Annual meeting, a possible Annual Show, increasing our social media footprint and much more.

***2023 Officer and board member elections are scheduled to be held at the Jan 2023 meeting.
It is time to refill many of our board positions. Post covid, there are multiple vacancies, and we could truly use your help and ideas. We are an entirely volunteer board and try to divide up responsibilities and keep the new ideas flowing. If you are interested in helping, please contact Dave & Lorraine at [email protected] or call Dave at 909-519-5391 to find out more about the following positions:

*Vice President: assist with finding meeting locations
*Program Chairman: arranging for demonstrators and workshops for the monthly meetings
*Social Media Director: all things media related
*Secretary: record minutes at board mtgs
*Hospitality Chairperson and committee of 2-3: manage the monthly meeting refreshment table
*Members at large: varying assignments including badges, raffle table assistant, photographer, historian, and more

***This November meeting is our last meeting of 2022. We are looking forward to getting back together at the Arboretum Jan 14, 2023. Options for the return of our Annual Potluck will be discussed at the Nov Board Meeting.

Oct 2022 Event Highlights

We did not meet in October, but there were two noteworthy events many of our members attended.

Chino Bonsai Show 2022 – David Nguy

The first event was the Chino Bonsai Club Bonsai Exhibit held in San Gabriel. Just like last year’s show, the trees in the exhibit were of outstanding quality. It was amazing to see so many beautiful trees in one place. In addition to the show trees, there were vendors, auctions, demonstrations, and a tasty dinner reception on Saturday.

GSBF Rendezvous 2022 Auction – David Nguy & Mike Kelly

The second event was the Golden State Bonsai Federation Rendezvous in Santa Nella, also attended by many of our members. The event included vendors selling everything bonsai related, including trees. There were several demonstrations, a beautiful exhibit, and exciting silents auctions. David Nguy performed a styling demonstration on a California juniper that became the subject of a live auction. Our own Mike Kelly was the highest bidder and took home David’s beautiful tree. The Rendezvous was a lot of fun and provided great interaction for all who attended.

Upcoming Events

Nov 12-13
Pacific Bonsai Expo. The Bridge Yard Event Center, Oakland, CA, Large show with 70 trees, cash prizes and trophies for best in show, conifers, deciduous, broad-leaf evergreen, shohin.
www.pacificbonsaiexpo.com

Nov 27 CBS Annual Member’s Sale at Yamaguchi Bonsai Nursery.
9am– 1pm
1905 Sawtelle Blvd, West LA 90025
www.californiabonsaisociety.com

Jan 21-22, 2023
59th Baikoen Bonsai Kenkyukai Winter Silhouette Show and Sale
Temple City Live Oak Park Community Center, Live Oak Room 10144 Bogue St. Temple City, CA 91780
10a– 4:30p.
Sales and demonstration at 1pm on both days.
www.baikoenbonsai.com

Feb 3-5, 2023 California Shohin Society 18th Biennial Shohin Seminar 2023
Hotel Mission de Oro Conference Center, Santa Nella, CA.
Registration must be postmarked by Dec 15, 2022 to be part of the workshop lottery.
www.calshohin.org

2022-23 Monthly Meeting Dates

Nov 12 — Al Rivera at Longo Toyota
Dec 10 — no meeting: Happy Holidays
Jan 14 — Annual Meeting / Demonstration by Lou Camerota

Refreshment Schedule

Drinks: bring your own
: water by SABS
Nov 12– Bob Alderette
If you have a favorite, please bring it our members always enjoy munching while learning

Come Join Us

Next Meeting:
Date: November 12, 2022

6pm Board Meeting: Prior to General Meeting
Everyone Welcome- We will be planning 2023

7pm General Meeting & Demonstration

Location: Longo Toyota, El Monte

Newsletter October 2022

-No meeting in October-

Join us at the GSBF Bonsai Rendezvous in Santa Nella Oct 8-9

Next SABS Meeting:

Nov 12, 2022 at Longo Toyota 7pm 6pm Board Meeting prior to the General Meeting
Everyone Welcome
We will be planning 2023

Bonsai Notebook

We will not have a club meeting in October. Our meeting date conflicts with the Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF) Rendezvous in Santa Nella, so we are deferring to the state-wide event. Participation in the Rendezvous is free, so it is a great opportunity for all our members to help support GSBF.

The Rendezvous will be held at the Hotel Mission de Oro in Santa Nella October 8-9. Details about the event can be seen on the GSBF website www.gsbfbonsai.org
There are several motels in Santa Nella with reasonable rates. The Hotel Mission de Oro is usually fully booked by now, but you can still try for a room there with other options close by.

The Rendezvous will include bonsai demonstrations by many bonsai masters, exhibits, auctions, and lots of vendors.

President’s Corner

This time of year ushers in beautiful Fall colors. Our deciduous trees: maples, liquid amber, ginkgo, birch, etc. will hopefully exhibit this colorful phenomenon. I have read that adding a tablespoon of blood meal to a gallon of water yields a solution that when used to water our deciduous trees can enhance the colors. It could be an interesting experiment.
Now is a good time for cleaning up the display benches around our trees. Also, spray the bench area with both a fungicide and an insecticide to kill off any pests that want to stay for the winter.
Inspect all your wired branches for girding. Imbedded wire will inhibit branch growth in the spring, besides leaving a scar.
Most important of all, enjoy your trees as we move into the cooler months. Tree shapes should hold well during the seasonal slow-growth period and dormancy.
~Dave

Members Corner

Please note on your calendar, there will not be a club meeting on Oct 8, the 2nd Saturday in October because of the GSBF Bonsai Rendezvous held in Santa Nella, CA. All members are encouraged to attend this 2-day event– it is well worth the drive.

SABS next regular meeting will be on Nov 12 at Longo Toyota in El Monte. Details and information will be included in the next newsletter (Nov 2022).

Many changes are happening for SABS. Due to Arboretum construction our locations are going to be creative until June 2023.

2023 Meeting location and demonstration updates will be posted in the monthly newsletters on our website. www.sabonsai.org

We also now have a new email address: [email protected] for questions and comments. So sorry about the “techy challenges” incurred in Sept but it seems to be back up and running once again

2023 Officer and board member elections are scheduled to be held at the Jan 2023 meeting.
It is time to refill many of our board positions. Post covid, there are multiple vacancies and we could truly use your help and ideas. We are an entirely volunteer board and try to divide up responsibilities and keep the new ideas flowing. If you are interested in helping, please contact Dave & Lorraine at [email protected], or call Dave at 909 519 5391 to find out more about the following positions:
Vice President: assist with finding meeting locations
Program Chairman: arranging for demonstrators & workshops for the monthly meetings
Social Media Director: all things media related
Secretary: record minutes at board mtgs
Hospitality Chairperson and committee of 2-3: manage the monthly meeting refreshment table
Members at large: varying assignments including badges, raffle table assistant, photographer, historian, and more

Thank you to the following members for volunteering in the following interim positions between now and the elections Jan 2023

Matt Mahaffey– Social Media
Bryan Nicholson– Secretary
Becky Villasenor – Photography

Sept 2022 Meeting Highlights

David & June Nguy hosted our September meeting at their home in Chino, so everyone had the opportunity to walk through their bonsai garden and see David’s fabulous collection. For most of us, it was a very humbling experience to see such spectacular trees.

David and June recently built a Japanese tea house in the garden, and it was a beautiful addition.

With so much to see, it was difficult rounding everyone up for David’s demonstration, but we settled in and he took over.
David provided a very healthy and full Itoigawa juniper to work on for us. He started by talking about the importance of cleaning the inside of branches for wiring and to stimulate new growth. He described wiring technique as it related to the direction of a bend. He said it was important to bend a branch into position before applying wire to help hold the branch securely and prevent the wire from opening up if put on before bending.

David described the importance of branch placement to develop the design and also to provide open space between pads for light to enter. With the help of Ryan and Jerry from the Chino Bonsai Club, David wired and shaped the tree into a beautiful informal upright style.

Our club appreciated the generosity and hospitality that David and June shared with us when we had the pleasure of visiting their home and garden. It was such a unique opportunity that we have been able to enjoy for many years.

We had a very full raffle of bonsai items for our members, and at the end, Anthony Aguirre was the lucky winner of David’s demo tree. Thanks to Jim & Judylynn Pelling for managing our raffles.

Thanks also, to Becky V. for photographing the evening.

Thank You
To our September Raffle Table Donors


Jim & Helen Barrett
Jerry Banuelos
Mike Kelly
Peter Macasieb
Dave Miles
David & June Nguy
Ken Teh
Wendy Tsai

And to all who so generously purchase tickets

Upcoming Events

Oct 1-2
Chino Bonsai Club 2nd Annual Bonsai Exhibit 261 S Junipero Sierra Dr. San Gabriel, CA
9-5pm daily- demos, raffle, auction, vendor & club Sales
Sat 5:30-Dinner reception

Oct 5-9
Kofu Kai Bonsai Exhibit at The Bowers Museum, 2002N Main St, Santa Ana
10am-4pm daily

Oct 8-9
GSBF Bonsai Rendezvous, Hotel de Oro, Santa Nella, CA.
Check the GSBF website for details

Nov 12-13
Pacific Bonsai Expo, The Bridge Yard Event Center, Oakland, CA,
Large show with cash prizes and trophies for best in show, conifers, deciduous, broad-leaf evergreen, shohin

2022-23 Monthly Meeting Dates

Oct 8— no meeting due to GSBF Rendezvous
Nov 12 — Al Rivera at Longo Toyota
Dec 10 — no meeting: Happy Holidays
Jan 14 -– Annual meeting: details TBA

Refreshment Schedule
Drinks: bring your own ( water by SABS)

Nov 12– Snacks: Bob Alderette If you have a favorite, please bring it- our members always enjoy munching while learning

Come Join Us

Newsletter September 2022

Meeting Time and Place
Sept 10, 2022
at 6pm
at the home of David & June Nguy
Chino, CA

SABS Bonsai Notebook

Our final summer road trip will be Sept. 10 at the home of David and June Nguy in Chino.
We will start at 6:00pm to take advantage of this daylight event. Once again, David and June are graciously hosting our club meeting in the midst of David’s amazing bonsai collection. We are so fortunate to have a bonsai master like David so accessible to our club. He is well known throughout the world of bonsai for his work with junipers, especially California junipers. Black pines are also his specialty and many of both are on display in his garden.
Come early so you have time to view David’s vast bonsai collection. It is worth the trip alone.

Also, David and June’s Chino Bonsai Club will have its annual bonsai exhibit Oct. 1-2.
See “Up Coming Events” for details.

Many of you have already had the opportunity to visit David & June’s Garden and know the way to their home. For the purpose of privacy we are not including directions in this post.

If you are a “first timer” and need directions please email to [email protected]
Directions and street address will be emailed to you prior to the meeting.

President’s Corner

The summer heat is still on, so we need to stay vigilant with our watering.
Know your own trees; their sun exposure (shaded or not), soil mixture (fast draining or not), and general appearance (healthy, wilted?).
Your specific situation will dictate your watering needs (once/day, twice/day).
It’s a good time to cut back on nitrogen-based fertilizers and turn to more potash and phosphorus.
As we move into the fall, you can gather tree seeds to store through the winter for spring planting.
I like to collect acorns for new oak trees. Find a large oak that has good structure in a park or wildland.
Collect the acorns that it drops. Put the acorns in a tub or glass of water (depending on how many you have) and throw away the ones that float.
Wrap the remaining “sinkers” in a paper towel and store them in the refrigerator until spring, and then plant.
It is fascinating to watch new seedling pop through the soil.
~Dave

Members Corner

  • Many changes are happening for SABS. Due to Arboretum construction our locations are going to be creative until June 2023
    Meeting location and demonstration updates will be posted on our website at www.sabonsai.org
    We also now have a new email address: [email protected] for questions and comments
  • 2023 Officer and board member elections are scheduled to be held at the Jan 2023 meeting.
    It is time to refill many of our board positions. Post covid, there are multiple vacancies and we could truly use your help and ideas.
    We are an entirely volunteer board and try to divide up responsibilities and keep the new ideas flowing.
    If you are interested in helping please contact Dave & Lorraine at [email protected], or call Dave at 909 519 5391 to find out more about the following positions

Vice President: assist with finding meeting locations

Program Chairman: arranging for demonstrators and workshops for the monthly meeting

Social Media Director: all things media related

Secretary: record minutes at board meetings

Hospitality Chairperson and committee of 2-3: manage the monthly meeting refreshment table

Members at large: varying assignments including badges, raffle table assistant, photographer, historian, and more

  • Thank you to the following members for volunteering in the following interim positions between now and the elections Jan 2023

Matt Mahaffey– Social Media

Bryan Nicholson– Secretary

Becky Villasenor – Photography

  • Membership
    Many thanks to Judy & Steve Anthony for their years of support as membership chairs. They will continue as Treasurers but are transitioning the membership role to Lorraine.
    Please direct any membership questions to Lorraine Miles at [email protected]. or [email protected]
    All membership dues/ payments are payable to SABS.
    We do hope to include Zelle & Venmo options in 2023.
  • Please note on your calendar, there will not be a club meeting on Oct 8, the 2nd Saturday in October because of the GSBF Bonsai Rendezvous held in Santa Nella, CA. All members are encouraged to attend this 2-day event– it is well worth the drive. SABS next regular meeting will be on Nov.12. Check the website for the yet to be determined location.
  • We would like to say a special “thank you” to Robert Sencer. Robert has been our Webmaster and has managed all things Social Media since 2013. He designed, nurtured and maintained our web and UTube sites. His expertise and dedication to SABS is directly responsible for us surviving the “covid days” and continuing to grow. SABS has a long history dating back to the early 1960’s. Robert has protected that heritage and made it possible to share it within this new “techy world “. Recently the Sencer family has moved to Texas. Robert will continue to be our “Tech Emeritus” as we move forward but is stepping aside with monthly social media maintenance. We will never be able to thank him enough for all he has done for SABS.
    He will always be an honorary member…
    Thanks Robert !!!

Thank You
To our August Raffle Table Donors

Steve & Judy Anthony, Jim & Helen Barrett, Jerry Banuelos, Jason Chan, Sue Cook, Y.S. Farn, Mike Kelly, Peter Macasieb,
Dave Miles, Jim Pelling, Vic Shelton, Wendy Tsai, Frank Yee

And to all who so generously purchase tickets

Welcome New Members

Jason & Renee Chan
Michael & Audree Sellarole
Nancy Smeets

August 2022 Meeting Highlights

The August meeting was held at Longo Toyota, our current fallback location whenever the Arboretum is unavailable. Jason Chan was our demonstrator and brought a very nice prostrata juniper to work on. He started by asking for audience input on the best front for the tree design. Jason talked about trunk movement and its importance in determining the best frontal presentation.


He explained the importance of branch structure and maintain proportion as you work up the tree. The lower branches should always be the thickest, with size progressing as you work up the tree; as in nature.
Jason advised not to be too quick cutting off branches that are not part of the design but could be used later for jin. He styled the tree, working from the bottom up and alternating side, back, and front branches for symmetry. In his design, Jason created a visually appealing jin cluster near the tree apex.


When finished, Jason provided a beautiful juniper tree for our raffle. Thank you, Jason, for your wonderful work. Your narrative kept the demo very interesting for all of us.

New Member, Michael Sellarole was the lucky winner of Jason’s tree

Upcoming Events

Oct 1-2 Chino Bonsai Club 2nd Annual Bonsai Exhibit 261 S Junipero Sierra Dr. San Gabriel, CA
9-5pm daily- demos, raffle, auction, vendor & club Sales
Sat 5:30-Dinner reception

Oct 5-9 Kofu Kai Bonsai Exhibit at The Bowers Museum, 2002 N Main St, Santa Ana 10am-4pm daily

Oct 8-9 2022 GSBF Bonsai Rendezvous, Hotel de Oro, Santa Nella, CA.
Check the GSBF website for details

Nov 12-13 Pacific Bonsai Expo, The Bridge Yard Event Center, Oakland, CA, Large show with cash prizes and trophies for best in show, conifers, deciduous, broad-leaf evergreen, shohin

Come Join Us

Next Meeting:
Date: September 10, 2022
Time: 6 pm

Location:
At the home of David & June Nguy
Chino, CA

Refreshment Schedule
Drinks: bring your own
: water by SABS
Sept 10 — Appetizers, Snacks & Desserts
Snacks: Peter Macasieb, Steve Riley, Vic Shelton
Appetizers: Marren Padrones

If you have a favorite, please bring it our members always enjoy munching while learning

2022 Monthly Meeting Dates

Sept 10 – David & June Nguy
Location: Chino, CA

Oct 8 – no meeting due to GSBF event

Nov 12 – TBA