Newsletter- October 2023

Santa Anita Bonsai Society
A community dedicated to the study and appreciation of the ancient art of Bonsai.



Bonsai Notebook

Visit our website at:
www.sabonsai.org
Founding President/Sensei
Jim Barrett

Next SABS Meeting:
Oct 14, 2023
6 pm
Matt Denny’s Ale House
145 E Huntington Dr
Arcadia, CA

Our October 14 meeting location will be a first for us.
When we are blocked from meeting at the Arboretum because of concerts, etc., we try to meet at a location as close to the Arboretum as we can to avoid inconveniencing our members coming from all directions.
So, for October, we will meet in an outside covered patio at Matt Denny’s Ale House in Arcadia
There is ample public parking directly behind the restaurant through an east/west alley and street parking in front.
We will start at 6:00pm and we encourage members to order food if they wish (any purchased liquid refreshment is acceptable at the meeting).

Our guest demonstrator for the meeting will be Robert Hoogeveen, who has attended several of our meetings recently.
Robert joined the Orange County Bonsai Society in 1976 and started taking formal lessons from the four main founders of the club in 1977.
All four of his teachers, Francis Watari, Tets Tsukamoto, Mie Mizusawa and Jim Takeda were students of John Naka.
Formal lessons lasted three years at which time Robert began to do demonstrations for local clubs and at the OCBS shows.
He started working with John Naka when he was old enough to drive and worked under his mentorship at John Naka’s home in L.A. for many years.
Robert continues to enjoy the bonsai art after 47 years and does workshops and demonstrations for clubs and other interested parties.

Robert will be working on an olive tree for our demonstration, and it will then go in the raffle.
Come and join us for another interesting adventure in bonsai.

President’s Corner

I want to take a moment to thank all our members for their patience with the many changes in meeting locations we have experienced.
I hope the different venues have been interesting for all.
We have one more with this month’s meeting at the Ale House, and then we will return to the Arboretum in November for our final meeting of this year.

October will be full of bonsai experiences, so check “Upcoming Events” for the listings.
In particular, the Chino Bonsai Club will host their 3rd Annual Bonsai Exhibit on Oct 7-8 in San Gabriel.
This is always a great show with exceptional trees on display along with the demonstrations, raffles, auctions, reception and vendors. More info is included in our Upcoming Community Events Section.
Another great event will be the GSBF Bonsai Rendezvous Oct. 20-22 in Santa Nella.
The headliner is Bjorn Bjorholm, and there will be workshops, demonstrations, auctions and vendors.
It is a wonderful event for anyone wanting a complete bonsai weekend experience.
Check the website for what is still available. www.gsbfbonsai.org/2023-rendezvous

If you are interested in starting trees from seed, now is a good time to collect seeds in preparation for planting.
There are acorns on the ground or ready to drop from oak trees everywhere, and there are seeds for a variety of trees available on-line.
Good instructions for planting are also available on-line.
An advantage to having a seedling is you can create movement early and grow a bonsai you styled from scratch.
You can have a shohin tree in a short time! ~Dave

Members Corner

  • Santa Anita Bonsai Society is an amazing club– join us any time….
    2023-24 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 support SABS please contact Lorraine at [email protected] to receive a mail–in membership form.
  • We’re trying something new– meeting at a restaurant.
    Matt Denny’s Ale House has graciously provided their outside patio for our evening meeting including Robert Hooveveen’s demo and a raffle table.
    Food and beverages will be available from the Ale House menu thru out the evening.
    You do not need to purchase to attend but if you happen to get hungry or thirsty while you are there, your purchases will help support SABS.
  • A special “Thanks” to everyone who shared refreshments at the Sept meeting Wendy, Peter & Marissa, Jaiden & Naomi, Susan &Huong, Lorraine

“thank you” to our Sept Raffle Donors

Steve & Judy Anthony, Jerry Banulos, Helen & Jim Barrett, Jason Chan, Sue Cook,
Manuel Dizon, Y.S. Farn, Mike Kelly, Peter Macasieb, Dave Miles, Bryan Nicholson, Ken Teh

SABS appreciates your support !!!!

September 2023 Meeting Highlights

The September meeting was held at the Eastern Leaf Nursery in Chino and hosted by the owners Jason and Rene Chan.
Many members took advantage of the opportunity to browse through the pre-bonsai tree material available at the nursery and purchase trees and other bonsai related items prior to the meeting.

Jason welcomed club members to his outdoor work area, with weather cooperating and providing a comfortable setting to watch Jason’s demonstration.
He had a nice, bushy San Jose juniper on his worktable for the demo.
He immediately drew members into the design process by asking for input on the best front for the tree.
Many options were suggested, and once agreement was reached, Jason began his styling work.
He continually explained his work as he progressed, so everyone knew what he was doing and why.
Members were asked for their opinions on which branches to save and which ones to remove.
It made for a wonderful learning experience as he worked the tree into a very nice informal upright style.

When the demo was finished, we held our raffle, and we thank Eastern Leaf for the donations they made to the raffle.

Christian Lebano was the lucky winner of Jason’s tree

2023 SABS Monthly Meeting Dates

Oct 14 —
Location: Matt Denny’s Ale House, Arcadia, CA
Demo: Robert Hoogeveen

Nov 11—
Location: LA Arboretum
Demo: TBA

Dec 2023 —
no meeting HAPPY HOLIDAYS

SABS Meeting Refreshment Schedule– Oct 14

Food, appetizers & drinks available for purchase during this meeting
(purchases help support SABS)

Upcoming Community Events

Oct 7-8
Chino Bonsai Club 3rd Annual Bonsai Exhibit
261 S. Junipero Serra Dr., San Gabriel.
Sat. hrs. 9a-5p, Sun., 9a-3:30p
demonstrations, silent and live auctions, and raffle both days

Oct 8
Bonsai Swap Meet
10a-12noon
Woodley Park, 6350 Woodley Ave, Van Nuys
email for more info: [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.
additional workshop options were released on Aug 1

Nov 4-5
California Bonsai Society 66th Annual Exhibit
Huntington Botanical Gardens
1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino
10a-4p, demos at 1p daily

Come Join Us
for an evening of Food, Fun
a raffle table
&
an amazing Demo by Robert Hoogeveen

Date: Oct 14,2023
Time: 6 pm
Location: Matt Denny’s Ale House
145 E. Huntington Dr
Arcadia, CA

Our meetings are open/free of charge to anyone interested in the “Art of Bonsai”
for questions email us at: [email protected] or [email protected]