22nd Annual Christmas Potluck And Raffle
It’s time for the club’s annual Christmas party and potluck lunch. Please come! Tom and Patti Post have generously offered to host the party at their house. Come around 11 AM., eat around noon, stick around for the raffle, and then stay until 3:00 PM. Bring a dish to share for the potluck lunch, and please bring bonsai-related items you’d like to donate for the benefit drawing. Proceeds, as always, will go to the club’s treasury. There is no evening program or class in December
President’s Message:
It’s December! Yes, our Christmas party is on and it will at my house, Saturday 10, from 11:00-3:00. Hope to see you there.
I’d like to congratulate next year’s Board which was voted in at our November 8th Club meeting by a unanimous vote. The new Board members of 2017 will be as follows: President, Joe Olson; Vice President, Carol Hicks; Treasurer, Tina Hammond; Secretary, John Bleck; Newsletter, Ernie Witham; Class coordinator, Wally Kunimoto; and Program Chairman, Steven Gibson. They are already comparing notes and making preparations for the upcoming year.
At our final 2nd Saturday workshop class in November, we had a full class and there were many suggestions by members wanting to somehow continue those sessions. At our board meeting on November 30, it was proposed and voted by the Board that we will not continue the 2nd Saturday classes due to declining enrollment. We hope that everyone will take advantage of the wonderful opportunities of the 3rd Saturday sessions. Please call Wally to register for those sessions.
~ Tom
Last Month: Critique Of Members’ Trees
Many thanks to Ernie Witham for the following write-up and pictures.
November’s meeting was an open discussion about member’s trees. New member Giorgio Perissinotto brought in a mystery tree (at left) that he had owned for about six years. The tree had a distinct reverse taper. Several suggestions were made including adding a rock to help hide the flaw, air layering the tree or laying the tree down so the lower trunk looked like a root.
Wally Kunimoto brought in a juniper (above right) with grafted shimpaku foliage that he thought might be out of balance with all the jin. It was suggested that he make the top of the jin thinner so it wouldn’t appear too heavy. Steve Gibson brought in a shohin trident maple (at right) that had moss growing up the trunk. It was suggested he remove most of the moss. Tom Post brought in a bougainvillea (at right) that he was training to cascade, but that also had a large apex. The general consensus for it was … chop the top! Several other trees were also commented on.
2017 Dues And Workshops
Another year – the clubs 45th! -has come and gone, and its time to pay your dues and workshop fees for 2017. Steve Gibson is busy planning the programs for our regular monthly Tuesday evening meetings, and Wally Kunimoto has a full schedule of 3rd Saturday workshops lined up. Dues and fees remain unchanged from 2016. Bring the attached form and your check to the next meeting or mail it to the clubs PO box. Unfortunately, as Tom pointed out in his Presidents Message, the clubs board very reluctantly decided that we cannot support two series of workshops at this time, but please consider signing up for the 3rd Saturday one. If you cannot attend every session or only want to take one or two of them, let Wally Kunimoto know and you can probably be accommodated. Wed like to see greater participation the instructors are first rate and youll be thrilled with the improvements in your trees.
My Last Newsletter
I’ve very much enjoyed writing the club newsletter these last years, but it’s time for a change. Ernie Witham will take over in the New Year. He’s a professional writer – he’s written actual books and has a regular column in the Montecito Journal and I’m sure he’ll do a bang-up job.
Coming Events:
December 26-30: Annual Aiseki Kai Show
Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. 10:30 AM-4:30 PM each day. Aiseki Kai presents its 27th annual show featuring outstanding examples of suiseki and other viewing stones. Brody Botanical Center. For more information see www.aisekikai.com or contact sashaichris@gmail.com
January 10: Bonsai Club Of Santa Barbara: Regular Tuesday Evening Meeting
Program to be announced.
January 21, 2017: Bonsai Club Of Santa Barbara: 3rd Saturday Workshop With Guest Instructor.
9 AM until noon or 1 to 4 PM., Room 7, Goleta Valley Community Center. New semester, fees are due. Instructor to be announced.
January 21-22, 2017: Baiko-en Bonsai Kenkyukai’s Winter Silhouettes Show
Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. Ayers Hall. Hours 10:30 AM until 4:30 PM. Baikoen Bonsai Kenkyukai will be conducting its annual Winter Silhouette show were trees will be displayed in their leafless form during Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Weekend at the Los Angeles Arboretum. There will be a benefit dinner and auction on Saturday January 14. It is one of the oldest shows running in the Southern California region and has been a tradition for 53 years. For more information, contact Lindsay Shiba at (626) 806-0937
February 25-26, 2017 Bonsai-A-Thon XXI
Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. This is the annual fundraiser for the GSBF Collection at The Huntington. Event admission is free with Bonsai-A-Thon “early bird” registration between 8 AM -9 AM. Event hours are 8 AM – 4:30 PM both days. Pancake breakfast, demonstrations, lunch, bonsai exhibits, large sales area, raffle and auction. For more information visit www.gsbfhuntington.com .
