Tuesday February 11, 7:30 p.m. – Ann Erb – Repotting
The first time I observed Ann Erb pot a tree was in her adult education class almost 15 years ago. As she stabbed the stubborn soil repeatedly with a sharp stick, I cringed a little. Then she cut off all the bottom roots, leaving just the long feeder roots which she trimmed and trimmed until it reminded me of the near-scalp summer haircuts I got as a kid in New Hampshire, which we called whiffles. Seemed a bit scary back then, but far more normal today, though my wife often cringes when I repot a tree. Ann will once again demonstrate her highly-successful techniques, and I look forward to seeing what I am doing right… and visa versa. See you there!
President’s Message: Potbound In Paradise
I had what I thought were original and Very Wise Words of Wisdom to offer for this month’s message, but then I checked what I wrote for last February’s newsletter and I realized they weren’t original at all and probably not awfully wise, either, but they are still timely so here they are again, almost verbatim: Santa Barbara’s long, cold, dark winter is nearly over. Just kidding about the long, cold dark part, but when I took a good look at my trees this afternoon I saw that my elms are fully leafed out and fresh new buds are swelling and ready to pop on many deciduous trees and even black pine buds are swelling in anticipation of a new growing season. Now, if I could only find the time to catch up on overdue transplanting. This year, what is different is that this month’s program is on repotting so hopefully Ann Erb’s presentation will motivate me to go home and get serious about long-neglected trees. My first question for her will have to do with how to deal with severely potbound roots.
Last Month: Wally Kunimoto – Grafting
Wally Kunimoto is our Club grafting expert! He gave a great workshop using charts, props, his own successful trees, and by regaling us with humorous stories of his trials and tribulations. For examples, he brought in a foemina juniper that he had grafted with one large shimpaku scion. He also brought in a large black pine where the foliage was far away from the trunk — until he grafting on new foliage closer to the trunk. He also brought in a black pine that he is in the process of grafting with white pine foliage. He told us to use parafin tape instead of standard grafting tape as it sticks to itself, so no tie-offs required. Wally tapes his scions before grafting to ease on the stress required after the fact. He also tapes all the way to the end of the scions, including foliage. He seals his grafts using a black tar-like tree sealant. Something that I will no doubt get all over myself. He demonstrated thread grafting on a maple, using a long leader from the existing tree and running through a hole just slightly larger than the leader. He then wires each side to prevent movement. Finally, Wally wraps his grafts with aluminum foil and leaves the trees in full sun. I think I’ve got it now and I’m ready to try grafting. Anyone want to lend me their tree?
Saturday February 15 Workshops: Cheryl Manning
In 1985, Cheryl joined Satsuki Kai, a club of the leading bonsai masters in West Los Angeles. Because the meetings were conducted in Japanese, she understood very little, but by 1989 Cheryl was hiking in the Tehachapi Mountains with Harry Hirao, collecting California junipers. Later, she was fortunate enough to become not only a student but close friend of John Naka, the father of American bonsai. Cheryl has conducted bonsai demonstrations, workshops, and slide presentations in the United States, Canada, and Australia. She will be at GVCC for two sessions: 9-12 and 1-4.
Contact Steve Gibson sgibson_us@yahoo.com or
Tina Hammond bhammond23@cox.net for more info.
Images From The Shohin Seminar In Santa Nella, California
Every two years the California Shohin Society organizes a Shohin Seminar in Santa Nella, California, where bonsai masters, teachers, students and general enthusiasts from all over the country gather to learn and share their love of Shohin bonsai. The goal of the Seminar is two-fold: To provide a low-cost, learning-rich environment for those who want to learn more about Shohin bonsai, and to raise money for the Golden State Bonsai Federation’s Bonsai Collection. I went this year and highly recommend it. Great workshops. Huge vendor areas. Excellent displays of outstanding trees.
Don’t Forget Your Dues!
Take it from someone who procrastinates so much I could turn pro, it’s easy to forget something like Club dues. But your dues are important. They help pay for the meeting and workshop space at the Goleta Valley Community Center. They also help pay for the workshop leaders, who drive up from Southern California to help you with your trees. Take a moment. Send in your check. You’ll make Tina a very happy treasurer.
Upcoming Events:
February 22 And 23 – San Marino, California
Golden State Bonsai Federation Collection at the Huntington: Bonsai-A-Thon XXIV will be held at Botanical Center Building The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens 1151 Oxford Road. GSBF Early Bird Passes – Bonsai Club Members 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM General Public 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Event includes extensive bazaar area, bonsai exhibit, bonsai workshops for children and adults (pre-registration required), demonstrations, daily raffle and auction, guided tours, and pancake breakfast for BAT participants at 7:30 AM daily.
May 30-31 – Bonsai Club Of Santa Barbara Annual Show And Sale
Now is the time to start thinking about what tree(s) you might want to show this year. Bring it to the workshop and get some professional advise. Remember, we also have a trees-in-process table for those trees not quite ready. We also need donated items for our silent auction, which has become quite popular over the last few years. And, of course, we need volunteers to help man the sales table and to help set-up and tear-down the show.
