Repotting Demo – 7:30 PM
In January 2017, Club Librarian, Susanne Barrymore, did a root-over-rock demonstration in what may be record-breaking time. She was so well organized and prepared that it seemed like about three minutes between “here we go” and “are there any questions?” Some of us wanted to rewind her and watch her in slo-mo. One method that she used was to “muck” her roots in place rather than wire them. Did it work? Well, we’ll find out at our first Club meeting of 2019, when she brings in her root-over-rock for a repotting demonstration. Repotting a tree with a rock can be tricky but I’m guessing she will be raring to go, so I suggest getting there a bit early and wearing your high-speed glasses. Meet and greet begins at 7:00 pm, with the demo starting at 7:30 pm. As always, members are encouraged to bring in a tree that they might like advice on or just to show. See you all there!
Club Holds The Line On 2019 Membership Dues
Annual Club Membership dues are due in January. For just $35.00 per year (the same rate as in 2017) you get to support the #1 bonsai club in all of Santa Barbara and Goleta! Your trees will thank you. Your dues are used specifically to meet expenses for the GVCC meeting room and Tuesday evening presenters.
President’s Message: Happy Holidays!
Happy New Year everyone! This year, may all your leaves be small and green, your needles short, your grafts and air layers successful, and your tertiary branches numerous.
Our club has always received an invitation to participate in the annual Winter Silhouettes show at the LA Arboretum in Arcadia. It’s a marvelous show, but we have not often participated because of the inconvenience of delivering and retrieving entries. Susanne Barrymore, who used to show a tree regularly, says “I was thinking how nice it would be if there were a Tom Post deciduous tree which would act as a memorial for him and represent the club. The lovely tree which I think was called a rain tree, as my vague memory recalls it, and which was at the memorial, would be a charm.” Is anyone up for grooming it, delivering it on the afternoon of Friday, January 18, and picking it up on Sunday, January 20? Or does anyone have another tree they wouldn’t mind showing or who could help with the logistics of getting an entry there and back?
~ Joe
Saturday January 19th: Workshop With Roy Nagatoshi
Our first Saturday workshop features the owner of Fuji Bonsai Nursery in Sylmar, Master Bonsaist Roy Nagatoshi. Roy was born in the U.S. and raised in Japan where he learned bonsai from his father, Shigeru, who originally started Fuji Bonsai in 1965. Roy went on to receive a B.S. in Ornamental Horticulture and provided bonsai training until he took over Fuji Bonsai for his father. He is the Past President of the California Bonsai Society, and has traveled to many countries including South Africa, Brazil, Australia, Mexico, Canada and Japan to further the art of bonsai. Roy provided the bonsai trees displayed in the popular “Karate Kid” movie series. Fuji Bonsai grows pre bonsai trees from seeds and cuttings, then using bonsai traditions, develops the trees specifically as bonsai stock. Our Club usually organizes an annual trip to Fuji Bonsai. You won’t believe how many great trees he has and at quite reasonable prices. If anyone can offer you sage advise on your trees, it’s Roy. Visit www.fujibonsainursery.com for more info. There are two sessions, morning and afternoon, available to the first 16 people who sign up.
If your New Year’s Resolution is to have better looking tress, one way to do that is to send in your check for $120 for the FOUR SPRING WORKSHOPS (January, February, March and April). Bonsai experts Roy Nagatoshi, Carol Manning, Mel Ikeda and Kathy Benson will help you design, prune and wire your trees. Plus, they always make learning a fun experience. We have space for 8 participants in the Morning session (9 am – noon) and 8 in the Afternoon session (1 pm to 4 pm,) so please sign up early. Individual workshops, if space is available, are $40 per workshop, so you save $10 per workshop by signing up for all four now.
Sign Up Now! 2019 Workshops
If your New Year’s Resolution is to have better looking tress, one way to do that is to send in your check for $120 for the FOUR SPRING WORKSHOPS (January, February, March and April). Bonsai experts Roy Nagatoshi, Carol Manning, Mel Ikeda and Kathy Benson will help you design, prune and wire your trees. Plus, they always make learning a fun experience. We have space for 8 participants in the Morning session (9 am – noon) and 8 in the Afternoon session (1 pm to 4 pm,) so please sign up early. Individual workshops, if space is available, are $40 per workshop, so you save $10 per workshop by signing up for all four now.
Librarian’s Corner:
Floral Treasures of Japan. The Satsuki Azaleas by Alexander Kennedy
The Japanese have raised and selected Satsuki azaleas as container plants for exhibition over 300 years. They have an annual Satsuki festival held in late May or into June each year. But there has been limited success in our western culture to have success doing this.
The book, which is in our library and available to borrow, has a very extensive number of pictures illustrating each chapter’s subject matter, and deals with much of what you may need to know about raising azaleas. I remember Jean Sharp was very concerned about the danger of keeping them too damp, because root rot was apparently a problem. She would lift a pot to see if it was light enough before she would water it. Susanne
Upcoming California Bonsai Shows:
January 19 – 20, 2019 Arcadia, California
Baikoen Bonsai Kenkyukai: “Winter Silhouette” the 55th Annual Exhibition, founded by Frank Fusaji Nagata, at Ayres Hall of Environmental Education, Arboretum of Los Angeles County. 301 North Baldwin Avenue. Show hours are from 10 AM to 4:30 PM with a demonstration at 1 PM, both days. The reception is open to friends of Baikoen Bonsai Kenkyukai, Saturday night (6:30-9pm), when the Nagata-Komai Award will be presented to Ted Matson, followed by a giant raffle/auction. Sales area: club and vendor plants, pots, tools and more. For more information contact Lindsay Shiba: shibalindsay@gmail.com or Ken Teh: kenwteh6@gmail.com or visit our website: www.baikoenbonsai.com
February 2 – 3 2019 Corona Del Mar, California
Orange Empire Bonsai Society (OESB): First Annual Bonsai Exhibition at the Sherman Library & Gardens (www.slgardens.org), 2647 Pacific Coast Highway. Show hours are 10:30 AM – 4 PM both days. Trees on display, bonsai trees and items for sale. Bonsai Master Jason Chan workshop on Saturday at 11 AM with Prostrata Junipers. Workshop participants will be able to take home a styled and potted tree. OEBS member Debra Mauzy- Melitz will conduct a Saikei demonstration Sunday at 1 PM. Jason Chan will also be representing Eastern Leaf Bonsai at the exhibition. The workshop is limited to (10) people, no bonsai experience required. Tickets for workshop and fee paid to The Sherman Library & Gardens. Check their website for workshop availability, if interested. For more information visit www.slgardens.org or contact David Nadzam at also, (714) 474-5712 or tetsujinbb62@gmail.com
February 16 – 17 2019 Oakland, California
GSBF Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt: The Annual Mammoth Auction and Sale Fundraiser will be held at the Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave., Lake Merritt . Saturday: Auction preview at Noon with Auction starting at 1 p.m.. Sunday: Vendor Sales start at 9 a.m.; Plant Sales start at 10 a.m.; Demonstration start at 1 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to submit their bonsai and bonsai related items for consideration to be included in the Mammoth Auction at the earliest date possible. “Private collections to be featured.” The Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt will be open that weekend 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, and Noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday. Please find time to visit the Bonsai Garden and observe the many installments under the Garden Revitalization Opportunity (GRO) Project. For more information or to sell bonsai, email bonsailakemerritt@gmail.com and visit BonsaiLakeMerritt.com.
February 23 – 24 2019 San Marino, California
Bonsai-A-Thon XXIII at the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road. 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 The GSBF Collection at The Huntington.
Member’s Trees
Each month I will try to include a tree or trees from one of our members in this section. Left is a juniper I showed at the 2017 Asian American Neighborhood Festival. To have your tree included in a future issue, please take a high-resolution photo of the tree, preferably with you holding it or standing with it. This puts a face with the tree and also gives readers an idea how large the tree is.
A before and after photo and a brief history of the tree would also be great. Send in photos and information about your tree to me at: erniesworld.humor@gmail.com.
