The Bonsai News of Houston

Transcription

1 The Bonsai News of Houston A Monthly Newsletter of the Houston Bonsai Society Inc. Volume 49 Number 4 April 2018 IN THIS ISSUE Upcoming Events HBS Annual Auction & HBS Spring Show at Japan Fest Showcase of the Month Blooming & Group bonsai April Bonsai Care John Miller President s Letter HBS Annual Auction LSBF 2018 State Convention In Longview, TX Spring Show at Japan Fest Hermann Park Brussel s Rendez-Vous Cherry blossoms and azaleas blooming at the Hermann Japanese Garden (Photo: TSN) The next meeting of the Houston Bonsai Society will be at the Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion in Hermann Park, 1500 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX Refreshments at 7 PM, meeting starts at 7:30 PM. April 11 HBS monthly meeting: HBS Annual Auction at 7PM. This is our club s only annual fundraiser. Please donate and bid generously. Upcoming Events More details in Calendar of Events and articles April 7 Shohin Club - Convention Display Set-up and Texas Natives Talk with Terry Ward and Steven Hendricks at Persimmon Hill Bonsai in Austin. April HBS Spring Bonsai Show in the Japanese Garden at Hermann Park, in conjunction with the 25 th Japan Fest. Volunteers and bonsai needed for both days. Please sign up with Hoe Chuah. April 14 2 separate Saturday Study groups - Group 1 meets at the Spring Bonsai Show from 10AM - 1PM OR - Group 2 at Timeless Trees, 9 AM -12 Noon, for folks who don t go to Japan Fest. Free, refreshments provided. April LSBF 2018 Annual Convention & Exhibit at the Hilton Garden Inn at 905 East Hawkins Parkway, Longview, TX April The American Bonsai Society and the Bonsai Society of Greater St. Louis present: Gateway to Bonsai April Malaysia-BCI International Friendship Tour & Exhibition hosted by Bonsai & Stone Academy in Selangor, Malaysia. April 28 Basic Bonsai #1 Class, Timeless Trees Nursery, 9AM - 1PM Focus on repotting. $60 includes a tree, pot, soil, wire, hand-out, and a pair of scissors.

2 Blooming & Group bonsai April Bonsai Care Warm weather is favorable to the insects and fungal diseases. Fungal diseases and especially aphids are here. Mildew usually won t be seen until it warms up some more, but with our Texas weather, that could be here before this article gets in print. Leaf spot can be serious on Catlin and Chinese elms, and on hollies. There are organic fungicides available, baking soda is one. Check an organic nursery or publications. A 1% solution of hydrogen peroxide (dilute the standard 3% store bought stuff 2 parts water to each part peroxide) is also recommended but it can injure very new foliage. A good organic program takes care of both the feeding and the insect problems. The trick is to be sure to thoroughly cover the plant including all the leaf axils. Use a hand or pump up sprayer to get a fine spray to cover all, since a hose end sprayer does not cover good enough. This is also true if you want to use commercial chemical sprays. I recommend the organic mixture of 1 tablespoon each of fish emulsion, liquid kelp, molasses and apple cider vinegar to a gallon of water. I use the mixture both as a foliar feed spray and as a soil drench fertilizer. As a weekly foliar spray, it keeps aphids, mites, loopers, bagworms and other insects under control. I try to drench twice a month partly because I don t think the plant can absorb all the minor elements it needs through the foliage. It is a good practice to also use fertilizer cakes on soil surface, which feeds a bit every time you water. Commercial water soluble fertilizers wash out with the next watering and result in poorly fed pale bonsai. They are intended for use in soil that retains water for a long period such as commercial house plant mixes. In April, repotting for the hardy bonsai has ended and it s still too early for the tropicals. I like to repot when the plant is just breaking dormancy when buds swell. I repot Dwarf Yaupon Holly and Boxwood in late March or early April. They do well when kept in light shade and out of the wind. Depending on temps, you may repot some tropicals by the end of April. If you have early blooming azaleas, you should remove some of the buds. Most azalea have way too many buds to look good when they do not have room to open fully. So what is left to do? Just trimming, feeding, trimming, check for insects, trimming, shows, trimming. You get the idea. Trimming, that is the pinching, plucking or whatever of new growth, is the process that both develops refinement on your tree but is vital to keep it from growing out of that desired shape. This is not pruning (cutting of branches) which should not be done when there is a strong sap flow that starts when the tree breaks dormancy and continues until after the leaves harden or later. On elms and other trees with leaves appearing alternately down the shoot, do not let more than 5 new leaves appear. Cut back to 2 or 3 leaves, leaving the last leaf on the side that you want the new growth to appear.

3 On maples and others with leaves coming in pairs on opposite sides of the twig, cut the center shoot. Tweezers work best for this operation. Since the shoots do not all open at the same time, for best results, make it a daily chore. Check your soil each day for proper watering. Don t assume that it got plenty of water on cool days or after some light rain. A tree with full leaves may shed rain water. A warm sun in low humidity after a front will dry the soil. Moss can be removed, so you can feel and see how the soil is. Moss on trunks or roots cause rot. An automatic watering system can be an aid but don t rely on it to replace hand watering. Use it for a shot of water in the morning and again at noon, but water by hand in the evening to cover the entire pot. Adjust the watering for each tree individually. Make sure each pot is draining properly. A clogged drainage hole can drown some trees in less than a week. Most trees will do well in full sun at this time of year. However, if you have had them in partial shade, move them gradually to full sun, to give them time to get acclimated gradually. Too much wind causes wind burn. Some damage may not be visible until hot weather gets here. John Miller John Miller, who writes a monthly column for the Bonsai Society of Dallas and Fort Worth Bonsai Society, has agreed to share his column with us. We need to make adjustments for our warmer and damper climate, with earlier springs, longer summers, late fall and erratic winters. A unique hillside group planting of elms on kurama tray President s Letter It s a beautiful spring day and I am inside writing a newsletter article. So, this will be pretty quick today. With my greenhouses down, the tropicals are in need of some cleanup to start their year off right. It s also time for me, and all of us, to think about the club auction this month. Which trees on your benches just don t inspire you anymore? Perhaps someone else would love to take a shot at them. Take a look and consider donating them to the auction. This month I want to express my gratitude for Scott Barboza. One of the toughest jobs in HBS is putting together the programs each month. Scott has been doing a stellar job of this for over 5 years now. Thanks to Scott, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of visiting artists, our membership has been increasing due, in my mind, to the programs and to Scott and others efforts on social media, and we have been introduced to Bonsai Jeopardy. So, thanks Scott. The LSBF convention, Blooming Bonsai, is rapidly approaching. While the slogan for the convention is, Blooming Bonsai, the special category this year is forest or group plantings. If you have a nice group planting in your collection, consider showing it this year. If not, consider taking one of the workshops led by Bob Specian from Shreveport to put together a forest planting. As is our custom, the convention will feature three headline artists, Boon Manakitivipart, Rodney Clemons, and Mike Lane We will have a juried exhibit, raffles and several meetings of the pub committee. Make your plans now to ensure that you can get the workshops that you would like. The convention is from April 19 through April 22 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Longview. You can find registration

4 materials through the LSBF website at If you aren t displaying one of your trees at the Longview LSBF convention, consider bringing one or two to the HBS Spring Show that will be at the Japan Fest in Hermann Park on April 14 and 15, inside the Japanese Garden. It may just be me, but I find that I look at my trees in more detail when I am preparing them for a show than at any other time. Those closer looks drive the refinement of the trees and the plan for development in the future. Pete Parker HBS Annual Auction at 7PM, at Hermann Park. This is our only annual fundraiser, the main source of revenue for the club to bring in artists and masters for lecturedemos as well as provide foods and drinks for our meetings. Please donate generously and also bid generously. Donated items of all kinds are accepted, such as healthy trees, pots, books, stands, tools, etc. They will be included in the Live Auction. There will be another kind of auction, a Silent Auction for "better" trees, pots or stands. The bidding on these items would be start at $100, with a minimum reserve. If it s not met, the items don t sell. HBS will split the proceeds with the owners: 80% to the owners, and 20% to the club. Only HBS members can bid. Don t forget to bring cash or your checkbook LONE STAR BONSAI FEDERATION ANNUAL CONVENTION Blooming Bonsai And Group plantings hosted by the Longview Bonsai Society April 20-22, 2018 at Hilton Garden Inn, Longview, Texas Featured artists: Bonsai Boon Manakitivipart Rodney Clemons Mike Lane Register at lonestarbonsai.org/2018-convention/ For more details, please download: content/uploads/2017/12/2018-lsbf- Blooming-Bonsai-Brochure_web.pdf The Convention Room Rate of $99 includes a coupon for a half-price hot breakfast each morning. You can view the amenities and make reservations on their website: or by calling the hotel directly at (903) and mentioning the Lone Star Bonsai Federation convention. For convention details contact Convention Chair, Shannon Gilliland, msgilliland@sbcglobal.net or

5 HBS 2018 Spring Show at the 25 th Japan Fest As the dark gray skies finally parted, my azalea buds, which once appeared nipped by the brutal freeze, blossomed into a symphony of delicate pinks, lavenders and reds at the first kiss of warm sunlight and fresh Spring air. These flowers came weeks earlier than past years, and in remarkably larger number. Not far behind, bougainvilleas in the greenhouse echo the same spectacular palette of flashy shades of pink, peach and red, with a touch of yellow and orange. The profusion of ooh and aah moments was certainly a consolation for those of us who lost several cherished old bonsai we thought too hardy to die! Not far behind the Bougies, just two weeks later, the rare cherry trees in the Japanese Garden began to unfurl their blossoms like soft pink clouds dabbled with little vibrant magenta or burgundy camellias. This heavenly La Vie en Rose melody announced the fast approaching HBS Annual Spring Show in the Japanese Garden of Hermann Park. families have had the opportunity to admire these living works of art and talk to the bonsai artists. Please mark your calendar: The 2018 HBS Spring Show will be on Saturday April 14 th and Sunday April 15 th, inside the Japanese Garden. As in the past year, Dr. Hoe Chuah will be in charge of coordinating the volunteers and setting up the exhibit. His wonderful wife Soon who delighted all with her charming accent plants, kusamono and kokedama, will be by his side. Anthony Cutola, Hoe Chuah and his gorgeous azalea bonsai greeted captivated visitors. (Photo:Shawn Nguyen) Hope many of HBS members can participate in this fun cultural event and have a chance to spread Bonsai joy to the public. Please sign up with Hoe at this coming April 11 th meeting and start putting the last finishing touches on your trees and accent plants for the show. April Saturday Groups (yes, groups plural) For the first time ever, the April Saturday Study Group will be held at the Spring Show for the members who would like to add a bonsai care demo for the crowd to observe. When you bring trees, remember to pack your tools and supplies too. Japanese cherry and camellia blossom in the garden (Photo from site/hermann_park/) For decades, Houston club has been holding a Spring Show at the Rose Garden clubhouse in Hermann Park which was demolished about 5 years ago to make room for the Cherie Flores Pavilion. Since, HBS has found a new home for this show inside the Japanese Garden, in concurrence with the Japan Fest. Many more people along with their multi-generational Hoe s passion is reflected on his bonsai.

6 At the other part of town, for those who cannot attend Japan Fest, there will be a second Saturday Study Group at Timeless Trees in Rosenberg, from 9AM to Noon. There you will also find gorgeous pre-bonsai and flowering plants waiting for your magic touch. Live bonsai performance on stage The Japan Fest organizing committee has offered HBS a couple of half-hour slots on the covered stage, where members can perform live bonsai demos or to talk about the Art of Bonsai. Please let Hoe know if you would like to participate. Temporary parking to unload bonsai Volunteers will receive temporary parking sign for the lot in front of the Sam Houston statue. Do inquire about overnight storage for the bonsai. No need to bring your trees home on Saturday evening and back on Sunday morning. A tiny bonsai toucher was captured by two bonsai policemen Clyde and Vern and turned over to Shawn for correction. (No grandchild of mine was hurt when this photo was taken). Long before HBS moved the Spring Show to the Japanese Garden, every chance I ve got, I love to take a stroll there and admire its transformation over the seasons. Needless to say, Spring with all her profusion of flowers and colors has always been my favorite time of the year. It was only lately that I stumbled on a website and found out about the garden s fascinating history. Below is what Don Pylant wrote about the Hermann Park Japanese Garden Mr. Ken Nakajimas s design was based on Zen philosophy that one creates new values and beauty by the appropriate means while treasuring the value of existing things. Nakajima incorporated existing large native Texas pines and oak trees into the Garden, working with nature to create a new space and sense of beauty. He wanted to express tranquility and natural elements of the landscape in various forms, i.e. water, rocks, and seasonal plant changes. Specific features include a Nagayamon gate, a teahouse donated to the Garden by the Commemorative Association for the World Exposition through the initiative of former Prime Minister Toshiki Kaifu on his 1990 visit to Houston, designed for a traditional tea ceremony. Texas pink granite rocks with distinctive characteristics were quarried from a site in Marble Falls, TX. Major plants include azaleas, crepe myrtles, existing oaks and native loblolly pines. A wisteria trellis overlooks a koi pond, one of three ponds in the Garden. In preparation for the upcoming 25 th anniversary of the Garden in 2017, renovations are being made including pond repair and fence replacement, a new gate (Kabuki-mon) to improve accessibility, and a dry stream garden (karesansui 枯山水 ). History The 22,000 square meter site was provided by the City inside Hermann Park, a 445-acre regional Park just south of downtown Houston, surrounded by the Texas Medical Center, the Museum District and Rice University. The Japanese Garden was made possible by the support of the City of Houston, the Consulate- General of Japan, the Commemorative Association, Houston s sister City of Chiba, Japan, and donations by many local organizations, and individuals from the Japanese and American business communities in Houston, Texas. A serene landscape in the middle of the busy medical center. (Photo courtesy of BigKidSmallCity) In 2007, the Garden began an annual renovation by renowned Japanese landscape designer Terunobu Nakai, who undertook the design of the renovation after Mr. Nakajima s passing. The need for the 2007 renovation became evident after the Garden had

7 begun to slip into a Texas-style Japanese Garden rather than a Japanese style Japanese Garden. The renovation is ongoing and is monitored by the Japanese Garden Advisory Committee formed by the Hermann Park Conservancy and consisting of members representing the Japanese community and businesses in Houston, Texas. Productions, created kid-oriented animation shows, similar to their western counterparts. I remember over 4 decades ago, watching Astroboy (known as Tetsuwan Atom in Japan) with the kids I babysat. Were these Japanese characters stolen or copied from Disney? Data and photos contributed by Barbara Jo L. Harwell, Conservation Director - Hermann Park Conservancy Please read the full article with photos at: Japan Fest For over a quarter of a century, the Japanese Festival in Houston has attracted huge crowds to Hermann Park. Its mission is to provide a family event where diverse ethnicity can get a taste of Japan s rich cultural heritage with traditional performances of Japanese music, dance and martial arts, Japanese-inspired food, as well as enjoy displays and demonstrations of Origami, tea ceremony, Ikebana flower arrangement, Japanese garden design and the Art of Bonsai. So bring your families to enjoy live music, traditional costumes, food vendors, martial arts, There will be so many activities for kids, fun games, drum lessons, arts & crafts and puppet theatres. For the young as well as the young at heart, there will be J-Pop music, Anime parade and Cosplay contests. Amazing to see my grandchild stand with the Déjà Vu Japanese cartoon characters of my youth. Speaking of Anime. Short for Animation, it s Japan s version of the popular Disney animation. The famous Japanese animator Osamu Tezuka, who studied at Disney My grandson begged me to take photos of him with hundreds of living Anime characters parading throughout the festival. Although there is no denying that some aspects of Manga (humorous characters) were borrowed from the West since Osamu Tezuka, the "father" of modern manga learned from Disney, Japanese people have been drawing cartoony art, striking resemblances to modern manga, for hundreds of years. In recent years, Japanese Anime had experienced a new surge in popularity all over the world, making Houston Japan Fest a mustsee event for Anime lovers. The elaborate costumes, mostly hand-made and home-made (vs. store bought) will be entered in the 2018 Japan Festival Cosplay (short for Costume and Play) contest sponsored by All Nippon Airways (ANA). The hefty prize is a round-trip ticket from Houston-Japan. It hard to believe but this action and fun packed two-day event is free to the public. So bring your bonsai and your family to spend a day or two there. You all will have a great time! Shawn Nguyen

8 Calendar of Events 2018 APR 7 Texas State Shohin Club - Convention Display Setup and Texas Natives Talk with Terry Ward and Steven Hendricks at Persimmon Hill Bonsai Studio in Austin. Contact Steven Hendricks at The Shohin club needs all hands (and trees) on deck to make a good convention display. APRIL11 HBS meeting: HBS Annual Auction at 7PM, at Hermann Park. This is the main source of revenue for the club. Please donate generously and bid generously. APR HBS Spring Bonsai Show in the Japanese Garden at Hermann Park, in conjunction with the 25 th Japan Fest. Volunteers and bonsai for display are needed for both days. Please meet with Hoe Chuah to sign up. APR14 2 April Saturday Study Groups: 10AM 1PM at the Spring Bonsai show OR at Timeless Trees, Rosenberg 9AM - Noon. Free, refreshments provided. APR LSBF 2018 Annual Convention & Exhibit in Longview, TX, featuring Boon Manakitivipart, Rodney Clemons, and Mike Lane. Focus: Flowering Bonsai and Group Plantings. APR The American Bonsai Society and the Bonsai Society of Greater St. Louis present: Gateway to Bonsai 2018 in Collinsville, IL. Headliners: Bjorn Bjornholm, Marc Noelanders, and Matt Reel. Juried bonsai exhibit with awards and prize of $1,000 for Best in Show. Details at.facebook.com/events/ /. APR Malaysia-BCI International Friendship Tour & Exhibition hosted by Bonsai & Stone Academy at Selangor, Malaysia. For details contact I.S. Ing at isng1818@gmail.com or MAY 2 HBS meeting: Deadwood Carving Techniques with Will Baddeley MAY 5 Saturday Study Group at Quality Feed and Garden in the Heights, 9AM-1PM. Free w. refreshments. MAY 12 Shohin Fukien Tea Workshop at Timeless Trees, Rosenberg, 9 AM -12 AM. MAY 25th -27th, Brussel's Rendez-vous, Olive Branch, Mississippi, near Memphis. Brussel s is the largest bonsai nursery in the United States. This 3-day annual rendezvous is a must for bonsai enthusiasts. 3 days filled with workshops, lectures, demos, classes, shopping and some of the best food. 6 world renowned artists. May 28 Mr Maple Festival Memorial Day from 9-5: at 107 Maplewood Knoll Dr., East Flat Rock, NC Enjoy garden tours, rare trees for sale, and a talk on Japanese maples. Hot dogs will be provided for lunch. Details at or - MAY 25th -27th Brussel s is the largest bonsai nursery in the United States, in Olive Branch, Mississippi, near Memphis. This 3-day annual Rendez-vous, a must for bonsai enthusiasts, will be filled with workshops, lectures, demos, classes, shopping and some of the best food. The 6 headliners this year are world renowned artists: Marc Noelanders from Belgium, Kathy Shaner from California, Rodney Clemons from Georgia, Todd Schaffer from Colorado, Juan Andrade from Costa Rica/ Florida, John Powell from Wichita Falls, and Byron Myrick from Mississippi. Make plans early with the two dozens HBS members who make this trip every year.

9 Make sure you go to Timeless Trees website and subscribe to weekly Current Events to stay in the know. You can find the best gifts: trees, pots, all sorts of bonsai supplies, soils of all kinds, tools and books for your bonsai lovers and yourself. Spring is here and thousands of flowering azaleas, camellias and quinces are blooming at JRN II. They do well as indoor bonsai. Arrangements of citrus trees, orchids and flowers can be ordered for the New Year and all other occasions. Quality Feed & Garden and Ken stand ready to help you with bonsai trees, basic tools, pots and soils like Akadama, Lava, Pumice, Kanuma, and Ken s Bonsai Soil in 10 lb. & 50 lb. bags. Free Study classes for HBS every 3-months Ask for 10% HBS discount. Visit artist Andrew Sankowski at the Mossrock Studio & Fine Art Gallery for the finest gifts and most uniquely beautiful bonsai pots in every shape, form and color. Personalized pots or gifts can be commissioned year round. Weekly pottery classes are also available. Andrew Sankowski Oak Ridge Drive Direct (281) The Woodlands, TX Fax (281) andy@mossrockstudio.com Come stock up on bonsai soils, pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers and other supplies. The plant doctor is always on duty, so bring your unhappy or unhealthy bonsai for a free check-up. Don t forget to ask for a 10% HBS discount. For high quality daizas for viewing stones, Suiseki, bonsai stands and Shoji screens in any shape, form, style, wood, dimensions and colors, please visit artist Jerry Braswell. Send him your designs and specifications for custom wood work. For more info:

10 Houston Bonsai Society, Inc. P. O. Box , Houston, Texas HBS Board Members President Pete Parker 1 st Vice President Scott Barboza in charge of Education 2 nd Vice President Hoe Chuah hoe.chuah@gmaill.com Secretary Maria Grissom maria.l.grissom@uth.tmc.edu Publicity Ken Cousino krcousino@yahoo.com Treasurer Eldon Branham elmo4635@aol.com in charge of Membership Webmaster Anthony Cutola acutola@gmail.com Member at Large - O Gale Childers f5gale@macconnect.com Member at Large - O James Kelly kurstyn.castillo@gmail.com Member at Large - O Ryan Vollert rmvnucks@gmail.com Member at Large E Sharon Barker barkersharonr48@gmail.com Member at Large - E Ray González raygonzalez47@yahoo.com Member at Large E Brian Gurrola bgurrola@gurrolareprographics.com Delegates Past President Hurley Johnson hurley@all-tex.net LSBF Delegate Terry Dubois tdubois1@comcast.net LSBF Alternate Pete Parker peteparkerbonsai@yahoo.com BCI Ambassador TTSBE Representative Alan Raymond amraymond@suddenlink.net Refreshments Website/ Gary Teeter houstonbonsai@gmail.com Newsletter editor Shawn Nguyen hbs.news@yahoo.com The Bonsai News of Houston is a monthly publication of the Houston Bonsai Society, Inc. Copyright The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the editor or a member of the Board of Directors. Exceptions exist, however, for certain not-for-profit and non-profit bonsai organizations or associated bonsai and bonsai nursery newsletters, including without limitation the American Bonsai Society. HBS participates fully with reciprocation of contents and material between other LSBF member organizations and others. Authors who submit articles for this newsletter thereby give permission to such organizations to reprint, unless they expressly state otherwise. Space for advertising in The Bonsai News of Houston can be requested by contacting the newsletter editor or a member of the HBS Board. The rates for a business-card-size ad (approximately 3 1/2" x 2") are $10 per month, and $75 per year (12 issues). A full-page ad is $40 per month. Rates are subject to change without notice. 3½" x 2" classified ads are run free of charge for one month once per 12-month period for non-commercial members. For special requests or questions related to The Bonsai News of Houston, contact the newsletter editor or a member of the HBS Board.