January 2010 The Bent Twig Dedicated to the learning, enjoying and promoting of bonsai December Christmas Party American Bonsai and Satsuki Aikokai club members had a good time at the joint Christmas party on December 18 th. 1
Christmas Party Bonsai Christmas Trees 2
Annual Spring Show Greg McDonald will chair the spring show this year, and our headliner will be Ryan Neal who has just completed a six-year apprenticeship in Japan with Kimura. To view a very good interview with Ryan, go to the following address on the internet: http://artofbonsai.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t =3860. Greg will be forming a committee soon and if you have scrolls or special accent plants that can be used, please call Greg. If you have a tree that is almost ready for show but you need a little help, call Greg and he and Paul will help finish the tree. We will also use one meeting before the show for tree preparation. Volunteers Still Needed The club still needs volunteers for the following activities. Please consider whether you can take a more active role in the club it takes all members working together to have a successful year! Suiseki Group Member interest in Suiseki has been increasing, so the club will start a group soon. There will be a sign up sheet at the January meeting if you are interested in participating. This subgroup can coordinate collecting trips (to increase safety), carpooling to various shows and stone sales/events, sharing information and perhaps even planning club demonstrations and teaching the art to new club members. Dues for the New Year Attached is the membership renewal form for 2010. Please mail your form and dues to Ann Harris or pay her at the January meeting. A newsletter editor will be needed in July 2010. Now that the newsletter is delivered predominately by e-mail, preparation and mailing time has been greatly reduced. 2010 home tour. Activities include scheduling the homes for the tour and mapping the route. This year the route will be along the I-80 corridor. Please call Dolores or Paul if you can take on this activity. January Demonstration Club member Doc Ward will provide our January demonstration, and he will work on a trident maple over rock composition. Doc will work with fairly young material to ensure that it adheres to the rock. The pictures on the following page are a couple examples of his existing root over rock trees. 3
Root Over Rock Root Over Rock Class Don t forget that Bill Burns will offer a Root over Rock workshop for novice and beginners on March 6th. There will be a sign-up sheet at the next two meetings and new members can use their half off workshop certificates for the workshop. 4
January Raffle Prize Bill Burns is providing the twenty year old Bird s Nest Spruce below as the lead prize in the January raffle. January Tree Care January is the beginning of our hectic but enjoyable bonsai work season. January care tips include the following: This is the time to spray with lime sulfur as a dormant spray. Follow the instructions on the label. Do not spray newly wired spruce or azalea, or trees that have just been repotted. Check each plant s watering needs even when it rains. A thick canopy can repel water and the soil may be dry. Deciduous trees offer a great silhouette to begin pruning and wiring. Boon recommends even spirals and even spacing between branch and wire to make the job neat and beautiful. A 45 degree angle is the typical angle for applying wire, but this angel can be elongated to 30 degrees. In this range, the wire has the most holding power and is the most pleasing in appearance. It has been said that the best space between the wire and the branch is just enough to allow a piece of rice paper to slide through. Protect bonsai that have been recently wired or repotted. Keep these trees away from excessive cold and wind. 5
Remove old wire that is cutting into branches. Study plant designs and trim limbs/twigs to refine structure on deciduous trees. Basic bonsai principals include removing crossing branches and assessing all branches and their relationship to the trunk s movement. Clean up pots, remove weeds and generally get ready for the spring. Prepare soil ingredients and mix soils for the spring potting season. Calendar of General Bonsai Events: January 16th and 17th Bay Island Bonsai Show, Hall of Commerce, Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Ave. February 5, 6 and 7th Biennial Shohin Seminar at Santa Nella. February 27th and 28th Mammoth Fundraiser at the Lakeside Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave, Oakland. April 3rd and 4th Bonsai Sekiyu Kai Annual Show at the Sacramento Betsuin Buddist Church (2401 Riverside Blvd). Saturday 12 5 p.m. and Sunday and 10 3:30 p.m. May 1st and 2nd Sacramento Bonsai Club s 63rd Annual Bonsai and Suiseki Show at the Betsuin Buddist Church. Saturday 12 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 to 4 p.m. May 15th and 16th Satsuki Aikokai of Sacramento s 40th Annual Show. Saturday 10 5 p.m. and Sunday 10 4 p.m. ABAS Calendar of Club Events: January 26th ABAS meeting Trident Maple Over Rock demonstration. February 14th Repotting workshop at Maruyama Nursery from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring (or purchase) plants, pots, soil, tools, etc. February 23rd Club Meeting, demonstration by Peter Tea, winner of the Joshua Roth new talent competition at the Riverside Convention. March 6th Root over Rock Workshop at Bill Burns. March 7th Repotting workshop at Maruyama Nursery from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bring plants, pots, soil, tools, etc. March 23rd Club Meeting Ted Matson Demo. March 27th and 28th ABAS participation in the spring sale at the Garden Center. April 27th Club Meeting Open Workshop. Bring the trees you plan to show for preparation. Bring tools, moss, soil top dressing, etc. May 21st ABAS 51st Annual Show Set Up May 22nd and 23rd American Bonsai s 51st Annual Show. Hours are 10 4:30 p.m. Demonstrations on both days by Ryan Neil. May 25th Club Meeting TBA June 22nd Club Meeting Air Layering demonstration by Vince Owyoung. Air Layering supplies will be provided. Board of Directors President: Dolores Rauh... (916) 967-9129 Vice President: Paul Holtzen. (916) 933-3681 Treasurer: Ann Harris... (916) 455-8385 Recording Secretary: Don Brown..... (916) 775-1729 Corresponding Secretary: Rene Seeley.. (916) 929-2106 Members-at-Large: Marty Bauman..... (916) 363-6962 Bill Burns... (916) 988-4894 Dino Pappademos.. (916) 684-8731 Ken Santucci.. (916) 786-2185 Spring Sale Garden Center Please remember to clean out your collections and sheds to donate or sell items at the Spring Garden Sale. The sale will be held March 27th and 28th and Renee Seeley, Dolores Rauh and Ann Harris will co-chair the event for the club. 6
American Bonsai Association 3330 McKinley Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95816 7