Conejo Valley Bonsai Society A member of the Golden State Bonsai Federation Graphic by Paul Centeno Conejo Valley Bonsai Society In This Issue President s Message: Benson Will Demonstrate Olive Bonsai at our July Meeting 1 CVBS Programs: The 2015 Schedule 2 Barrett s Bonsai Tips: Summertime Care for Your Trees 3 Refreshments 3 Membership 3 June Niche: Clip-and-Grow Stone Pine 4 Library 4 Coming Events 6 CVBS Niche Displays 6 Conejo Valley Bonsai Society Meetings Westlake Village City Hall Community Room 31200 Oakcrest Drive Westlake Village, CA 91361 7:30 PM 9:00 PM V O L U M E 1 2 N U M B E R 7 By Marj Branson ur June meeting was a workshop and a O club meeting regarding upcoming activities. Don t forget the trip to Fuji Bonsai Nursery on Saturday July 18th. We are to arrive at 12:00 PM. We can work out details of carpools, etc., at our July meeting on the 16th. At our July meeting we will have Kathy Benson as our demonstrator. Kathy will be working and commenting on an olive bonsai. Welcome Kathy. Don t forget our August meeting will be a workshop and our annual Swap Meet. We have found past summer meetings with a Swap Meet successful, so we will be repeating it again this year in August. Check your collection to see what you President Marj Branson need to add or are ready to sell or swap for something else. It s now summer, so hot weather will be hitting us in full force. Keep an eye on your trees so the roots don t cook in the small pots. You might find it necessary to set up some type of shade cloth or to move your trees under protection. I again mention to keep an eye on your wiring (this is my problem J U L Y 2 0 1 5 President s Message Benson Will Demonstrate Olive Bonsai at our July Meeting area). Watch for the wires cutting in. Also with the overcast mornings and extra humidity watch for scale, mealy bug, spider mite, and the other small critters. The early registration for the Golden State Bonsai Federation Convention opened July 1, 2015. The application is online on the GSBF website ( www.gsbfbonsai.org) and in the latest issue of their magazine, Golden Statements. If you are thinking of going, have a look and maybe take up the discounted early-bird registration. Please take care in looking after your trees. We have been advised of 20 trees stolen on June 17th from the San Gabriel Nursery. We have received pictures of the trees should you come across trees being offered. See you at our July meeting on Thursday the 16th. 2015 CONEJO VALLEY BONSAI SOCIETY Views expressed by authors are not necessarily those of the Conejo Valley Bonsai Society
Contact Us (Click on E-mail) Officers PRESIDENT Marj Branson Phone (805) 373-1330 E-mail Marj VICE PRESIDENT Ann Lofquist Phone (805) 484-3140 Email Ann TREASURER Ken Fuentes Phone (805) 495-7480 E-mail Ken SECRETARY Ken Martin Phone (805) 445-9221 E-mail Ken ADVISOR Ken Fuentes Phone (805) 495-7480 E-mail Ken Committees MEMBERSHIP CHAIR Larry Kimmelman Phone (805) 493-5103 E-mail Larry NEWSLETTER EDITOR David E. Whiteside Phone (805) 647-8803 E-mail David PROGRAM CHAIR Al Espinoza Phone (818) 284-1693 E-mail Al PUBLICITY CO-CHAIRS Guy & Deborah Ervin Phone (805) 495-8688 E-mail Guy & Deborah REFRESHMENTS CHAIR Grace Sy Phone (818) 915-8545 E-mail Grace LIBRARIAN Larry Kimmelman Phone (805) 493-5103 E-mail Larry Field Trips & Activities Rick Naber WEBMASTER Tom McGuire E-mail Tom CVBS Programs CVBS Programs January 15 January 20 February 19 February 17 March 17 April 21 May 19 May 21 June 16 July 21 August 18 September 15 October 1 2 October 3 4 October 15 20 2011 2015 Bonsai Basics If you classes are interested and workshops in the CVBS are Mentoring open every Program, member please at all see levels Larry of Kimmelman experience. They are designed to be introductory for for more newcomers information and & refreshers applications for to more participate. experienced bonsai hobbyists. March 19 April 16 May 2 June 18 July 16 August 20 September 17 7:30 6:00 PM: Bonsai Brief Meeting Basics Class: followed Bonsai by History & Styles Workshop BRING 7:30 PM Brief Meeting YOUR followed TREES by DEMONSTRATION: ROY NAGATOSHI / Grafting DEMONSTRATION: 6:00 PM Bonsai Basics Ryan Workshop Nichols / Back to the Roots Part 7:30 II PM Brief Meeting followed by DEMONSTRATION: 6:00 PM Bonsai Basics Ted Matson Class: Basics / Zelkova of Design DEMONSTRATION: Ted Matson / Repotting Boxwood Workshop BRING 6:00 PM Bonsai Basics YOUR Workshop TREES 10:00 AM 5:00 PM Spring Show Camarillo 6:00 PM Bonsai Public Basics Library Class: Shaping with Wire DEMONSTRATION: Kathy Benson / Crapemyrtle DEMONSTRATION: 6:00 PM Bonsai Basics Jim Barrett Workshop / Member Tree Critique Workshop BRING 6:00 PM Bonsai Basics YOUR Workshop TREES 7:30 Workshop BRING PM: Brief Meeting YOUR followed TREES by DEMONSTRATION: Kathy Benson / Olive 6:00 PM Bonsai Basics Class: Soils & Fertilizers 7:30 DEMONSTRATION: PM: Brief Meeting CESAREO followed PEREZ by / Bonsai Displays Workshop 6:00 PM and 9:30 Swap PM: Meet BRING YOUR TREES Workshop to Prepare Trees for Exhibition 7:30 (Maximum PM: Brief 3 trees Meeting per person) followed by BRING THE TREES YOU PLAN TO EXHIBIT 8TH ANNUAL EXHIBITION 12TH ANNUAL EXHIBITION Gardens of the World Gardens of the World 6:00 PM Bonsai Basics Class: Potting & Repotting 7:30PM 7:30 PM : Brief Brief Meeting Meeting followed followed by by DEMONSTRATION: Jim Barrett /Proper Pot Selection November 19 November 17 December NOTE: NEW 17 DATE December 12 7:30PM 6:00 PM : Bonsai Brief Meeting Basics Workshop followed by Workshop BRING 7:30 PM Brief Meeting YOUR followed TREES by HOLIDAY POTLUCK HOLIDAY POTLUCK 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 2 CONEJO VALLEY BONSAI SOCIETY JULY 2015
Barrett s Bonsai Tips Summertime Care for Your Trees By Jim Barrett Editor s Note: This column first appeared in the July 2014 issue. his month we can expect a slowing T down of both roots and top growth. Deciduous trees, especially Japanese maples, may need protection from direct sun and drying winds. Home Depot sells shade cloth in varying strength, if you feel ambitious and want to build a shade frame over your more tender trees. Make sure your watering program is not neglected. It may be that you will have to water more than once a day. Shohin bonsai will need an extra amount of care in terms of water, shade, and maintaining a cool, humid atmosphere. Jim Barrett It is becoming more and more common to see shohin collections imbedded in a tray of damp sand. This not only provides humidity and moisture but also keeps the pot cool. If your trees are placed against a wall or fence, be sure to rotate them every week or so. This evens out the tree s form by exposing all sides to the elements. Trees left against a fence or wall tend to develop flat areas, stunted branches and even dead branches on the wall side. Except for emergency potting, wait until early fall for this chore. Crabapples and ume [Japanese apricot] should be left to grow wild until late September the same with wisteria. Try stripping the first three to four sets (closest to the trunk), leaving only a few leaves at branch terminals. Try this on crabapple and ume. Do this also on the comp o u n d leaves on wisteria, but just strip the first few sets of leaflets on each leaf. This procedure should cause the tree to set more buds for next year s flowers. Fertilizers high in phosphorous and potash, low in nitrogen, should be used this summer. Do not over fertilize. In fact, if you are using liquid or chemical fertilizers, cut the recommended dose in half. Over fertilizing during this semidormant period could cause root rot and other undesirable conditions. Refreshments It s Summer! ummer is on! Grab and go cold S drinks for yourself! It may be BYO drinks at our meeting in July unless someone volunteers soon. Thinking of our June meeting, thank you to Ken Martin for the refreshing cold drinks and Ann Lofquist for the eats. I will be passing around signup sheets to cover August sweets. September through November need volunteers. So be prepared because I will be seeing you and begging you to be a part of it! Join the Refreshments Corner! Contact me, Grace Sy, at wkhlady@yahoo.com or call (818) 915-8545. Thanks everyone! Grace Sy 2015 Refreshments Cold Eats / Drinks Sweets July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Lydia Su Grace Sy Annual Holiday Potluck CVBS Membership Come Join Us! By Larry Kimmelman lease join me in welcoming Sheila Galinsky of Camarillo to our club. P Whether you are a visitor to our website, a reader of our newsletter, a guest at a monthly meeting, or have already decided to join our club, there are effectively no barriers to entry. Annual dues are $25 for one, $30 for couples. Our monthly meetings are held on the third Thursday of every month, starting at 7:30 PM, in the Westlake Village City Hall (located at 31200 Oakcrest Drive, Westlake Village, CA 91361). To join our club, please bring your check (made out payable to the Conejo Valley Bonsai Society) to our next monthly meeting, or mail it to: Larry Kimmelman, CVBS Membership Chair, 2727 Autumn Ridge Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362. JULY 2015 CONEJO VALLEY BONSAI SOCIETY 3
June Niche Clip-and-Grow Stone Pine Editor s Note: Al Espinoza provided the niche display at our June 2015 meeting. Here are his comments on the history and future of this pine bonsai. The stone pine, with the botanical name Pinus pinea, is also called the Italian stone pine, umbrella pine, and parasol pine. It is a tree from the pine family (Pinaceae). The tree is native to the Mediterranean region, occurring in Southern Europe and the Levant (Syria). The tree was purchased for me as a gift by Rick Naber from the Home Depot on Roscoe and Balboa. I've owned the tree for almost four years and use the clipand-grow method to shape and style the tree. I wanted a natural style tree so almost no wire has been used on the tree. More crown/apex development is needed and I'd like the lower branches to thicken and lengthen. Roy Nagatoshi advises his students to purchase these trees and develop them as they can make good bonsai material. Al Espinoza Photo by Norm Nason Library Take Advantage of Our CVBS Library Offerings! Larry Kimmelman From John Naka s classic Bonsai Techniques to Bonsai Boon s DVDs on styling, pruning, and repotting, we offer a wide array of library materials to enhance and improve your understanding of the art of bonsai. We have Bonsai International magazines that date back to 1974 as well as Walter Pall s gallery of 8,000 bonsai tree images on DVD. Interested in suiseki? Take a look at Suiseki Viewing Stones An American Perspective by Melba Tucker. And be sure to check out our novice bonsai books that help newcomers build a strong bonsai foundation. Members can borrow our library materials for a month at a time. There is no charge and all we ask is that borrowed books and DVDs be returned at the next club meeting. 4 CONEJO VALLEY BONSAI SOCIETY JULY 2015
Public Service Advertisement JULY 2015 CONEJO VALLEY BONSAI SOCIETY 5
Coming Events (click on the hyperlinks to visit Web sites or send e-mails) 2015 August August 1 2, 2015 / San Francisco, California San Francisco Suiseki Kai: 34th Annual Suiseki Exhibit at the Union Bank Community Room, Japan Center, 1675 Post Street. Hours are 10 AM 5 PM both days. Suiseki and stone sales. For more information about our club, contact sfsuisekikai@gmail.com or visit http:// sfsuisekikai.wordpress.com. August 22 23, 2015 / Santa Rosa, California Redwood Empire Bonsai Society (REBS): 32th Annual show at the Santa Rosa Veterans building, 1351 Maple Ave. 10 AM 5 PM Saturday and 10 AM 4 PM Sunday with demonstrations both days at 1 PM by club sensei Kathy Shaner. Large exhibit of members trees, vendors sales room, members sales room, raffle and silent auction. Free admission, parking and treats. Contact Bob Shimon @ 707-884-4126 or shimon@mcn.org September September 23 27, 2015 / Santa Ana, California Kofu Bonsai Kai: 2015 Bonsai Fest at the Bowers Museum The Bonsai Tradition: Cultural Arts of Japan John M. Lee Court, 2002 N. Main St., Hours are 10 AM 4 PM daily. Featuring bonsai trees of the members of Kofu Bonsai Kai and special presentations by noted speakers (names, dates and times to be announced). Free to Bowers Museum members or with paid museum admission. Final speaker and presentation schedules will be posted on the Bowers Museum Website: http://www.bowers.org/ and Kofu Bonsai Kai: http:// www.kofukai.org/. Questions? Call the museum at (714) 567-3695 or email Michael Walsh at michaeljwalsh@outlook.com. September 25 27, 2015 / Portland, Oregon The Artisans Cup held at The Portland Art Museum. The Artisans Cup is the premier exhibition of American Bonsai. The event will also feature select artisans who are creating distinctive supporting elements such as ceramics, woodwork, tools, and more. For further information, visit our website at http://www.theartisanscup.com. September 26 27, 2015 / Penryn, California Sierra Bonsai Club: Club show in conjunction with Placer Buddhist Church s Annual Fall Food Festival. Hours are 11 AM 4 PM Saturday and 11 AM to 4 PM Sunday. Bonsai demonstration by Scott Chadd in the afternoon, both days. For more information contact Robin Knittle at robin_knittle@yahoo.com or Gary Judd at juddbonsai@att.net or 916-622-8048. October October 3 4, 2015 / Thousand Oaks, California Conejo Valley Bonsai Society: 12th Annual Bonsai Exhibition at the Resource Center at the Gardens of the World, 2001 Thousand Oak Blvd. Hours are 9 AM 4 PM both days with demonstrations at 11 AM (Saturday) and 2 PM (Sunday) in the Bandstand. Free Admission. For information, call Marj Branson at (805) 373-1330 or visit our web site at www.cvbs-bonsai.org. October 29 November 1, 2015 / Riverside, California Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF) presents 2015 Convention 38 Bonsai Fusion: Where Tradition Meets Innovation at the Riverside Convention Center, 3637 Fifth Street near Main. Headliners: Bjorn Bjorholm and John Wang. Guest artists: David Nguy and Tak Shimazu. Demonstrations, seminars, critiques, workshops, benefit drawings, vendors, and much more. More information available at www.gsbf2015.com. CVBS Niche Displays Our Niche Display Program n the Niche Program, club members I set up a mini exhibition display. Such a display consists of: The tree in a nice bonsai pot An accent plant A stand All these items are important to create the balance for a good display. We aspire to present the best display possible for everyone s pleasure and edification, so the niche is often assembled by one of the more experienced members. However, it is also our desire to give less experienced bonsai hobbyists an opportunity to learn by doing. So if any less experienced member feels his/her trees are not ready for a finished display, it is worthwhile to create a display that is a work-in-progress. It will be up to the club member to determine which category his/her display falls into, and then the work-in-progress display can become the talking point of work done, work intended, and suggestions from the floor. We encourage all members to sign up for the niche display! Please have a look at the 2015 calendar and let us know when you would like to present your display. Marj Branson July 2015 Niche Displays August Sept. Oct. Nov. Rick Naber Norm Nason Fr. Tom Davis 6 CONEJO VALLEY BONSAI SOCIETY JULY 2015