ILLAWARRA BONSAI SOCIETY INC NEWSLETTER 2011, No. 8 SEPTEMBER NEXT MEETING 7.30PM MONDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2011 (DEMONSTRATION) PRESIDENT S REPORT I would like to thank everyone who helped out at our recent bonsai show at our new venue, The Tradies Club in Gymea. Again it was a success and I think the room was a good size and the lighting was just great. The staff at the club was beyond reproach and nothing was any trouble for any of them and the other great thing about it was that it is just around the corner from our hall where me meet. We had visitors from all over and it was good to have their support and patronage, likewise as we always try to do for them. I keep saying that although bonsai is small on scale to our counterparts overseas, it is our duty to support all clubs and nurseries for all their efforts at putting on their shows, special weekends and special get togethers, and in doing this we can only expand our knowledge as to what other Editor/Secretary: Jamie Milner 0415 440 807 secretary@illawarrabonsaisociety.org President: Brenda Parker 0412 384 834 info@illawarrabonsaisociety.org Mail: PO Box 294, Jannali, NSW, 2226 Web: Meetings: 7.30pm third Monday night each month, except January & Decemberat Gymea Community Centre, Gymea Bay Road, Gymea, NSW clubs are doing and teaching. The bonus of course is all of the extra bonsai friends that we can add to our Christmas card lists with a bit of learning gathered along the way. The most surprising thing of all about that weekend was some of our newer, or should I say our younger members arrived with a great selection of magnificent trees both small and large I hope that they become the future bonsai artists of our club or wherever bonsai may take them. Thank you it was a great effort on your behalf. (More photos on page 5) A Member of the Bonsai Federation of Australia Inc A Member of Australian Associated Bonsai Clubs A Member of the Garden Clubs of Australia
Now to another issue, on the October long weekend 2 nd and of October at the Merrylands RSL there will be a combined club bonsai weekend entitled Sydney Bonsai Spectacular, featuring: Bonsai Styles of the World. This show was also a resounding success back on the Australia Day weekend and because of its success it is to be repeated again at the request of the club. Now this is where you can help. We will need about 10 15 trees supplied from our club to be exhibited at this spectacular, which by the way, another 9 Sydney clubs will be supplying trees as well. If you are interested in displaying your tree/s could you please let me know as I will have to forward on the information onto the organizers so that name tags can be printed by the 18 th September and also to design the placement of the trees. Remember to give the dimensions of the space required for your tree and soe, together with the name of the tree, together with its estimated age and origin. I will have further information and forms to show you at our next meeting. This will be a great way of spreading the word about bonsai to the general public and to also advertise the various clubs and nurseries for those who are not familiar about where they can make contact in their own area to learn about this great art form. Please call Laurie Carroll if you are interested in displaying a tree/s on 95444114 or 0434914671. Flyers are included so tell your friends and family and come and visit to see all of Sydney s club trees displayed under the one roof. It should be an exciting weekend. I do hope that you will also support this venture for the good of bonsai in general and also for the good on letting people where we are as well. Till next time, Brenda FINAL THOUGHT Bonsai is an elegant work of art which brings great pleasure and peace of mind and spirit to the Bonsai lovers. - Wu Yee-sun of Hong Kong HANDY HINTS Well spring is well on its way and there are a lot of jobs to do with your trees. Where do we start first? Well maybe first off, it is time to start fertilizing your trees with any organic liquid feed to stimulate growth after their long dormant sleep especially after an excruciating cold winter that we experienced this year. With trees like crab-apples for example, delay fertilizing until after the flowers start to fade otherwise you could lose the flowers and prospective fruits, by inducing strong new growth at the expense of the flowers and future fruit. You can repot azaleas (except Satsukis as they still have to flower in a few weeks time), camellias and any evergreen trees but NOT any deciduous trees that have already sprouted a new crop of leaves. You are a bit late. Redesigning an old tree will give you a great lift and reinventing an old tree can certainly boost your confidence. We all have those trees in our collection that we dislike for one reason or another so here is your chance to have radical thoughts about changing its looks the same way as a woman changes the colour of her hair, for example. A new you - and a new tree! Maybe we have quite a few little stragglers that never seem to advance on their own so why not put them altogether in a tray and make a landscape, add some stones and make a scene. You will astound yourself at the final result. Any new growth on trees like elms and maples etc can have a couple of sets of leaves removed to help start the ramification, so remember let 4 sets of leaves grow then cut 2 sets off and continue doing this until the growth starts to slow down just after Christmas. It is still a bit too early to repot figs but if you really have to, place them in the warmest place you can find and keep an eye on them. Wiring can be done to trees but with the ensuing rapid spring growth, keep an eye that it doesn t cut in. PAGE - 2 -
Weeds will be at their worst from now on so keep them at bay as much as possible so they don t form seeds and multiply the problem. Air layering and grafting can be done now. Wisterias are flowering now and after flowering cut back the branches to 2 strong nodes to induce more branching. Insects will be in force from now on scale, mites on junipers, lace bug on azaleas so get out those bug guns like Confidor or Sharp Shooter and give the trees a spray in the shade then when the spray is dry place them back again on the shelves. These two sprays are systemic, which means it is absorbed into the tissues of the tree. Repeat a couple of times up until Christmas for complete coverage from these pests. MEMBERSHIP FEES 2011/2012 Membership fees were due on 1 July, and if you haven t yet paid they are overdue. Non-financial members will not receive newsletters from next month.! Associate and concessional membership $20.00! Ordinary membership $30.00! Family membership $35.00 You can renew your membership by paying our Treasurer, Brian Wasson, at the next club meeting; or post a cheque or money order to PO Box 294, Jannali 2226, or you can use Direct Deposit to: BSB 112879, account no. 065568406, St George Bank. If using Direct Deposit please email Brian Wasson (treasurer@illawarrabonsaisociety.org) and please ensure you include your full name as a reference when paying by direct deposit. EVENTS Club Meetings 19 September 2011 Demonstration 17 October 2011 Workshop Club Events 16 September 2011 18 September 2011 Other Events 5 October 2011 and 6 October 2011 15 October 2011 16 October 2011 12 th Annual Workshop Weekend at the Tops Conference Centre, Stanwell Tops, presented by Illawarra Bonsai Society. The School of Bonsai hosts world renowned bonsai artist, Bill Valavanis, for lectures and demonstrations. Limited availability, contact Clinton Nesci (0409 225 814) for more details. Canberra Bonsai Society, Annual Show 29 October 2011 Urrimbirra Bonsai Society, Annual Show 4 November 2011 6 November 2011 18 November 2011 21 November 2011 26 November 2011 27 November 2011 Newcastle Bonsai Society Bonsai Exhibition, Charlestown Bowling Club. 11 th Asia Pacific Bonsai and Suiseki Convention and Exhibition, Takamatsu, Japan (www.aspac-takamatusu.jp). Campbelltown Bonsai Society, Annual Show PAGE - 3 -
TREE COMPETITION AUGUST 2011 RESULTS Large 1 st 2 nd Medium 1 st Babingtonia pluriflora Lee Wright 2 nd Azalea Deianne Hibberd Pieris japonica Case Snel Shohin 1 st Catlin Elm Lee Wright 2 nd Port Jackson Fig Noel Summerell Mame 1 st Olive Lee Wright 2 nd Novice 1 st Azalea Joan Harvey 2 nd Juniper Paul Shergold Not a good exhibition for August. I think everyone was too focused on the great trees and pots for sale at the marketplace. Ed AABC CONVENTION 2012 The 25th AABC National Bonsai Convention will be held from 18 to 21 May 2012, at Rydges Hotel, Bell City, Melbourne. Bonsai Northwest Inc is the host club and is looking forward to welcoming your members to Be Inspired. We have an exciting international demonstrator Boon Manakitivipart from America. Don DeLuca and Glen Bebb will proudly represent Australia. All the Convention information can be obtained from our web site: www.bonsainorthwest.com.au PAGE - 4 -
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!"#$%"&'($)*+&!,%-.*-/0*1&!"#$%&'()*+,-(.#'+/$01".+-2+$3"+4-&15+ October Long Weekend: Sunday 2 nd & Monday At Merrylands RSL 14 Military Rd, Merrylands, NSW 2160 Admission FREE Open 9.30am.- 4.30 pm. Bonsai Demonstrations by Prominent Bonsai Artists Bring your Bonsai for Advice Local Bonsai Suppliers for all your Bonsai needs Combining 10 Sydney Clubs Presented by... Association of Australian Bonsai Clubs Ltd and Bonsai Federation of Australia Northern Inc Contact John on 02 4739 6483 or Ric on 02 9953 1931 Hosted by Merrylands RSL PAGE - 6 -