by George Buehler

It doesn't seem possible that 2009 is coming to an end. We had some unusual events in 2009, and I guess this year was the "official" start of the economic melt-down the world is currently undergoing. In looking back, I hope many of us can say that we (and our bonsai) came through relatively unscathed. I think I learned several new things this year that I can use in the future. But let's look ahead.

As mentioned before, the 2010 calendar has been set and I hope that you have marked your home calendar with the dates so that we can have a large turnout at each event. Lee and other board members have tried to set up a variety of events - for the beginner and the more advanced members. Lee says that we are going to try to keep the dates as firm as possible.

by John Callaway

On October 31st I completed the Bonsai Intensive program with Boon Manakitivipart. The Bonsai Intensive program is a 3-year course covering a variety of techniques from beginner to advanced. Topics such as proper repotting, wiring, grafting, advanced bending, styling, and formal display are covered in the program.

My final project was a Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis). I began work on this tree back in late May. The students were first tasked with finding a front, and the one shown here is what was finally chosen. The tree was placed on a turntable and the students each got to pick 1 or more possible fronts. From there they were to draw their proposed design solutions. Once everyone was finished, the solutions were discussed within the group and Boon described his vision of the tree. As the students progressed through the Intensive Series, their designs became better and better.

Part of choosing the front of the tree involved creating a number of design options. This meant that the students got a chance to practice their drawing skills.

by Jack Wikle

This article was taken from the March 2005 Ann Arbor Bonsai Society newsletter. - ED.

There is no need to read farther --- unless you are curious --- if you are one of those people whose bonsai consistently look healthy and grow well. On the other hand, reading more could be helpful if your trees fail to thrive in spite of your conscious effort to follow some old but good advice: water thoroughly and leach frequently to keep unwanted salts from accumulating in your bonsai soil. This is especially true if you keep seeing the common symptoms of what horticultural scientists know as low quality water: persistently weak green or yellow-green leaves with darker green veins often accompanied by scorched-looking leaf tips and burned leaf margins (most prominent toward the leaf's tip).

By definition, "pure water" is nothing but water. But, being the "universal solvent," water available to us from lakes, waterways, wells, the local Water Department or even a rain barrel is never pure. Actually, the "load" of dissolved minerals and other substances found in water – even water acceptable for use in human consumption and plant irrigation -- is highly variable.

by Harry Harrington

This article (taken from Bonsai4me web site) gives some good advice on the do's and don'ts of the field growing technique. - Ed.

Common misconceptions among newcomers to the art of bonsai is that trees (bonsai) with large, thick trunks must have had decades of training to become the size they are and that a thin-trunked seedling will one day acquire a thick mature trunk, even though it is planted in a bonsai pot.

Unfortunately, once a tree is growing in the confines of a small pot, with its roots restricted and upper growth regularly pruned, the trunk and branches of the tree will only thicken very slowly.

by H. Johnson

The following article was submitted by Pauline Muth - President of ABS. I know we have several new members who could qualify for this competition. If you would like more information, you can contact me or Harold Johnson (see contact info below) - ED

The New Talent Bonsai Competition that was featured, for the first time, at the 2002 American Bonsai Society Symposium in Milwaukee, has become an annual event. The Joshua Roth Company of Albany, Oregon now sponsors the Competition.

The 2010 Competition will take place at the "Mid Atlantic Bonsai Societies 2010 Spring Festival", which will be held at the Hudson Valley Resort and Spa, Kerhonkson, New York on April 16, 2010. The competition is aimed at discovering and promoting new talent in the art of bonsai and is the first of its kind to be held in North America. The concept of the Competition is very simple. Phase one, judging of previous work, is used to select the contestants for the second phase. In the second phase, each participant will be given eight hours to create the very best bonsai they can produce from specially selected material.

by George Buehler

This bonsai season is just about over. At my house we have had two light frosts, and the landscape trees are turning their fall colors. With the crazy weather we have had this year, I am surprised how beautiful the colors are. My Japanese maple bonsai are brilliant red and the tridents have started turning also. Typically, my tridents get some color, but then quickly turn to the brown leaf stage. So even with the cool summer and the wet weather we have had, Mother Nature has blessed us with a beautiful fall.

The GLBS board met recently and put together a 2010 tentative meeting plan. I have listed the tentative schedule on page two. Lee Squires (GLBS president) said that this year we are going to try to keep the dates as firm as possible, so mark your calendar now. The program may change slightly but the dates should remain fairly fixed. We have a diverse membership – some who have been involved with bonsai for many years, others who are new to bonsai. What we tried to do with our 2010 program was to set up sessions that the newer members would find interesting and on their level, as well as sessions which our more 'seasoned' members would find worthwhile. This doesn't mean that our less experienced members can't benefit from all of the meetings. It just means that for them, it will be a meeting where they need to take notes and try to learn what can be done in bonsai. One such example is the meeting on grafting. The instructor for this meeting, Chris Summers, is very experienced in grafting and will explain all the procedures involved in a simple, straight forward way. With this procedure, you will find that a limb can be placed in a location where it is needed. It takes a little time and some technique, but even the new members will find this technique fascinating.