by George Buehler

The year is almost over. I don't know where the time went. There were many things I wanted to do this year but just didn't get them done for several reasons. Perhaps next year I can try again. I'm sure a number of you are in the same situation. The weather has slowed down my putting away my bonsai for their winter nap. As I write this, quite a few still have green leaves with no sign of changing. I guess the temperature will plummet quickly soon. All my evergreens are still on their stands with several putting on new growth. This worries me since this new tender growth can be nipped with the cold winter weather. There doesn't seem to be anything I can do but wait.

• Get pots ready for use next spring.
• Decide which trees need repotting and which pot they will go in, as well as decide on major style changes.
• Get my soil ready for next spring – purchase, sift, etc.
• Check my supply of wire, fertilizer and insecticide to make sure I have enough for next year. (Sometimes, you can get good deals on both fertilizer and insecticide/fungicides at this time of year since some merchants don't want to carry them over until next spring. If the price hasn't been reduced, ask the merchant if he can give you a discount.)
• Read several bonsai books that I purchased this year but haven't gotten to yet.
• Enter my hand written notes into my bonsai journal – remember I wrote about keeping notes on my trees in one of my editorials?
• Work on a number of articles for this newsletter – anybody out there want to submit articles (hint, hint)?
• Make up my bonsai Christmas list.

2006 will offer members a variety of workshops, field trips and events. I hope that more of you will find the time to attend our meetings. Mark your calendars or enter the tentative dates in your hand-held.

I hope to see each of you at the Christmas party on December 3. Last year the food quality and variety was great. We had a great time and camaraderie. If you can't make the party, I want to extend all the best for the holiday season and new year.