by Earl Ekman

This past year was a great year for our bonsai club. All the varied activities made it enjoyable and interesting. As good as it was I think this next year will be even better. There are three workshops and demonstrations planned, with a canoe rock collecting trip, three shows tentatively planned, and a great garden tour. It appears there will be a group going to Brussel's Rendezvous, with everyone welcome to go with us.

The February meeting will be a video presentation at Bon Air Library. This will start at 7 PM on Tuesday the 14th.

The following month, Sat. March 11th, Tom McCurry will be doing a demo and workshop using small (12 inch) Saunders Boxwood. The trees have been purchased, and there are plenty of them. The workshop will be very reasonable at $15.00 per tree. You have to supply your own pot, soil, and wire. This will be lots of fun for all of us who want small trees. Add variety to your collections.

On April 16th at Bon Air Library, we will have an all day workshop with master Rodney Clemmons. He will be doing plantings on rock. The club will provide the rocks, muck, soil, wire, and moss. All you will need to supply are the trees. The club has arranged to supply Shimpaku junipers, Seju elms, Japanese maples and trident maples through Hollander's tiny trees (prices on page 8). Please call me with the trees you would like and the number. The workshop will have a limited number of participants, and the cost will be $50.00. Please let me know so I can plan ahead.

Saturday, Jan 28, we are going rock collecting on Zack and Carole Logan's farm in Henry County. Their property borders on Fox Creek and Little Kentucky River. If you want to have some fun and select your own rock for Rodney Clemmons' workshop, meet us at 10 AM at the Pilot truck stop, Exit 28 (Sligo-New Castle) on I-71. There are two Pilot truck stops at this location. We will meet at the one on the Northeast corner.

For some time we have talked about a new club logo. What we would like to do is get everyone to submit some suggested logo designs. We want to start ASAP. Send suggested ideas to me and I will collect all ideas and run suggestions in the newsletter with members voting on the one they like most. Based on these results, we will choose our new logo for newsletter, pins, shirts, caps, etc. Your participation is greatly needed for this to be a success.

If there is any interest in polo shirts with the present club logo, please call me with your size, color and number of shirts. They are $15.00 and colors are green, red, and black.

Since this is our 35th year as a bonsai club, I would like to do a few special things. If you have an idea or two, give me a call so we can get things rolling. Thirty five years is a great accomplishment and something to be proud of. Let's celebrate!

Dues for 2006 are $35.00 and now due. To keep getting this excellent newsletter and be a part of this exciting year, please send your dues to Tommy McCurry.

Best regards and Happy New Year, Earl