by George Buehler

Next month we will publish the membership roster. We will include your name, city and state and telephone number. If you DO NOT want your name included, please inform me immediately. If I do not hear back from you by September 18, I will take that as your approval for inclusion in this list. Several members have asked for such a list.

In reading a book I picked up at the ABS seminar, I ran across Fibonacci Numbers. Not knowing what it was, I started my research and the result is the article presented on page 3. The first part is more technical than it should be (as you will see when you read it) and I apologize for it. However, I thought it better to try to explain the background. For those new to the GLBS, I don't generally get this technical on non bonsai things.

For the new members - PLEASE - let me know what I can print that would help you and your bonsai. Don't be embarrassed to ask for a topic. There is no guarantee but I will try.

This year has really flown by. It seems that I was just putting out my trees and now I'm thinking of all the things I need to do before I put them away this year. Seems strange to be talking about putting them away but it will come sooner than I want. Of course, they won't be put away until they are hit by several good frosts, at least the deciduous and evergreens.

Watering at this time of year is difficult. We have to watch the temperature, winds and rainfall. Don't forget to use the chopstick or a toothpick to check the moisture in the soil.

The insects will also have to be watched. They not only will be 'chewing' on your trees but laying eggs in the soil. That's why I suggest using a systemic insecticide in the tropicals. It's a good idea to also use them on the deciduous and evergreens also.

While I am watering, I regularly spray the foliage and trunk with a strong stream to knock off some of the insects. I do this throughout the growing season as a prophylactic. One thing I noticed this year is I have a lot of spider webs on some of my trees. I have examined the trees carefully and see no sign of spider mites, or other types of insects. We all know that spider webs are there to collect insect meals for the spiders. Don't know what this means but it is something I put into my bonsai journal for future reference.

Speaking of bonsai journals, I hope you are keeping yours. For the newcomers, I strongly advocate keeping records of your activities with your bonsai. Record everything you do to it - like trimming, wiring, transplanting, etc. I know as I get older, I have more trouble keeping track of what I do to the trees (my wife says it is because I keep getting more trees!). I started a Word document several years ago where I record the information. I refer back to it on a routine basis. I looked at this journal recently and find that I have trimmed new growth on a mame Trident maple forest seven times so far this summer. What does this mean? I then looked back at the fertilization schedule I was using on it this year (I also keep an excel spreadsheet with the fertilizers I use on each plant) and conclude that I probably have been over fertilizing this tree or at least putting too much nitrogen on it since this tree has been receiving a higher dose of nitrogen than the other Tridents. [Of course I am not fertilizing during August and will change to a very low nitrogen variety for the rest of this growing season.] Even if you only keep hand written notes, you will find them very useful.