by George Buehler

Here we are approaching March, and the spring chores begin. I always try to make a list of the things I need to do at this time of year (generally I make this list in December and January). It seems that my list is always bigger than I would like; but as I go over it and try to make out a time line, I wonder why I ever got into bonsai. However as the trees begin to leaf out and bloom, I always know why I stay in this crazy hobby. Who in his right mind would get into a hobby that requires so much routine work? If your hobby is photography, you can take pictures whenever you want. Guess what happens if you watered your bonsai only when you wanted – especially in June or July. As most of you will agree, in what other hobby can you work with Mother Nature (or sometimes against her) to enjoy her beauty? I know I can't think of any other.

Don't forget the Dana workshop. I have taken several workshops from Dana, and I always learn new techniques or get help with a problem that I can't work out myself. Not only that, Dana is easy-going; and, unlike a lot of masters he talks WITH you not to you. I think several of us will be taking our new Seju elms we got from Greg Hollander to have Dana help us style them. Dana has a natural eye for finding the best qualities of a tree and for hiding the faults. I'm sure it will be a fun day!

As the notice at the bottom of page one states, this will be your last newsletter if you haven't paid your dues. Unfortunately, I know we will lose members again this year. It seems to be an annual event. I have looked at the members we have lost in the past, and generally, it was the new members that dropped by the wayside – those that had been members less than two years. I hope that the mentoring program that Midge started (before she did her annual snowbird thing) will help keep these members. Our club survival depends on getting new members and, more importantly, keeping those new members. So if you are a new member and you don't know whether you want to continue with our club, give John or me a call and let us know why you are hesitant. We won't try to twist your arm to stay (at least not too hard) but we would like to know what you didn't get from the club that would make you want to stay.