by George Buehler

As I write this, what I think is the best time of year for bonsai has just passed. My azaleas have just finished blooming and this was one of the best in a number of years. With the cool and damp weather we had, the blooms lasted a lot longer than in past years. There is nothing, in my opinion, better than seeing a tree completely covered with blooms. So many in fact that on some, the green leaves were not visible. The only down side is that I have spent a lot of time removing the spent blooms – but overall, it is worth it.

This month we have a couple of interesting articles. The first presented on page XX by Mike Hansen reports on his efforts to reduce the pH of the water he uses for his bonsai. I talked to Mike a couple years ago about this problem and he stated he spent a considerable amount of time, money and efforts reducing the pH [for those who don’t know, pH is a measure of acidity or alkalinity – the lower the number the more acidic, the higher the more basic. Most plants prefer a pH of between approximately 6 and 7.5]. He finalized on using sulfuric acid to reduce his water, but this procedure is not suitable for the normal bonsai artist, due to the potential hazardous nature of the acid. As one of our more skilled bonsai artist, Dave Bogan, states bonsai have to ‘live with’ the quality of water he has. He can modify the soil to give a more acidic nature but if the tree can’t live with the quality of water he has, he just doesn’t try to grow that species.

I found that out the hard way several years ago. I tried, unsuccessfully, to grow a Stewartia using regular Louisville water. The Stewartia doesn’t like alkaline water and Louisville water is very basic (8.3 pH), therefore over several years of trying to grow it, the tree kept declining and finally succumbed.  A lesson learned by the writer. Evergreens, like junipers and pines, don’t seem to be as sensitive to the alkalinity of our water as the Stewartia, although they probably would do better with a more acidic water.

A second article presented on page YY is a report by one of our plant specialists, Ross Clark, on the Sabi Bonsai Kai show. This was a display of about 110 bonsai from the mid-south region. It was set up by Warren Hill to exhibit distinguished trees from Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia. According to Ross, it was a non commercial venture with no vendors – only quality bonsai. Of course, since this was the first try at such a venture, there were a couple of problems but overall it was a great start. Happily, it seems that there will be several “local” exhibits of bonsai in our region.

On page ZZ, is presented information about the Southeastern Regional Bonsai show conducted by the Nashville Bonsai Society. I have attended this show for several years and the venue, Cheekwood Gardens, is one of the best around. Each year the show gets better, in part by the efforts of Barbara Bogan – Nashville’s president. I would highly recommend attending the show. If you would like to exhibit a tree, contact Barbara. Even if you don’t want to exhibit a tree, take the short drive to Nashville to attend the show. The people from the Nashville club are extremely hospitable and make all visitors welcome.