Mississippi Gulf Coast Bonsai Society

Mississippi Gulf Coast Bonsai Society Mississippi Gulf Coast Bonsai Society Photo by Patrick LaNasa June 2012 www.msgulfcoastbonsai.org Volume 11 Issue 4 Club Officers Acting President: Buck Lawrence (228) 424-5748 mlawren@cableone.net Program Dir. / Contact: Buck Lawrence (228) 424-5748 mlawren@cableone.net Treasurer: Lou Leger (985) 892-6029 laleger@charter.net Librarian: Rick Berrigan (601) 463-0179 berriganr@yahoo.com Webmaster / Newsletter Editor: Lauralee Reugger (985) 892-6029 dalady@charter.net Coming Events June 13 th, 2012 MSGCBS meeting, St. Jos. Catholic Church, 12290 Depew Road in Gulfport, MS at 6:30pm Aug 18 th, 2012 GNOBS Annual Auction, Marine Corp League Hall, 2708 Delaware St., Kenner, LA. Oct 6 th, 2012 - LCBS will host LABS 2012 at Central School, 804 Kirby Street, Lake Charles, LA 70601. Oct 10 th 14 th, 2012 Carolina Bonsai Expo at The North Carolina Arboretum, 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way,Asheville, North Carolina Oct 20 th, 2012 Patrick LaNasa will be conducting a workshop at the Crosby Arboretum, 370 Ridge Road Picayune, MS 39466 Nov 3 rd 4 th, 2012 La. Bonsai Society Annual Fall Exhibit, Baton Rouge Garden Center, Independence Park 7950 Independence Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 1

June Meeting Members, Patrick, Rick and Buck will each give their perspectives on their participation in the Brussell s Rendezvous this past Memorial Day weekend. It should be very interesting, especially for our newer members. Byron, who was also there will be unable to attend as he will be in California at one of Boon Manakitiviparts three-day bonsai intensives programs. Thanks, Buck new rules requiring anyone using the mall to have liability insurance. The fee for such insurance being prohibitive for a small club like ours, Buck started looking into other venues. He went to the Mary O"keefe Cultural Center in Ocean Springs, the Civic Center in Biloxi, and the new Biloxi Public Library. The first two locations want to charge a fee for usage of their facility, the library does not. The Wiring & Styling program, which was on the agenda for June, will take place at another meeting. May Meeting As usual, when elections are due attendance is blue. Besides elections being held, the most notable thing about the May meeting was how few members were present to participate in the most basic of elements necessary to keep an organization running. Despite this apparent lack of interest, elections were held. Buck Lawrence, who was unable to attend is our new President and Program Director (elected in absentia but with his consent), Lou & Lauralee will remain as co-treasurer and Rick as Librarian. Lauralee will keep the position of Newsletter Editor with members contributing articles throughout the year. Patrick also brought up the subject of a club charter. Although we just recently celebrated our 10 th year in existence as an organization, for one reason or another, we have never gotten around to creating a club charter. It was therefore proposed that we set up a committee of 3 to come up with a charter to define our organization s purpose and goals, establish it as an exempt / non-profit society, state what positions will comprise the board (President, Secretary, etc), their term limits and duties, how membership be determined (by application) and what if any requirements are applicable (without legal bias). Since Buck was unable to attend the May meeting, we will attempt to get a committee together at this upcoming meeting. MSGCBS Annual Show As you are all aware, our annual show normally held at the Edgewater Mall in April, was postponed this year due to 2 Buck asked Patrick to check-out the library while he was out of town, and Patrick asked Lou & I to go with him. The three of us went to the new Biloxi Library May 16 th and met with the Head Librarian, Charline Longino. After being showed which room would be available to us, we took some measurements, and then had a sit-down with Charline and she informed us of what all would be available to us (tables, display cases, easels, etc.) The room, which is kept locked at night, is large enough to have 13, 6 display tables as well as a couple of work tables with ample space to move around. In the lobby near the entrance there are 4 4 wide display cases with adjustable shelves that could be used to display tools, Suiseki, pots, etc. The lobby also has room to set up easels with posters of bonsai etc. The overall impression was that this would be a wonderful venue for our Show. Charline Longino seemed to be as genuinely happy to have us use their facility as we are at the possibility of using it. Of course this will have to be discussed and voted on, but the three of us were elated that the Library is available to us and are convinced that it is our best option since we first started having shows. Brussel s Rendezvous I was fortunate enough this year to go to the Brussel s Rendezvous 2012. Patrick LaNasa and I teamed up together for the trip, and the six hour drive there and back gave me the occasion to pick his brain and take advantage of his considerable bonsai knowledge. The rendevous was a terrific bonsai opportunity. Sign in was easy, everything was accurate, including my workshop

schedule. Brussel s entire staff was on the ball and did a great job. There were lecture/demonstrations each night during which the guest bonsai artists did an exceptional job of transforming some extraordinary pre-bonsai nursery stock into some truly unique and fine early bonsai. The format chosen for the lect/demo was for three artists to appear on the stage demonstrating simultaneously, alternating time on the microphone. The artists chosen for the first night, Friday, were, from Belgium, Marc Noelanders; from Pennsylvania, Jim Doyle; and from Florida, Eric Wigert. Earlier in the day, while walking through the thousands of bonsai and pre-bonsai in the greenhouses, I noticed, among many others, a young fella and a young lady picking and sorting through the many shelves of trees available. The reason I noticed them initially was that the young man was loaded with colorful tattoos on his arms and legs, sported somewhat large earrings in both ears, and as he led this pretty young lady around the shelves, he had a definite air of knowing where he was going and what he was doing. So, naturally I assumed he worked there. Imagine my surprise when, at the beginning of the lect/demo, they introduced Eric Wigert and this same young man with all the tats and earrings walked onto the stage and started speaking. The subject of his demo was a twin trunked bald cypress. As he spoke I was instantly both surprised and ashamed of my surprise. His command and knowledge of the subject and his ability to speak, almost eloquently, about the process of transforming it into a bonsai while wiring, pruning, and cutting away at several jin and shari totally impressed the entire audience. I sure was glad to be there. Also on stage was Marc Noelanders. His subject for the demo was a blue alps needle juniper. I had seen him do another blue alps juniper at a previous rendezvous so my expectations were high. I was not disappointed. In fact, I was amazed. Not that he needs my endorsement, but he is truly an amazingly talented artist. It is no wonder he is 3 so well known and popular worldwide. His demo tree was probably the most popular of the weekend. Jim Doyle, the third artist on stage, dramatically transformed a ponderosa pine. He turned a scraggly, thicktrunked pine bush into a stately elegant ancient pine bonsai. Again, his knowledge of the subject and the quality of his presentation was appreciated by all. Saturday was a day of workshops and shopping for trees. Patrick and I had both signed up for a satsuki azalea workshop with Kathy Shaner. When we first arrived, we were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the workshop material supplied for the workshop. Then we found out that the trees were a little thinner in caliper than those advertised and apparently, someone had brought that to Brussel Martin's attention. He promptly found some azaleas that were a little thicker and offered us the choice of the thicker tree or the original tree with a substantial reduction on the price of the workshop. What a tribute to his character and integrity. I had observed one of Kathy Shaner's workshops before and was really impressed with her patience and kindness in helping participants achieve the best results with their trees and I was looking forward to working with her. Once again I was not disappointed. She is a brilliant and passionate artist and a truly kind and generous woman. As she patiently guided us through the trimming and wiring of our trees, her genuine concern for the care of the tree and the satisfaction of the participant in the result of his work caused each of us to wish the workshop could go on all day. Alas, it did not, but I believe everyone in that workshop enjoyed it and was well satisfied with their trees. As for me, I will attend any Kathy Shaner workshop or demonstration I have the opportunity to. The rest of the day was spent observing other workshops and talking to old and new acquaintences. I forgot to mention that every day of the rendevous, participants were treated to a donut and snack breakfast and catered lunch and supper, all you could eat. Also all

during the days and nights there was an unlimited supply of cold water, cold soft drinks, and cold beer. If you didn't get enough to eat and drink, it was your own fault. The lect/demo Saturday consisted of America's Kathy Shaner, Japans Keiichi Fujikawa, and Tennessee's Bjorn Bjorholm. Bjorn Bjorholm started the night out first. His knowledge of his tree was considerable, but even more impressive were his grasp and ability to explain and demonstrate the complicated advanced techniques of creating and refining bonsai. During his lecture, he explained that he had been an apprentice to Keiichi Fujikawa. He went on to explain that Mr. Fujikawa initially did not want Bjorn to apprentice for him because "his Japanese sucked and since he was an American, his work ethic must suck also". Bjorn persisted however, and Mr. Fujikawa finally relented. (Mr. Fujikawa said later on during the evening that Bjorn was one of his best apprentices). Although Mr. Fujikawa is obviously very knowledgeable about bonsai and a Japanese master, I believe Bjorn's success as an artist had much more to do with his ability to learn and his excellent, yet suspect, work ethic than it did with Mr. Fijikawa's ability to teach. Just my opinion. The third lecture/demo of the night was given by the jewel of the rendevous, Miss Kathy Shaner. In fact, I believe Miss Kathy is the bonsai jewel of America. The subject of her demo was also a blue alps juniper. Her choice of material was not based only on the potential beauty of the tree, but also on the visible evidence of this particular tree's ability to survive and recover from the ravages inflicted upon it by the awesome forces of nature. The assorted jin and scars, old and new, were witness to just that. With her unique ability to see the soul and the story of the tree, and her wiring and pruning excellence, she was able to bring out the inherent beauty and character of this rugged old rascal. She also spoke while she worked, and as she spoke, she inspired each of us, with examples of trees she has seen growing in national parks and forests, to discover that soul and character in the trees we work on, and to represent that in our Bonsai. What great advice!!! All the demo trees were raffled off to the participants along with several pots, trees, and bonsai supplies donated by Brussel's. Brussel's also offered 20% off on all bonsai and supplies purchased at the rendezvous. Patrick and I both sure took advantage of that opportunity. In fact, Mr. Keiichi Fujikawa himself was also on stage and delivered his demo on a huge trident maple. Unfortunately he couldn't speak any English so he heard and spoke through an interpreter. Apparently bonsai terms don't translate easily between Japanese and English because both he and his young interpreter had a difficult time understanding and answering questions from the audience. With the assistance of three participants from the audience, he cut all the exterior older leaves off the tree and scrubbed the trunk to expose it's true color. Then he wired and shaped the tree into a pleasing bonsai, ready to be refined. While they worked, he dispensed many valuable bonsai tips, including some that apparently "American masters don't teach because American masters don't know them ". Git atta here!!!! 4 Sunday morning, Patrick took a bald cypress workshop with Eric Wigert. He wound up with a nice 3-4" caliper tree with several potential branches and substantial jin and shari carved out by Eric. Really nice tree. That about wrapped up the weekend. It was a great event, well attended, and much enjoyed by all participants. Many of the folks I saw and met were people I had seen there before. It's easy to see why they go back year after year. Well done Brussel's!! Rick Berrigan Azaleas and Kathy Shaner On a recent trip to Brussell s Rendezvous I enjoyed the opportunity to participate in a Kathy Shaner workshop. As

with the previous three bonsai Memorial Day weekends in Olive Branch, MS, my balancing tree quests, choosing preferred instructors, mindful of the almighty dollar and time allotted is nearly an art form in itself. It s seldom a perfect weekend but this year it came awful close. Luck of the draw and my long arm captured a prize azalea with the 1. Bud Thinning- Do not thin buds too early (fall, winter) because azaleas will develop a second set of buds. This drains energy and after two years of this practice, the plant could die. Also remove not only spent flowers from the azalea but also the stamens. (my comment- after the tree has developed half of the label Kozan-no-Hana. After three hours of supervised flower production remove all flowers). styling and yet a couple of years it has the potential of being a first class shohin Satsuki. 2. K. Shaner suggests tree allowed to produce flowers only once in every three years. Afterwards Kathy Shaner shared some azalea techniques with the group. Wrote some notes on her advice. Not verbatim but hopefully the paraphrasing isn t too far off. 3. K.S. - Azalea will keep the branch (es) alive during winter if flower buds remain. Repotting 1. When cutting wedges (into rootball) cut thin wedges Fertilizers- and avoid cutting thicker roots. 1. Recommend organic fertilizers as inorganic 2. When repotting avoid two different soil types. (commercial chemicals) tend to stiffen and hardened stems of azaleas (a handicap to wiring, bending branches of a species that is already stiff and brittle). When applying organic fertilizer alternate selected types (fish emulsion, kelp, bone meal, etc.) 2. Suggest reducing or avoiding altogether the use of fertilizers during the hottest months (average of 90-95 degrees or more). Resume fertilizing in the fall, up to mid-november in the deep South. 3. When selecting a complete organic fertilizer choose one with a maximum of 7 proportion nitrogen. Example 7-4-5. Watering Notes - 1. Watering practices should encourage the soil medium to stabilize as barely moist, not wet. 2. Suggest using Kanuma (Japanese native soil amendment) as part of the inorganic portion of soil mix. 3. If Soil remains wet, tip pot end and brace, alternate end tipping. 4. If soil PH is too alkaline add vinegar to watering container. Check internet for proportions. Pesticide Use 1. Store pesticides in a location that doesn t overheatgarage, etc. 2. Suggest using Hydrogen Peroxide (1tbs./per g. water) as a drench for disease control. Pruning Techniques Notes: 1. Azalea types that have shiny leaves should be placed in shade, those with dull leaves should receive more sun. 2. In areas of hot, humid summers place trees on the ground or under a bench (micro-climate). Crosby Arboretum Patrick La Nasa Patrick announced that he will be conducting a workshop at the Crosby Arboretum on October 20 th from 10:00-2:30. It will be limited to 12 persons 16 years of age or older. The fee will be $30 for Crosby members and $35 for nonmembers and will include plant material and wire. The plants are as yet undecided, but will be either satsuki azaleas or junipers. Attendees will need to supply their own tools (a list of suggested tools will be provided for beginners). The program will start with a slide show and will progress to a hands on workshop creating and styling a bonsai. 5 Logo by Mitch