BSD NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 FEBRUARY 2019 B onsai Society of …

1 BSD NEWSLETTER PAGE 1 FEBRUARY 2019 Bonsai Society of Dallas, Box 836922, Richardson, TX 75083-6922 b onsai Society of Dallas Message from the Vice President Monthly Member NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2019 Advice January Meeting in Review LSBF Convention Update BSD BOARD OF DIRECTORS Sylvia Smith, President Paul Muraida, Vice President, Program Chair Chuck Talley, Treasurer Diane Lowe, Secretary Jerry Riley, Member Relations John Miller, President Emeritus Les Porter, NEWSLETTER Editor Mary Polk, Member at Large Hiram Quinones, Member at Large Board of Directors President, Vacant Emily White, Vice President/Program Chair Ben Karlson, Secretary Bill Muto, Treasurer Chandra Vemulapalli, Membership Chair csvemula@gmail Haiying Huang, NEWSLETTER Editor Todd Hang, Webmaster Luis Alex Lebron, Social Media Chair Brian Myers, Member at Large John Borusheski, Member at Large Howard Smith.

2 LSBF Delegate John Miller, President Emeritus Sylvia Smith, Past President In This Issue Message from the Vice President FEBRUARY program FEBRUARY Bonsai Tips and Advice Beginner Bulletin Board January Program Review Upcoming Events Bonsai on the Bayou Tip of the Month FEBRUARY To Do List Groundhog Day is nearly here! This year it falls on the same day as our monthly meeting. Let us know whether you guess the groundhog will or will not see a shadow? My guess is that a groundhog will emerge from its burrow and will not see a shadow on FEBRUARY 2nd, which indicates that spring will come early.

3 I am not the only one who believes spring is nearly here. Our Japanese Maple and pomegranate trees believe it too, as they are beginning to exhibit swollen buds. It is repotting season! Be sure to have your tools handy when you start repotting: Pots Bosai soil Mesh Wire Bamboo chopsticks Root Cutters Gloves Also, keep some isopropyl alcohol and a clean rag nearby to keep your tools clean and to prevent the spread of plant illness. Remember that now is the time to renew your membership, which allows you to get discounted attendance at the American Bonsai Society 2019 National Convention (which is the same as the LSBF convention) and allows you to attend our upcoming club dig.

4 Come to the club dig whether you are going to help others dig or dig a tree on your own. Benjamin and I have gone for the past two years and it is always exciting to see what our group can find. Don t forget to register for the upcoming ABS National Convention on April 11-14th in Houston. Make it a social occasion - invite a BSD member to travel with you or meet you there. Lastly, I regret to share with you that Benjamin and I will not be able to attend this year s BSD Bonsai Exhibition ( , club show). Despite this fact, I encourage you to help the club by volunteering for one or two slots.

5 Also, start thinking about what tree or trees you might want to submit as candidates for the club show in March and be on the lookout for an email soliciting photos and dimensions of show trees. Happy Repotting! BSD NEWSLETTER PAGE 2 FEBRUARY 2019 Bonsai Society of Dallas, Box 836922, Richardson, TX 75083-6922 FEBRUARY Program Study Group with Bonsai Smiths 9:00 AM to Noon, FEBRUARY 2nd - North Haven Gardens FEBRUARY s Study Group with the Bonsai Smiths will focus on the starting point of making a quality bonsai the ROOTS!

6 The roots of the plant must be cared for with regard to two aspects: (1) pruning the part of the roots buried in the soil, and (2) developing the part of the roots exposed above-ground into fine quality nebari. The first aspect, which is root pruning, is extremely important in the training of the whole bonsai. BSD s goal of the four Study Groups that take place throughout the year is for members to bring the same tree year after year to gain more insight into the methods needed to advance the styling of that tree over time.

7 Ultimately, you could have one or more bonsai trees well on their way to becoming show trees. Don t worry if you don t want to bring the same tree each time, you can bring whatever you need help with. You can bring in pre-bonsai material or a more advanced, established bonsai that is ready for root refinement. In any case, you can practice repotting and root refinement with guidance from Howard and Sylvia Smith, local bonsai artists and winners of numerous bonsai recognition awards. This is not a structured workshop.

8 It s more of a walk around workshop. When you aren t working on your trees take advantage of the opportunity to follow Howard and Sylvia around as they work with other members trees. You can pick up a lot of good information that way. Below is a list of guidelines for the Study Group workshop: 1. Limit one (1) tree per person. You can bring a second tree but there might not be time to discuss it. 2. Bring all of your repotting tools, pots, wire, and soil. None will be provided at the meeting. All soil purchases must be made prior to the meeting so please contact your sources and make arrangements or purchase your soil ahead of time.

9 3. Soil sifting CANNOT be done in the classroom. You may step outside the back door to do so, and you MUST clean up any mess you make. Come watch, look, listen, and get your finger nails dirty. It's going to be a messy fun time! FEBRUARY 5-14, 2019, 92nd Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition, Tokyo, Japan FEBRUARY 9-10, 2019, 20th Trophy, Genk, Belgium FEBRUARY 16 17, 2019, GSBF Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt, Oakland, California FEBRUARY 23 24, 2019, Bonsai-A-Thon XXIII, San Marino, California March 11-12, 2019 Lodder Bonsai Open Days, Harmelen, Netherlands April 11-14, 2019 Bonsai on the Bayou, Houston Texas April 13-14, 2019 Spring Bonsai Show, Salt Lake City, Utah April 26-28, 2019, Arco Bonsai, Arco, Italy May 2-4, 2019.

10 Omiya Bonsai Festival, Kita-ku, Saitama May 17-20, 2019, 32nd AABC National Bonsai Convention, Melbourne EventsElsewhere Saturday, FEBRUARY 2nd 9am to noon Study Group with Bonsai Smiths Saturday, FEBRUARY 2nd 1pm BSD Board meeting FEBRUARY 16th Club Dig at Whitesboro Texas Saturday, March 2nd 9am to noon Club Show Weekend Saturday, April 6th 9am to noon TBD Saturday, May 4th 9am to noon TBD UpcomingEvents2019 BSD Club Dig The club dig is scheduled on FEBRUARY 16th at 8:00 in Whitesboro. This is a great way to add to your collection.