March Meeting Canceled · 2020. 3. 13. · March 2020 Conejo Valley Bonsai Society 3 Refreshments Take a Break CVBS Membership Interested in CVBS? C VBS is open to anyone interested

March 2020 Conejo Valley Bonsai Society

In This Issue

• President’s Message: March Meeting Canceled … 1

• CVBS Membership: 2020 Dues Almost Past Due! … 1

• CVBS Programs: The 2020 Schedule … 2

• Barrett’s Bonsai Tips: Potting Tips for Spring … 3

• Refreshments … 3

• CVBS Membership … 3

• CVBS Member Travelogue: Winter Silhouettes at the Arboretum … 4 – 7

• February Niche: Urban Yamadori: A Trash-Can Boxwood … 8

• CVBS Niche Displays … 9

• Library/Book of the Month: Bonsai Today Masters’ Series: Pines, compiled and edited by Wayne Schoech, Michael Persiano & The Staff of Bonsai Today. … 9

• Coming Events … 10

Volume 17 Number 3 March 2020 A member of the Golden State Bonsai Federation

Conejo Valley Bonsai Society Meetings

Westlake Village City Hall Community Room 31200 Oakcrest Drive Westlake Village, CA 91361 3rd Thursday of the Month 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM Visit Our Website www.cvbs-bonsai.org Follow Us on Facebook www.facebook.com/conejovalleybonsaisociety

President’s Message

March Meeting Canceled By Marj Branson

© 2020 Conejo Valley Bonsai Society

T he Conejo Valley Bonsai Society’s monthly meeting—originally sched-

uled for March 19—has been canceled. Due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, Westlake Village has closed its community room, where we normally meet so we must skip this month.

Sadly, canceling the March meeting means once again postponing a demon-stration by Jim Barrett, who planned to show us how to build a foemina juniper forest. Watch this space and the program list on page 2 of each newsletter for up-dates on when Jim will be with us.

That said, March 19 is still the first day of spring. If you haven’t already, get back to your trees. By now you should be well underway with your repotting program. (See Bonsai Tips, page 3.)

Also, it’s time to pay your CVBS dues for 2020. As a special reward for paying up in a timely manner this year, each member in good standing will re-ceive a new CVBS name badge.

This badge will be magnetic and will include our club logo designed by Ann Lofquist. If you have paid your dues for 2020, you don’t need to do anything: your badge automatically will be made.

Please join me in thanking Nancy Smeets, who organized the new badges. Note that we will use your name as it appears in our club registry (which is to say, as you provided it on your original membership application). If you have a short or a nick name you prefer we use on the badge, be sure to advise Nancy either at the next meeting, via email, or

telephone. Please re-

member that those 2020 dues will be overdue the end of this month—nonpayment may result in losing your newsletter sub-scription!

If you’re planning to take in some of the many spring bonsai club shows com-ing up—be sure to check their status before going. One, the California Bonsai Society March 21 – 22 show at the Hun-tington Library, Art Museum, and Bo-tanical Gardens, already has been can-celed (see page 10). Any that are open can be a great source of inspiration and some clubs include member sales so you can pick up good bonsai material. Just exercise prudent precautions against accidental infection by the coronavirus.

Looking back, the Bonsai-A-Thon on the weekend of February 22 – 23 at the Huntington was a great success. I would like to thank everyone for helping and contributing to its success.

The Huntington’s beginners’ class for children and adults on Saturday morning was filled. The finished trees created by the students were very good this year, and there were many happy faces.

Hope to see you in April.

Marj Branson

CVBS Membership

2020 Dues Almost Past Due! I t’s almost past time to renew your Conejo Valley Bonsai Society membership. It’s

still a bargain at $25 for one person, $30 for two or more. That gets you a rich program of bonsai demonstrations, workshops, and activities as well as this award-winning newsletter and a custom-made name badge (see above).

Simply bring a check made payable to the Conejo Valley Bonsai Society to our next monthly meeting. Or you may also mail a check to: CVBS Membership, c/o Marj Branson, 1169 Triunfo Canyon Road, Westlake Village, CA 91361.

—Nancy Smeets

2 Conejo Valley Bonsai Society March 2020

Contact Us (Click on Email Address)

Officers President Marj Branson Phone (805) 373-1330 [email protected] Vice President Mike Blumenberg Phone (916) 390-1310 [email protected] Treasurer Ken Fuentes Phone (805) 495-7480 [email protected] Secretary Ken Martin Phone (805) 445-9221 [email protected]

Committees Advisor Ken Fuentes Phone (805) 495-7480 [email protected] Membership Chair Nancy Smeets Phone (213) 810-4280 [email protected] Newsletter Editor David E. Whiteside Phone (805) 509-1830 [email protected] Program Chair Nancy Smeets Phone (213) 810-4280 [email protected] Publicity Co-Chairs Guy & Deborah Ervin Phone (805) 495-8688 [email protected] Refreshments Chair Mike Blumenberg Phone (916) 390-1310 [email protected] Librarian Mike Blumenberg Phone (916) 390-1310 [email protected] Field Trips & Activities Position Open Phone [email protected] Webmaster Tom McGuire [email protected]

CVBS Programs 2020

If you are interested in the CVBS Mentoring Program, please see Marj Branson for more information & applications to participate.

January 16 7:30 PM: Brief Meeting followed by Workshop—Bring Your Trees

Note: Special Date February 27

7:30 PM: Brief Meeting followed by Workshop—Bring Your Trees

March 19 7:30 PM: Brief Meeting followed by Demonstration: Jim Barrett / Group Planting

April 16 7:30 PM: Brief Meeting followed by Workshop—Bring Your Trees

May 21 7:30 PM: Brief Meeting followed by Demonstration: Roy Nagatoshi / TBA

June 18 7:30 PM: Brief Meeting followed by Workshop—Bring Your Trees

July 16 7:30 PM: Brief Meeting followed by Demonstration: Gary Nanson / TBA

August 20 7:30 PM: Brief Meeting followed by Workshop and Swap Meet— Bring Your Trees and Other Items

September 17 7:30 PM: Brief Meeting followed by Peer Critiques—Bring Your Exhibition Trees

October 3 – 4 17th Annual CVBS Exhibition Gardens of the World

October 15 7:30PM: Brief Meeting followed by Workshop—Bring Your Trees

November 19 7:30 PM: Brief Meeting with Club Elections followed by Demonstration: TBA

December 17 7:30 PM Holiday Potluck, Raffle & Auction

CANCELED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

mailto:[email protected]

March 2020 Conejo Valley Bonsai Society 3

Refreshments

Take a Break

CVBS Membership

Interested in CVBS?

C VBS is open to anyone interested in the horticultural art of bonsai. If you are not a member, consider joining now. We meet on the third Thursday of every month (except for this month of March, which has been canceled—see page 1) at the

Westlake Village City Hall (31200 Oakcrest Drive, Westlake Village, CA 91361). Meetings start at 7:30 PM, and include occa-sional demonstrations by bonsai experts, workshops, critiques, and member swap meets.

It’s inexpensive and easy to join. Annual dues are $25 for one, or $30 for couples. Simply bring cash or a check (made paya-ble to the Conejo Valley Bonsai Society) to our next monthly meeting. You may also mail a check to: CVBS Membership, c/o Marj Branson, 1169 Triunfo Canyon Road, Westlake Village, CA 91361.

—Nancy Smeets

I f you plan to transplant wisteria after blooms are gone, don’t fertilize for at

least one month after repotting. If you have wisteria and do not plan to repot, fertilize right after the blooms are gone. It is said that wisteria require three to four times as much fertilizer as most bonsai. Just make sure the fertilizer you use is slow release.

Fertilize quince, ume, crabapple, and pomegranate this month. Do not fertilize satsuki azaleas until blooms are gone.

If you plan to repot azaleas, you can still trim fairly severely. Azaleas that have not been repotted for two or more years may be repotted this month, espe-cially if the plant is to be heavily pruned. Wash all of the exhausted soil from the roots, making sure that you clean out all of the old soil directly under the base of the tree. Be careful of the fine feeder roots and do not let them dry out.

Several soil mixes are now being used. All provide excellent drainage with the ingredients tending to provide an acid reaction on the pH scale (pH 5 to 6 is recommended by Mr. Richard Ota).

Repotting or potting for the first time:

•Black pine from nursery container to pot or pot-to-pot

•Trident maple from nursery container to pot or pot-to-pot

•Zelkova from nursery container to pot or pot-to-pot

•Beech, hornbeam, juniper, and Atlas cedar may all be potted or repotted now Most deciduous trees should be in

full leaf by now, so wait until the new growth has hardened if you plan to repot maple, elm, hornbeam, and zelkova.

Fertilizers such as cottonseed with

bone meal and blood meal may be used. Use four parts cottonseed and one part bone meal to make a good, safe fertilizer for the promotion of blooms and good color. Stop feeding one month before blooms appear.

If your elms, Japanese maples, pom-egranates, etc., are leafing out, wait until

this new growth hardens before repotting Look out for wooly aphids on apple, quince, and other plants attractive to aphids. Malathion with a little horticultural oil mixed in should do the trick. The oil allows the Malathion to stick and penetrate the white fuzz covering the critter. Spray again in about ten days. This treatment will also

take care of regular aphids and spider mites.

Start fine-tuning show trees [for Descanso Bonsai Society’s June exhibi-tion—some CVBS members also belong to Descanso]. Trees to be shown should not have large-gauge wire on trunks or visible on large branches. It is, however, permissible to have wire on medium to small branches providing it is neatly ap-plied. Annealed copper or anodized alu-minum are preferred wire choices.

If you wish to darken bright copper wire, soak it overnight in Purex or dilut-ed muratic acid (swimming pool acid). Wash it with clear water before using.

Start getting rid of moss growing on trunks and base roots. Be careful not to damage rough bark trees such as black pine and cork bark elm.

Are you planning to change pots before the show? Do it now so the tree will look settled in its show container. This is a common practice in Japan. The show pot is then stored away after the show and the tree is returned to its every-day pot.

Barrett’s Bonsai Tips

Potting Tips for Spring By Jim Barrett

Jim Barrett

2020 Refreshments

Cold

Drinks

Eats /

Sweets

Mar.

Apr. John

Kitchens Marj

Branson

May Mike

Blumenberg Mary Welz

June Nancy

Smeets Dave

Williams

M arch is a bit of a bummer because our meeting has been canceled due

to coronavirus precautions (see page 1). Maybe that’s appropriate since the month was named for Mars, the Roman god of war, which is fitting because in ancient times March often started the season for warfare after a peaceful winter. The ver-nal equinox on March 19th marks the end of Winter and the beginning of Spring.

March’s official birth flower is the daffodil, whose emergence is a widely recognized mark of Spring. March also brings Daylight Savings Time, which requires us to move our clocks ahead an hour and causes us to stumble to work half-asleep the following Monday, but then provides another hour of daylight for us to enjoy our bonsai after work.

March includes many special days and holidays, including Johnny Apple-seed Day (11th), Saint Patrick’s Day (17th), and Make Up Your Own Holiday Day (26th). Too bad it won’t include a CVBS meeting this year.

If you can help with refreshments at one of our future monthly meetings, please contact me during a club meeting, by email, or just call.

—Mike Blumenberg

CANCELED


CVBS Member Travelogue:

Winter Silhouettes at the Arboretum By David Whiteside

O n Saturday, January 18, 2020, two Ventura-county bonsai enthusiasts and I visited the Los Angeles Coun-

ty Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Arcadia, CA. The reason for our long trip was to visit the Baiko-En Bonsai Kenkyukai Society’s annual Winter Silhouettes exhibition in the Arboretum. The show ran that Saturday and the next day, Sunday, January 19.

About two dozen deciduous bonsai were on display. Although some bore fruit, virtually all were naked of foli-age, making their trunk and branch structures fully visible.

As is its custom, Baiko-En Bonsai Kenkyukai invited members of bonsai clubs in the greater Los Angeles area to participate. The Conejo Valley Bonsai Society was repre-sented by two members: Programs and Membership Chair Nancy Smeets and honorary member Bob Pressler. Nancy showed a zelkova while Bob presented a cedar elm. Bob’s tree was in a full tokonoma display.

The silhouettes of all the trees were interesting, alt-hough some impressed us more than others. Nonetheless, there were enough high-quality trees to make the drive worthwhile.

I photographed many of the trees with my trusty iPh-one, which is my excuse for the quality of the photos on this and the following three pages. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did the 2020 winter silhouettes show.

Photos by David Whiteside

Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum) by Shig Miya (above).

The winter-weather box used by the Pacific Bonsai Muse-um to protect its trees during the cold months (above). The tree on display is a Formosan juniper that has been trained as a bonsai since 1962.

Oriental liquidambar (Liquidambar orientalis), also known as sweetgum, by Lindsay Shiba (left).

(Continued on page 5)

Zelkova (Zelkova serrata) by Conejo Valley Bonsai Society member Nancy Smeets (below).


Princess persimmon (Diospyros rhombifolia) by Takashi Shimazu (left).

Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia

indica) by Al Nelson (right).


Winged elm (Ulmus alata) by Michael Roberts (right).

Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia) by Larry Ragle (below)

Winter Silhouettes (continued from page 4)



Cedar elm (Ulmus crassifolia) by Conejo Valley Bonsai Society honorary member

Robert Pressler (below right).

Cork elm (Ulmus thomasii) by Kathy Benson (below left).


Chinese hackberry (Celtis sinensis) by Ellen Keneshea (right).

Suiseki (viewing stone) as an accent, by Nina Ragle (below).


Contorted quince (Chaenomeles speciosa 'Contorta') by Tom Lau (right).

Japanese privet (Ligustrum japonicum) by Ted Matson (below).

Korean hornbeam (Carpinus coreana) by Ed Clark (right) and a detail of its uro,

or hollowed trunk (below).



February Niche

Urban Yamadori: A Trash-Can Boxwood Editor’s Note: Rick Naber provided the February 2020 niche display, a magnificent urban yamadori boxwood that he collected from a construction site. Here’s what Rick said about his display.

Photo

s b

y K

en M

art

in

A pproximately eight years ago, I was driving to a meeting in Huntington Beach when I noticed a bunch of boxwoods that had been dug up with a backhoe where an apartment complex was being torn down. I tried to find someone who would release the

boxwoods to me without success. Two weeks later I was driving

to the same meeting and noticed the boxwoods were now next to a dumpster. I brought them home. With Roy Nagatoshi’s help and using a SuperthriveTM and water solution, several of these trees sur-vived.

The backhoe excavation had killed a good portion of one side of this tree. I used a die grinder, drills, DremelsTM, etc. to carve the dead-wood. I did not put any lime sulfur on it.

I purchased this very old Japa-nese pot from Nathan Simmons at a Bonsai-A-Thon several years ago. I am very happy with this tree in this pot. The accent plant (below) is a succulent from my yard.

—Rick Naber


CVBS Niche Displays

Our Niche Display Program

I n the Niche Program, club members set up a mini exhibition display. Such a display con-sists of:

• The tree in a nice bonsai pot

• An accent plant

• A stand All these items are important to create the balance for a good display. We aspire to pre-

sent the best display possible for everyone’s pleasure and edification, so the niche is often assembled by one of the more experienced members. However, it is also our desire to give less experienced bonsai hobbyists an opportunity to learn by doing. So if any less experi-enced member feels their trees are not ready for a finished display, it is worthwhile to create a display that is a work-in-progress. It will be up to the club member to determine which category their display falls into, and then the work-in-progress display can become the talk-ing point of work done, work intended, and suggestions from the floor.

We encourage all members to sign up for the niche display! Please have a look at your 2020 calendar and let us know when you would like to present your display.

—Marj Branson

2020 Niche Displays

March CANCELED

April Marj

Branson

May Nancy

Smeets

June Dick

Winston

July Volunteer Needed

Library

Check Out the CVBS Library

T he Conejo Valley Bonsai Society has an extensive library of books, magazines, and DVDs available for members to borrow at no charge. The collection is available for your review at each monthly meeting. Material may be borrowed for a month at

a time, so take home a book or DVD from our next meeting and return it at the following meeting. If you have any questions regarding the CVBS Library, please contact me at [email protected].

—Mike Blumenberg Book of the Month Bonsai Today Masters’ Series: Pines, compiled and edited by Wayne Schoech, Michael Persiano & The Staff of Bonsai Today. © 2005 Stone Lantern Publishing. 182 pages. $29.95.

I was a little intimidated when CVBS President Marj Branson asked me to help trim a pine bonsai from the Gardens of the World. I don’t have any pine trees myself and don’t know much about pines, so I wasn’t sure I could offer much help besides carrying the pot! I recalled, howev-er, that the CVBS Library includes the book Bonsai Today Masters’ Series: Pines.

I decided to review this book as preparation for helping Marj and as our next Book of the Month. I reviewed another Masters’ Series on Junipers several months ago, and discovered that this Pines edition is laid out similarly.

The book’s Introduction explains that it is in-tended for intermediate and advanced bonsai enthu-siasts. It has two sections: Japanese white pines and Japanese black pines. Each section begins with a chapter on General Information, including care and maintenance, followed by a series of projects.

All the chapters were written by recognized bonsai masters. I found the chapter entitled “Cultivating Balance, Ener-gy Balancing and Needle Reduction” was just what I was looking for. It explains how to pinch and prune to create a well-ramified pine tree. The chapter was only a few pages long but provided good written guidance and clear illustrations, including the “Pinching Candles” shown here. I’m still not sure I’m ready to tackle the pine from the Gardens, but at least I’m starting with a little more knowledge. You can check out this book yourself at our next club meeting.

—Mike Blumenberg

Photos by Mike Blumenberg


Coming Events (Click on the Addresses to visit Websites or send Emails)

2020

March

Now – June 15, 2020 San Marino, California

Lifelines/Timelines: Exploring The Huntington's Collections Through Bonsai. Visitors will discover an expansive new way to look at miniature trees in “Lifelines/Timelines: Exploring The Huntington's Collections Through Bonsai,” on view March 14 through June 15 at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. The exhibition, one of the keystone events of The Huntington's yearlong Centennial Celebration, asks the question: How do five venerable bonsai trees relate in age and historical significance to masterpieces of literature and art? The Huntington is located at 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA.

March 21 – 22, 2020 San Marino, California

California Bonsai Society: 63rd Annual Exhibit at the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino. Three demonstrations each day at 1:00 PM. Reception on Saturday March 21 at 6:00 PM. Show Chairman Lindsay Shiba (909) 806-0937 or visit californiabonsaisociety.com.

March 28 – 29, 2020 San Jose, California

San Jose Betsuin Bonsai Club: 49th Annual Spring Exhibit at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 640 North Fifth Street. Hours are 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Saturday and Noon – 4:00 PM Sunday. Demonstration at 1:00 PM, both days with guest demonstrator David Nguy on Saturday and a club member demonstration on Sunday. Club sales of plants and pots. Vendor sales include West America (June and David Nguy) and Bonsai Fusion. For further information, call Bob Shatsky at (408) 353-3239 or Susan Yea at (408) 464-7340.

April

April 4 – 5, 2020 Sacramento, California

Bonsai Sekiyu Kai: 43rd Annual Show will be held at the Sacramento Buddhist Church, 2401 Riverside Blvd. Hours are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM with a demonstration at 2:00 PM each day by Yuzo Maruyama. Free Admission. Amenities include refreshments, light snacks, door prizes, raffles, and silent auction, as well as a member and vendor sale of plants and bonsai related items. Drop-in mini bonsai lessons will be held from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM for $15. For more information, contact the Bonsai Sekiyu Kai at [email protected].

April 11 – 12, 2020 Sacramento, California

American Bonsai Association, Sacramento: Annual Spring Show at the Shepard Garden and Arts Center in McKinley Park, 3330 McKinley Blvd. Show hours are Saturday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, and Sunday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, with a demonstration by Dave De Groot at 1:30 PM, both days. Beginner workshop: Sunday morning from 10:00 AM – Noon. Large member sales and vendor areas, free admission and parking. Benefit drawings, both Saturday and Sunday, will include each day’s demonstration tree and many bonsai and bonsai related items. For additional information visit our website: http://www.abasbonsai.org or contact Renee Seely, 916-929-2106 or email [email protected].

April 18, 2020 Modesto, California

Modesto Bonsai Club: 38th Annual Spring Show at the Stanislaus County Harvest Hall, 3800 Cornucopia Way. Show hours are Saturday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, with a demonstration at 1:00 PM by Sam Adina. Exhibits, sales, plants, pots, tools and more, multiple raffles. Free admission and parking. Benefit drawing Saturday, will include demonstration tree and many bonsai and bonsai related items. For additional information visit our Club Facebook Page Modesto Bonsai Club, or contact our Club President Peter Camarena, 209-529-1759 or email [email protected] .

April 18 – 19, 2020 Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai: 31st Annual Bonsai Show at the Museum of Art & History, 705 Front Street. Show hours are from 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM with demonstrations at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Saturday’s demonstrators are Enrique Castano. at 11:00 AM and Gordon Deeg at 2:00 PM and Sunday’s demonstrators are Enrique Castano at 11:00 AM and Scott Chadd at 2:00 PM. Demonstration trees and trees prepared by club members will be part of the raffle after each day’s demonstration. Sales area will include quality vendor and member trees, pots, and other related bonsai items. Come and enjoy the Museum of Art & History, over 100 bonsai trees on display, and demonstrations on how to create bonsai from nursery stock. In addition, enjoy the Watsonville Taiko Drummers, a hang drum demonstration, and other Japanese cultural events in the recently revitalized Abbott Square next to the Museum. For this weekend only, admission price is $5.00 for both the Museum and the Bonsai Show (Half off the normal Museum entrance fee). For more information, contact Sarah Tiller at [email protected] or Robert Potts at [email protected].

April 25 – 26, 2020 Palo Alto, California

Kusamura Bonsai Club: 60th Annual Show, Lucie Stern Community Center, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Show hours are Saturday, Noon – 4 PM, Sunday 11 AM – 4 PM. Free admission. Bonsai trees, pots, and other bonsai-related items will be for sale. Bring your tree to our Bonsai Clinic for advice on care and development. Tours of the show will be held starting at 1:30 PM each day. For more information contact Charlene Fischer at [email protected] or visit www.kusamurabonsai.org.

April 25 – 26, 2020 San Diego, California

San Diego Bonsai Club: The 55th annual Spring Bonsai Show and Sale of the San Diego Bonsai Club will be held at in Balboa Park’s Prado Building, San Diego. The two-day event is open to the public from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM each day. More than 50 amazing bonsai of various sizes and species will be on display. The wide range of activities will include bonsai demonstrations by expert members on both days, and a table sale featuring hundreds of trees, plants, pots and other bonsai merchandise offered by San Diego Bonsai Club members. For more information, go to http://www.sandiegobonsaiclub.com.

CANCELED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS

BE SURE TO CONFIRM STATUS OF ALL EVENTS AHEAD OF TIME

Documents

March Meeting Canceled · 2020. 3. 13. · March 2020 Conejo Valley Bonsai Society 3 Refreshments Take a Break CVBS Membership Interested in CVBS? C VBS is open to anyone interested