N E W S L ET T E R 2 8 0www.bonsai-southern-tasmania.org.au FEBRUARY 2017

NEWS FROM THE BONSAI SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN TASMANIA

E V E N T S T H I S M O N T H

MEETING: Tuesday 21 February 7.30pmBellerive Community Arts Centre (note page 5)

Chris Xepapas will talk about his recent trip to Japan where he studied with Bonsai master Urushibata-san and his son Taiga, also a master, at Taisho-en in Shizuoka.Tea/Coffee provided - bring supper to share.

EXHIBITION: Dahlia, Gladioli & Floral Art (Hobart Horticulture Society) Hobart Town Hall Friday 24 February, 1.00pm - 6pm, Saturday 25 February, 10.00am - 4.30pm. Trees can be delivered to the Town Hall on Thursday, 23 February between 4 - 6.30pm.

WORKSHOP: Saturday 25 February, 1- 4pmCambridge Hall. *(New Venue -see directions page 5)

(note re tools/equipment to bring -see WORKSHOPS page 5)

You can bring plants to work on, or just come and observe, chat, and enjoy afternoon tea.Wire is available to purchase at workshops. Tea/Coffee provided - bring a snack to share.

WORKSHOP SUGGESTIONS:Conifers: pine needle plucking, Juniper and Cypress can be wired, and this is the last month in the summer growing period for major branch bending, removal and restyling.Deciduous trees: can continure to be pinched back and pruned.Natives: can be pinched, pruned and defoliated, also major branch bending, removal, restyling and wiring.

HOBART AND YAIZU SISTER CITY 40 YEARS CELEBRATION 1977-2017

The Waterside Pavilion, Mawson Place was the venue for the mini festival organised by the Hobart City Council and the Yaizu delegation.Yaizu is located in the Japanese central Shizuoka Prefecture, south of Tokyo and on the coastline and facing the Pacific Ocean, and with beautiful views of Mt Fuji.On Friday evening the HCC held a dinner for the delegation from Yaizu and our bonsai made a very elegant display on three large plinths and on top of the high cupboards.At the festival on Saturday 4 February, we had two additional trestle tables for our display. As well as Bonsai there was Samurai demonstrations, Taiko drumming, Yukata and Kimono dressing, Bon Odori Japanese dance, Ikebana, Calligraphy, Origami, photo displays, children’s activities, and Japanese food stalls.We displayed around about 18 bonsai from members: Alex, Ambrose, Anita, Diana, Gill, Herbert and Tony Brown. Society members who helped mind the display and answer questions included Anita, Ambrose, Alex, Tony B and Rob. There was a constant stream of people coming past our display, asking lots of questions and overall it was a very successful day. (Report by AC)

Bonsai display at the Hobart-Yaizu Sister City 40 year celebration festival. Photo Ambrose Canning.

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C O M I N G U P - E A R L Y M A R C H

SUNDAY 19 MARCH Will Fletcher‘s first of four workshops, ‘Native flora as Bonsai’ at his Island Bonsai Nursery, 37 Hall Street, Ridgeway. (more information page 2)

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NEWS FROM THE BONSAI SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN TASMANIA N E W S L ET T E R 2 8 0

For all new members - (those who have joined since the convention last May) and who attend the first meeting of the year this month will be eligible to go in the draw for a chance to win this beautiful little nothofagus cunninghammii styled and kindly donated by Cam Wadley. A good start to any collection.

This event, organised by members and groups of the Bellerive Community Arts Centre and held in December is always well attended. Thanks go to Herbert and Gill who arranged a wonderful display, which was very well received and provided another opportunity to promote the art of Bonsai to the community.

BELLERIVE COMMUNITY ARTS CENTRE ANNUAL EXHIBITION AND SALE

The Bonsai Society would like to thank Evelyn for her great work producing the newsletter for the past eight years. It is no easy task putting it all together, as the deadline creeps around each month. I hope I can go some way to filling her shoes and continue to provide an interesting and informative newsletter for you.As you can see I have made a few changes to the format! With the number of new members who have joined recently I thought it might be an idea to make the information regarding meetings and workshops available for easy reference on the front page. Along with some guidance as to what plants to bring and what work can be done at each workshop throughout the year.General correspondence should still be sent to the Sectetary: Anita Shanahan Email: anita_shanahan@yahoo.com.au Post: 6 Claude St New Town 7008. Articles or information for the newsletter can be sent to the Editor: Alex SutherlandEmail: alexsuth52@gmail.com Post: P O Box 497, Kingston 7051.Contact details for all committee members are on the back page.

WILL FLETCHER’S WORKSHOPS

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO EVELYN LUCKY DRAW FOR NEW MEMBERS

This year Will Fletcher our resident ‘native plant expert’ is offering four Sunday workshops in March/April and September/October at his Island Bonsai nursery, for members who are interested in adapting the art of designing miniature trees to our indigenous flora! Will also has a great selection of stock plants which can be purchased to work on.Autumn/Spring is the best time for undertaking lots of procedures with most native plants.Will prefers to style his trees keeping the natural form and characteristics of the species in mind. Many natives have a naturally windswept look as they often grow in exposed environments, but he will be take each plant on its merits, looking at the strengths and weaknesses, as decisions are made on pruning, styling, wiring and potting.

Fabulous ‘nebari’ on a Woolly Teatree at Lake St Claire. Photo Will FletcherBonsai at BCAC Annual Exhibition. Photo Herbert Harding

A bonsai of an endemic Tasmanian Bottlebrush.

Photo Will Fletcher

Lucky draw -Nothofagus cunninghammii. Photo Cam Wadley

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NEWS FROM THE BONSAI SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN TASMANIA N E W S L ET T E R 2 8 0

After a very busy year in 2016 with the National Conference in May including a major exhibition at Wrest Point, and also our scheduled exhibition in October at the Rosny Barn, the Society does not have any exhibitions planned for this year. So members are encouraged to make full use of the Horticultural Society’s exhibitions at the Town Hall. The Bonsai Society is always invited to present a display at their shows. They do all the setting up, all we have to do is turn up with our trees; very easy! We have always managed a presence at each one and our display is much admired despite the competition! Maybe this year we could present a larger display of trees from more members in lieu of our own exhibition. The HHS also has no objection to us running a raffle, so we can still raise some funds too.It is however, rather short notice for the first one. The Dahlia, Gladioli and Floral Art Show is this month, on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 February. The Saturday is the same day as our first workshop, but as the Horticulture Society has plenty of people on hand, we don’t even have to be there. However it is a good opportunity to interest a wider audience in Bonsai, so having someone knowlegeable there is an advantage. Think about what you might have to display and we will discuss the logistics at the meeting on Tuesday 21Feb. Trees can be delivered to the Town Hall on Thursday 23 from 4.00 to 6.30pm, and it may not be such a disadvantage having a workshop on the same day, as they will need to be collected from 4.30pm on the Saturday, so you can conveniently pick them up on the way home.I am also giving our little information flyer an update and a new look, ready for the show.Last but not least, our best wishes go to Chris Xepapas who will be undergoing knee surgery on 1 Mar. Did he overdo it having too much fun in Japan? - or is it something that has been lurking for a while and has finally caught up with him? We all hope the surgery goes well and that you are back on your feet in no time. You can’t keep a good man down!

MUSINGS FROM THE EDITOR MORE PHOTOS FROM AMBROSE AT THE HOBART - YAIZU FESTIVAL

The Sister City Festival’s other indoor activities - Ikibana, kimono dressing, calligraphy and origami. AC

Miniature jade, False cypress , Lemon bottle brush AC

Ambrose’s Wisteria, still a magnificent specimen even though it is not in flower. Photo Ambrose Canning

Box honeysuckle, Chinese elm, Hawthorn, Huon pine. AC

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NEWS FROM THE BONSAI SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN TASMANIA N E W S L ET T E R 2 8 0

This Chinese elm had been planted in the ground and was very over grown. Approx15-20 years old, bought by Cam 2 yrs ago, most foliage was removed. New branches were selected from the first flush of growth and will take time to develop. It has been styled as a formal upright.

Photo Cam Wadley

Japanese black pine grown from seed and approx 20-25 years old when Cam bought it 6-7 years ago as raw stock from Lynne Farrell’s Bonsai Nursery in Launceston. Old needles were removed and stubs cleaned up before wiring and potting in a semi-cascade style. Photo Cam Wadley

Japanese black pine grown from seed and approx 20-25 years old when Cam bought it 6-7 years ago as raw stock from Lynne Farrell’s Bonsai Nursery in Launceston. Old needles were removed and stubs cleaned up before wiring and potting in a literati style.

Photo Cam Wadley

This 25 year old English green beech tree was purchased by Chris Xepapas from Tony Hewer, and has been restyled into an informal upright. It has responded really well and is back budding. Chris will repot it into a new pot and a new angle in August. Photo Chris Xepapas

GET INSPIRED - A GALLERY OF TREES RECENTLY STYLED BY MEMBERS

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NEWS FROM THE BONSAI SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN TASMANIA N E W S L ET T E R 2 8 0

OPEN BY APPOINTMENTTelephone: 0439 383 365

Email: cxepapas@gmail.com

Open by appointment Ph 0418 342 046

Tasmanian native plants as bonsai

WORKSHOPS: - 1pm - 4pm alternate Sat/Sun usually the weekend following the meeting.Remember to wear your nametag, please sign the attendance register and place $3 in the tin.If you are planning bring trees to work on you will need to bring a plastic sheet or small tarp to cover your table, your tools, a turntable and spraybottle if you have them, A large pot, bucket or plastic bowl can be handy to raise the height of the turntable for some jobs. A bucket or garbage bag is also handy to take away your prunings and rubbish. You will need to bring soil and gravel for repotting in spring. If you don’t have any trees to work on, you can just come and observe others working, chat, listen and learn. Chris Xepapas, Tony Hewer and others are usually on hand to help you with technique and advice on most things. Tea and coffee is provided, please bring a snack to share for afternoon tea.

MEETINGS: - Are held at 7.30pm on the third Tuesday of the month at the Bellerive Comunity Arts Centre. Remember to wear your nametag, and sign the attendance register. Meetings are free, but there is a raffle (to raise money for the club) with prizes donated by members or sponsors to be won. Members are also encourage to bring along a tree or trees from their collection which they would like to show off, or some new stock they may have purchased and would like some advice on how to style. There will also be a presentation, demonstration or talk by a visiting tutor or a club member, and in June we will hold our popular swap and buy meet, the evening concludes around 9.30pm.Tea and coffee is provided, please bring a snack to share for supper.

WORKSHOP INFORMATION

NEW VENUE - DIRECTIONS

MEETING INFORMATION

We have booked a new larger venue for the first three workshops this year - the Cambridge Community Hall, 989 Cambridge Road, Cambridge. From Hobart travel over bridge take the Tasman Hwy (A3) approx 8km, take exit onto (B31) to Cambridge and Richmond, Continue 2km to Cambridge, keep right past shops to the Community Hall. Turn right into Chevrolet Crt and enter carpark on the far side of the hall. We will be asking for your opinion of the venue for future workshops.

President: Ambrose Canning – Mob: 0409 165 446 Email: ambrose.canning@internode.on.net Vice Pres: Chris Xepapas – Mob: 0439 383 365 Email: cxepapas@gmail.com Secretary: Anita Shanahan – Ph: 6228 1281 Email: anita_shanahan@yahoo.com.au 6 Claude St New Town 7008 Treasurer: Rob White – Ph: 6223 2069 Email: rwgw100@gmail.com Committee: Tony Hewer – Mob: 0419 329 915 Email: tonyhewer13@gmail.com Committee: Evelyn Black – Ph: 6229 5741 Email: e.black@bigpond.com.au Editor: Alex Sutherland – Ph: 6239 6254 Mob: 0419 552 269 Email: alexsuth52@gmail.com PO Box 497, Kingston 7051

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Committee Members contact details

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