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The Bonsai News of Houston A Monthly Newsletter of the Houston Bonsai Society, Inc.
Dr. Hoe Chuah’s Winning Tiger Bark Ficus at 2013 WBFF Congress (Artwork by NT3)
HBS Monthly Meeting
The next meeting of the Houston Bonsai Society will be on Wednesday, August 7th, 2013 at 7:30pm, at The West Gray Multi-Services Center, 1475 W. Gray Street, Houston, TX 77019, between Dunlavy Street and Waugh Drive. Refreshments at 7pm.
Wednesday, August 7th, Bring Your Own Tree workshop: Please bring your trees and tools for styling. No repotting. Don’t forget to show off your mid-summer best bonsai at Show & Tell with Ray Gonzalez.
Upcoming Events Saturday, August 10th, HBS Saturday Study Group at Timeless Trees from 9 am – Noon. Bring your own trees and tools or choose some new bonsai from Timeless Trees’ great selection. No charge, refreshments provided.
Wednesday, September 4th, HBS Annual Auction. Dig out your extra pots, supplies, magazines, books and plants to donate to the club.
Friday September 6th, Lecture/Demo by Touring Artist Cheryl Manning at 7 - 9pm.
Saturday, September 7th, Workshops with Cheryl Manning 9am - Noon & 1 - 4 pm
Wednesday, October 2nd, HBS Meeting
Saturday October 5th, HBS Saturday Study Group at Maas Nursery in Seabrook
Friday, October 11th, Set-up for HBS Annual Fall Show at 6pm
Saturday and Sunday, October 12-13, HBS Annual Fall Show
October 18-20, Kathy Shaner’s 2013 Seminar in Buda, Texas, near Austin.
Volume 42 Number 8 August 2013
20122012
IN THIS ISSUE
Upcoming Events Bring Your Own Tree
Workshop
Showcase of the Month Ixora Queen of Summer
August Bonsai Care John Miller
The President’s Message
HBS Board Meeting Minutes July 2013
Congratulations
Dr. Hoe Chuah
Kathy Shaner Is coming to Texas
Black Bayou Bonsai relocated to Houston
Ixora, Queen of Summer
with many fiery shades
August Bonsai Care
As I start this column, the high temperatures have not reached 80 for three days, no rain, just cool. But we have to make sure the bonsai will not suffer the rest of the summer from the merciless sun and ambient in triple digits. During this time you will need to provide shade, check your watering habits, and maybe modify your fertilizing techniques.
A good many species could take the summer Texas sun if their roots were maintained in a normal soil temp less than 80 degrees. But since their pots are in an ambient where even the August night temps may not get that cool, you have to take some heroic steps to care for them.
When you think about providing shade remember that the sun is constantly moving. The worst sun is in late afternoon when the ambient is very high and the air is usually very dry. If this sun hits the pots, they will get very hot. Providing shade on the west is very important. You should cover your pots with a loose fitting cloth to allow air flow around them.
Special summer care needs to be given any kind of bonsai with rocks. That would include root over rock, tree on a rock, and a tree using a rock to mask a poor nebari. These rocks need to be shielded from the sun even more so than the bonsai pots as they are in intimate contact with the roots.
Watering usually presents a major problem, since most of us work away from home. The high ambient causes the trees to transpire heavily in the afternoon just when the soil is getting drier. The tree has difficulty in transporting enough water up the trunk.
Ideally you would be able to water three times a day. A morning watering would get the plant off to a good start. Watering at about 2:30pm would not only replace the water loss through evaporation, but would also cool the soil back to 60 or so, refreshing the tree for its afternoon ordeal. Then again water at sundown which again cools the soil and lets the tree recover overnight. If the humidity allows (no fungal problems), you can spray the foliage.
If you have to use an irrigation system, it is best to not use drip emitters as they only create wet spots in these shallow pots. Better to use a loop of 1/4 inch soaker hose, going all the way around the surface of the pot. With overhead sprinklers, the tree may shed the water to the outside and may not get the soil wet.
Fertilizers, including the organics, and insecticides are chemical activities and as such, are greatly influenced by the temperature. You still need to feed the trees and control the insects but read all labels carefully. You would be advised to use a lower application rate than usual.
Meanwhile all the normal mundane things must be taken care of. The warm conditions are great for the bad things. Spider mites especially grow fast and are more damaging. Any problems you have had in the past, scale or other insects will probably need more attention.
In the real world, plan your soil mix for your average conditions and then if you have a long wet spell, tilt the pots for drainage and give an extra watering when hot and dry. Put loose sphagnum moss on the surface to keep the soil from drying out. Use some loose covering on the pot to shade it from the sun. A windbreak could help with tender leaved trees.
Remember to water twice. Wait a few minutes after the first watering for the dry soil particles to absorb some of the water on their surface. Then with the surface tension reduced, the second watering gets the particles wet.
We can still to repot our tropicals and semi-tropicals like Fukien tea, Bahamas Black Olive, Buttonwood and Ficus. When repotting, be sure to wire the tree securely in the pot to give it good stability against the winds. It might be a good idea to also tie the pot to the
bench also, especially if there is a lot of foliage or your pot and soil mix are lightweight. You should remember that even the tropicals do not like their roots hot. Sun on the pots may heat the soil and prevent new root development, even though the tops may break new buds. Spring flowering species usually set their buds in the fall. Most azaleas set in July. For good flowering next year, do not prune them and feed with a higher phosphorus mix. Some of the minor elements are needed for brilliant colors.
Deciduous trees usually slow (but do not stop) their growth during summer so you can do some pruning on them. Pruning can stimulate new growth that may not have time to harden before winter, resulting in some dieback of the new growth. On these trees, it’s better to wait until later. After leaves have fallen, you can see where corrections need to be made more easily. However you should not let tip growth ruin the fine ramification on finished trees. Keep it pinched.
Help your club by noting bonsai related things while you are driving around. Any possible collecting sites, nurseries, sources for soil ingredients, people who could present an interesting program would be of use. Your club officials are usually not wellsprings of information and would welcome any input. Also write a short (or long) article for your local newsletter editor. It could be on a new or unusual species, where you saw something interesting. Small things like that would be most welcome and make your club grow and keep it interesting both for you and others.
John Miller
John Miller, who writes a monthly column for the Bonsai Society of Dallas and Fort Worth Bonsai Society, has agreed to share his column with us. We need to make adjustments for our warmer and damper climate, with earlier springs, longer summers, late fall and erratic winters.
President’s Message Our August meeting will be held in the West Gray Multi-Services Center, located at 1475 West Gray Street. It is a multi-use center, with a variety of groups using the facility. It will give us the chance to interact with a different neighborhood and persons. This is a great opportunity to expand our membership. We are also planning to host our Fall Show and the Texas Tour Speaker there.
This month’s meeting will focus on an Open Workshop’ so Bring Your Own Tree (BYOT) to work with. Help us make this successful in our new meeting place by NOT doing any repotting at this meeting, and helping us to cover the tables with plastic before we place trees on them.
We still need to collect a few membership dues. Last meeting were at 71 members, so we are still looking for a few. Most years we have had about 100 members, making us the largest and the best club in the state.
We are working on tropicals like crazy. But don’t forget this is also the time of year that junipers and pines go partially dormant, some things can be done to them. (No repotting!!!!) Also keep in mind, it is extremely hot, and so we all need to keep our tree’s water needs in mind. If you are hot and thirsty, they are hot and thirsty.
Have a great summer, and we look forward to seeing you at the next meeting, Wednesday, August 7
th.
Don’t forget our HBS Saturday Study Group will meet at Timeless Trees, on Saturday August 10th,
at 9AM – 12
Noon. No charge and refreshments are provided.
Have a great day,
Hurley
Houston Bonsai Society
Board Meeting Minutes July 3, 2013, 6:30pm
I. Call to order Meeting was called to order by Hurley Johnson at 6:30 P.M.
II. Roll Call A. Present: Hurley Johnson, Raymond Gonzalez, Donald
Green, Anthony Cutola, Alan Raymond, Eldon Branham, Pete Parker, Ken Credeur, and Sandra Knight.
B. Quorum present: Yes.
III. Read and Approve Meeting Minutes Minutes for the meeting of June 5, 2013 were read. A motion was made to accept the minutes by Alan Raymond, seconded by Anthony Cutola, and approved.
IV. Treasurer’s Report Anthony Cutola presented the Treasurer’s Report of June 5, 2013. 6/05 Exp. Reimbursement – Timeless Trees ($60.00)
(Demo material) 6/05 Exp. Reimbursement – Shawn Nguyen ($ 5.20)
(Newsletter expenses) 6/05 Exp Reimbursement – Ray Gonzalez ($20.08)
(HBS meeting Demo supplies) 7/03 Cash Deposit $560.00
Total Debits ($85.28) Total Credits $560.00
A motion to accept the report was made by Hurley Johnson, seconded by Pete Parker, and approved. A motion to pay expenses incurred for (1) this month’s meeting refreshments to C.J. Everson, (2) newsletter expenses to Shawn Nguyen, and (3) expenses for Eldon Branham’s trip to LSBF meeting, was made, seconded, and approved.
V. Unfinished Business A. Fall Show
Space has been confirmed for October 12 and 13 at The West Gray Multi-Services Center. The type of facilities is still unknown at this location and suitability must be determined prior to making a
commitment for the Fall Show. Other alternative locations may need to be explored.
B. Membership List Anthony Cutola is updating the list of paid members (~71 paid members). A list will be mailed to Board members for assistance in verification. Hurley Johnson will send reminder letters to old members that have not yet renewed.
C. Meeting Location Beginning August 7th, the Houston Bonsai Society will meet at the Multi-Services Center on West Gray and will continue there until the completion of the new Garden Center facilities. The address is The West Gray Multi-Services Center, 1475 West Gray Street.
VI. Routine Business A. Outreach Committee: John Edmonson, Coordinator
John was not present. B. Publicity Strategy Update: Eldon Branham
Website development for the 2014 LSBF Convention will begin early July. New meeting place notification will be posted at the top of the index page of our website.
C. Saturday Study Group, July 6th, to be held at Mercer Arboretum, 9am-12pm, with Alan Raymond and Anthony Cutola present.
VII. LSBF Activities A. Meeting on guidelines for LSBF State Conventions
LSBF Meeting was held Saturday, June 22, at Jade Gardens in Wimberley. Eldon Branham attended representing HBS. There were 12 people in attendance and a lot of information discussed. A full version of the notes will be distributed to the LSBF clubs by Mark Bynum. Alan Raymond is contacting Golden State Bonsai Federation for information on their convention guidelines and will attempt to set up a conference call among Mr. Bob Hilvers and members of our Board. Hurley Johnson is contacting the Bonsai Society of Florida for information on the convention guidelines and rules for judging exhibits.
B. 2014 State Convention in Houston: Donald Green, General Chairman
1. The convention will be held at the Marriott West Houston on April 10-14, 2014.
2. Planning committee meetings will be held on the third Tuesday each month. July meeting scheduled for July 16.
3. Donald is lining up an impressive list of artists for the lectures and workshops. To date the list includes Arthur Joura, Curator of the Bonsai Collection at the North Carolina Arboretum, David DeGroot, Weyerhaeuser Company's Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection near Seattle, and Peter Adams, author and bonsai artist from Washington state.
4. Formal agreements have been sent to artists.
VIII. New Business A. Garden Club building demolition and new construction
is scheduled to begin in August (finish date November 2014). Last meeting in the current Garden Club building was the July meeting. The Houston Bonsai Society will meet at the Multi-Use Center on West Grey at Shepherd until November 2014 when meetings are
scheduled to resume in the new Garden Club building. Other alternatives are being explored.
B. Proposed modification to By-Laws to create Board position for Publicity Chairman Alan Raymond has provided proposed changes to the by-laws as necessary to create a Board position for a Publicity Chairman. The changes will be presented to the general membership at the August meeting and will require a vote by the general membership.
C. Texas Tour Speaker this year is Cheryl Manning. She will be in Houston on September 6th & 7th.
IX. Adjournment Motion was made to adjourn the meeting, seconded, and carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:07 P.M.
Minutes submitted by Sandra Knight
KATHY SHANER 2 0 1 3 S E M I N A R October 18-20, 2013 in Buda, Texas
* Seminar *
* Grafting Workshop *
* Bring-your-own-tree Workshop *
For registration starting in August and notification,
contact Collin Murphy at [email protected].
It’s the moment Texan bonsai lovers have been waiting for Kathy Shaner is coming! This year marks the 23rd anniversary of Kathy Shaner's Bonsai Seminar, held annually in Austin.
Mark your calendar, register with Collin and join in the seminar with this personable and knowledgeable bonsai master Kathy Shaner of California.
It has been over 30 years since Kathy started with her bonsai career. Unlike other ladies, she spent time to learn the rules to bend them. After a full 5-year apprenticeship in Japan under bonsai master Yasuo Mitsuya,
Kathy became the first non-Japanese as well as the first woman ever to be certified by the
Nippon Bonsai Association.
Today, she is internationally recognized for her excellence in the art of bonsai. Currently, she is the curator of the Golden State Bonsai Federation Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt in California but for the last 23 years, we in Texas know her best as The Advisor to The Texas State Bonsai Collection.
Kathy is a fantastic teacher with the ability to make both beginner and veteran bonsaists completely submerge in hands-on learning. Although informal from beginning to end, her seminars are ideal for those seeking to increase bonsai knowledge, raise their skill levels and make the wonderful world of bonsai even more enjoyable.
Congrats Dr. Hoe! Dear HBS members,
Today, with extreme pleasure, I would like to announce that…
Houston Got Talent! Who would believe that one
day, a low-key, very amiable scientist who invented many chemical wonders for oil & gas companies, would win an international award for his artistic talent in the art of bonsai!
Last July 2013, Dr. Hoe Chuah’s Tiger Bark Ficus bonsai was chosen as One of the 25 Exceptional Trees in the 7th World Bonsai Friendly Federation photo contest. This year WBFF Convention is hosted by China in Jintan.
For Dr. Hoe Chuah to win this prestigious international award, many stars lined up, in his favor, in the sky.
☺He purchased this Tiger Bark Ficus (Ficus microcarpa) as a pre-
bonsai in 1997. It has potential because of the respectably thick trunk and nebari. Like most everything in life, it has a good side but also possesses a bad (and ugly) side. The back was so dreadful (that’s bad), it turned into an exciting (bonsai) school project. (That’s good).
☺The chemist-turned-surgeon skillfully grafted two roots to the
concave side of the nebari while training the tree in a Taiwanese banyan style with an umbrella shaped crown. It’s a good thing that the two new roots help the back side thrive. Or is it a bad thing when the branch that they feed started to take off for the Moon?
☺ The chemist-turned-surgeon eagerly tried his hands at body
sculpting. It’s a good thing, right? Not really! The more he cut, the faster this turbo charged branch grew. No doubt about it: Double the roots feeding it, double the growth! ☺ He did not like the out of scale branch but after 15 years of
battling it, short of removing one of its 2 booster engines, this abnormal limb kinda grew on him ( like one’s nose). The longer he looks at it, the more… normal it appeared. Can we safely say, That’s the way it is, so let it be? ☺ On one hand, part of him accepted the Frankenstein of his own
experimental blooper. On the other hand, he keeps on wondering and wondering… The third hand took the Tiger to Pedro Morales’ Tropical Bonsai School. When in doubt, we ask. Doesn’t hurt to ask, he told himself.
☺ When asked, master Pedro replied: Off it goes! without a blink.
Is it possible to make such huge decision to amputate such a huge limb with no second thought? Hoe wondered. Fifteen years I spent refining that branch, fifteen long years!!! Can’t take it off now!
☺ When still in doubt, we ask, again! Hoe persuaded himself.
Let’s grab the other older and wiser bonsai guru in the studio. He brought his pride and joy, with one slight imperfection, to the seasoned bonsai teacher, the one who taught him more Not-To-Do things than To-Do things. For sure, at her age, she has definitely outgrown the Bonsai Serial Killer stage.
☺ Without hesitation, Yvonne Padilla of Corpus Christi affirmed:
Of course daaarlin’, it got to go! The surprised Hoe wondered: What does she see that I don’t? But two (masters) against one, they win!
☺ But, Yet, Still… one can’t be too cautious! Hoe proceeded with
extreme restraint and utmost reverence for the familiar limb that has been part of his life for 15 long years. What the mind can’t see, the hands can’t do, he whispered. No pain in simulating amputation, especially with digital magic. That’s what plastic surgeons do all the time. A photo was found and digital white out was used. He cheered: Now, I’m not even missing the back branch! But let’s sleep on it and we’ll do the operation in the morning, when I am fresh and strong. A true blue scientist he is, our Dr. Hoe! Every little risk is managed with infinite calculations and zero margin for human errors. ☺ There, it’s a super clean cut. Nothing to it! In no time, this
branch will be another beautiful fat little pig! Hoe exclaimed. But first, let’s protect this wound, let’s give it a shield. Perhaps metallic foil?
☺ Maestro Pedro was pleased. He said: This beauty and its
creator are worthy of a grand prize, maybe an international award? He suggested that it’s entered it in the 7th WBFF photo contest. Pedro handed Hoe an entry form to send a photo to the WBFF international judges.
☺It just happened that Pedro Morales is no other than the World
Bonsai Friendship Federation Director & Coordinator of the Photo Contest for Latin America region for the upcoming 2013 7th World Bonsai Congress. The last congress was held in 2009, in Pedro’s hometown of San Juan, in Puerto Rico.
☺ After meticulously prepping the Tiger Bark ficus, not a hair out
of place and outside of the umbrella outline, Hoe snapped a lot of digital photos. The process of choosing just one photograph to him was an incredible torture. A lot of doubtful self -talk later, he mailed the entry, barely a couple of days before the deadline.
☺To his big surprise, the Tiger Bark ficus received enough points
from the international judges to be included as one of The 25 Exceptional Trees, a category award after The First 5 Best Trees.
Since no one can possibly read this scientist’s mind, I asked that he reveals to all HBS readers the countless steps during the 15 years of his Tiger Bark Ficus’ transformation from the ugly duckling to the beautiful swan.
It is also my hope that bonsai artists would cease being their own difficult judge and feel less self-conscious about their work to open up to others’ opinions like Hoe did. In return, there are priceless advices and generous encouragement to gather.
I am positive that Dr. Hoe and all of you have many award winning bonsai in your private collection, waiting to make their world debut.
Remember, no venture, no gain! No entry, no award!
Shawn Nguyen
Tiger Bark Ficus Judged Exceptional in the 7th WBFF Contest
by Hoe Chuah
Last month Solita Rosade sent an email informing me that my Tiger Bark Ficus entry to the 2013 World Bonsai Friendship Federation (WBFF) Photo Contest won a place among The 25 Exceptional Trees from international judging.
This great news came to me as a total surprise which delighted me to no end. Although I have been doing bonsai for nearly 20 years, I have never entered any contest before. Last year, when I attended The Tropical Bonsai School held at the Timeless Trees taught by master Pedro Morales, he suggested and encouraged me to enter this contest.
This tiger bark had a very humble beginning. It was purchased as an imported pre-bonsai in 1997 for a princely sum of $15. What attracted me to this tree were its broad base and its upwards taper as well as good movements. However, it also had some major defects. Its main trunk looked great from the front but the back had some serious flaws: Not only there was no surface root to visually anchor the tree, the trunk had a concave bevel that made it appear as if the tree would fall backwards at any moment. Its branches positioned in all the wrong places defied all the bonsai "rules". Over all, it was a cheap tree with challenging potentials.
The perfect photo of the perfect tree entered in the contest
I took a bold step in removing all the existing branches to re-grow new branches at desired places. The surgical scars can still be seen in the following photo. This operation is not as drastic as one might think because ficuses grow vigorously in Houston’s hot and humid weather. Since they bud well, in no time, there would be ample choices of new branch placements. As for the beveled back, I rooted the cuttings and grafted two new roots to fill up the void for new back nebari. An alternative is to grow aerial roots for grafting. The tree is an informal upright (moyogi) with an umbrella-shape crown which is a natural silhouette of a ficus tree.
Below is how the tree looked like in 2001 with the basic structure of a moyogi tree. I do not have older photos of the tree before acquiring a digital camera. After developing the basic structure, the rest is allowing the tree to grow through the processes of repotting, wiring, feeding, and developing branch ramifications. Time is the key element for a bonsai to achieve a mature look.
The naked Tiger preparing for a major pruning
Although grafting two new roots improved the overall nebari, they caused an unexpected problem. Fed by the grafted roots, the lower back branch grew so vigorously to 1¾" in diameter. It eventually became the thickest branch of the whole tree. It was reduced and cut so many times, but it kept on growing back. Ficus is a type of trees that have stronger growth at the bottom than at the top. Since this excessive growth is at the back of the tree, camouflaged by dense foliage, it is not noticeable when viewed from the front.
I discussed the remedy for this awkward branch with Pedro. After a careful study of the tree, he suggested that I completely remove it and bend the next back branch down to fill up the gap. Problem solved!
It was not an easy decision to remove such a big branch that I have developed for 15 years. There’s some degree of anxiety that kept me put off making such a hasty operation. Once it’s cut, that branch would be gone for good and I might regret such drastic action. Perhaps it would take many more years, even a decade, to re-grow and replace it with another. Still in doubt, I asked Yvonne Padilla for a second opinion. She agreed with Pedro. Still, I proceeded with extreme caution. Since I took some photos of the defoliated tree, I used Window's Paint to white out the back branches. Below is the simulated front without the back branch. It did not look bad at all, I thought. The next morning, I took out my saw and very carefully removed that big branch, with the intent of rooting it and turning it into another beautiful pre-bonsai.
The back branch removed by digital white-out
Pedro liked this tiger bark so much that he suggested that I send its photo to the 7th WBFF photo contest. This idea never occurred to me. I have never entered any bonsai contest before, nonetheless a world event. Yet I have a lot of trust in Pedro, the master, and if he believes there’s some merit here, why argue? After procrastinating for a long time, waiting for the tree to fill up with foliage again, and after so many tries, I finally got a good photo of it to send last December to the North American Region coordinator, just a few days before the deadline.
The WBFF was an organization founded by the late Saburo Kato. Its World Convention is held every four years.
Open heart surgery wound patched with a foil band-aid
The 7th WBFF convention will be in Jintan, China, from September 25th to 27th. Due to import regulations, it is almost impossible for foreign participants to bring trees to the host country, so one can submit the tree for the photo contest. Only one tree can be submitted per person. The photo of the tree submitted for judging should be taken in the current year, in its respective region.
There are 9 regions worldwide. Each region can enter up to 30 trees in the final world contest to be judged by a panel of international judges. Points are awarded for various features and the best five trees with the highest scores would be selected for awards. The grand winner went to Japan. The next 25 highest point trees are awarded with exceptional tree accolades, followed by honorable mentions. There are actually 36 trees in the Exceptional Trees category due to multiple ties in the awarded points. My tree barely made it to the 25th place of this category, sharing its rank with Hans van Meer from the Netherlands.
This is a totally unexpected surprise: I would be very elated if the tree was chosen as one of the North American entries but could never ever fathom it would go that far. The list winners is very impressive, including some very well know masters such as Professor Amy Liang, Walter Pall, Salvatore Liporace, Budi Sulistyo etc. The other two North American winners are well known US masters, Bill Valavanis and Suthin Sukosolvisit. The following is the website for the winning trees: http://www.northamericanbonsaifederation.com/PHOTOCONTEST/photocontest.html
I hope this article can be an encouragement to every member of HBS: Even a cheap ugly tree, whose long term potential was recognized early on, will in time grow into a beautiful tree with training and loving care.
Black Bayou Bonsai has moved
to Bluer Horizons.
In most of the bonsai shows in Louisiana and Texas, we often a meet a tall, dark, strange, free spirit whose bonsai are quite different from traditional Japanese styles: One year, it’s Green Mound Junipers à la Louisiana Oak Trees. Another year, they are octopus styled Junipers. The single most memorable juniper was an ancient Oak Tree in a miniature graveyard. As shocking as it was, there was a unique serenity about it. As a matter of fact, after that HBS Fall show, I inquired about it for purchase but it was snatched and hidden.
Greg LeBlanc, a true Swamp Man from Lafayette bayou, settled in Lake Charles for many years, where he started Black Bayou Bonsai nursery. Far away from most cosmopolitan cities with sizeable bonsai clubs, Greg found himself traveling long distances almost every week to offer his works of art to bonsai aficionados. For a few years, Greg worked at Shangri-La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center on the Texas side in Orange, on the Texas side of the border, re-designing, improving and maintaining this tranquil sanctuary with over 300 types of flora and fauna.
Since he is always present at most of our club’s activities and shows, HBS has always called him one of our own. As Greg and I chatted during the breaks at the LSBF 2013 in New Braunfels, I suggested that if he likes the Texan lifestyle and our Bonsai communities so much, why not move a little closer to where the actions are. He gave that some serious thoughts, very serious indeed.
On our nation’s Independence Day, Greg decided to sell his humble mobile home for a song and brought Black Bayou Bonsai nursery with a thousand and one bonsai trees to Houston area. As far as running from killer hurricanes like Rita which devastated a major part of Lake Charles, he didn’t make any improvement for we get them just as mean here. But when it comes to mosquitoes, he’s much worse off than with those in Louisiana. After all, Texan mosquitoes carry the same Texan Super-Sized DNA as our ants, our armadillos and our Texas Long Horns.
To adjust to life in a big city, besides artistic and vibrant bonsai to offer Texan bonsai lovers, Greg developed a robust menu of services for HBS members or seniors who can no longer care for their own bonsai, especially their large trees.
1. Bonsai Doctor Makes House Calls
Customary and usual bonsai maintenance rate: $150/day Maintenance services include: Pruning, shaping, training, wiring, potting and repotting Annual, semi-annual or monthly pest control and fertilizing Watering bonsai while owners are away on vacation
Extensive Spring or Winter services at $200/day include: Repotting with bonsai soil, fertilizers, wire or most necessary materials included Bonsai winterizing, set up small greenhouses with light carpentry work
Bonsai gardens and Japanese landscape styling and maintenance at $200/day. Services include: Specialty pruning and shaping of in ground trees/ hedges (Niwaki style) Fertilizing and pest control
2. Bonsai-on-Wheels
A $150/200 per day service rendered at nurseries, floral shops or growers on special occasions, such as Valentine’s Day, Mothers’ Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day and especially Lunar New Year Day festivities for the Asian customers. Simple bushes or plants can be styled into instant yet elegant bonsai while the customers watch.
3. Lecture/demo and one-on-one classes
$200/day. This rate may vary depending on material and trees Greg needs to provide as well as tables, chairs and tools.
4. Bonsai for Hire
Greg has large cypresses, junipers and large yamadori specimen for lease by the month for Asian banks, restaurants, lawyers’ offices or doctors/dentists’ clinics in lieu of indoor palms and ivies often seen in office buildings with atrium.
5. Professional Pre-Bonsai Material
Shopping at local nurseries, garden centers and plant sales:
Rate $150/day. Greg will take the time to instruct the bonsai students how to find the bonsai trees in seemingly common material sold at nurseries.
6. Professional Bonsai Photography
Rate: $200+/day and travel expenses.
For contests, photographic expos, exhibits, For private portfolios or clubs’ galleries. Set up can be on locations or with professional backdrops and studio lighting. PhotoShop retouching or enhancing are available.
For details, please call Greg Leblanc directly at 337-302-9120.
Or visit his website: www.blackbayoubonsai.com
Or email him at [email protected] .
Howdy podna Greg,
Welcome to Houston and to Texas. All of us at HBS wish you often find Les Bon Temps and beaucoup de Lagniappe in your new Westward quest. We are looking forward to your magic bonsai touch in our home town, especially to take worry free vacations when entrusting our precious babies to you. What a marvelous idea, at last!
Shawn Nguyen
Calendar of Events 2013
AUG 7 HBS meeting: Bring Your Own Tree workshop at The West Gray Multi-Services Center at 1475 W. Gray St., Houston, TX 77019
AUG 10 Saturday Study Group at Timeless Trees from 9am – Noon. Bring your own trees, tools and materials. No Charge, refreshments provided.
SEP 4 HBS Annual Auction
SEP 6 Lecture/demo by Texas Touring artist Cheryl Manning 7-9 pm
SEP 7 Workshops with Cheryl Manning (am & pm)
OCT 2 HBS meeting
OCT 5 Saturday Study Group at Maas Nursery
OCT 11 Set-up for Fall Show at 6pm
OCT 12-13 Annual Fall Show exhibit
OCT 18-20 Kathy Shaner 2013 Seminar in Buda, TX
NOV 16 Peter Adams in Lake Charles, 2-5pm
Houston Bonsai Society, Inc. P. O. Box 540727, Houston, Texas 77254-0727
www.houstonbonsai.com
HBS Board Members President Hurley Johnson [email protected]
1st Vice President Ray Gonzalez [email protected] in charge of Education 2nd Vice President Jim Stone [email protected] Secretary Sandra Knight [email protected] in charge of Membership
Treasurer Anthony Cutola [email protected]
Member at Large - O Barbara Adams [email protected]
Member at Large - O John Edmonson [email protected]
Member at Large - O John Williams [email protected]
Member at Large - E Andrew Sankowski [email protected]
Member at Large - E Craig Boone [email protected]
Member at Large - E Keith McNay [email protected]
Delegates Past President Alan Raymond [email protected]
LSBF Delegate Peter Parker [email protected]
LSBF Alternate Terry Dubois [email protected]
BCI Ambassador Donald Green [email protected]
TTSBE Representative Alan Raymond [email protected]
Refreshments C.J. Everson [email protected]
Website/email Gary Teeter [email protected]
Newsletter Shawn Nguyen [email protected]
The Bonsai News of Houston is a monthly publication of the Houston Bonsai Society, Inc. Copyright © 2011. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the editor or a member of the Board of Directors. Exceptions exist, however, for certain not-for-profit and non-profit bonsai organizations or associated bonsai and bonsai nursery newsletters, including without limitation the American Bonsai Society. HBS participates fully with reciprocation of contents and material between other LSBF member organizations and others. Authors who submit articles for this newsletter thereby give permission to such organizations to reprint, unless they expressly state otherwise.
Space for advertising in The Bonsai News of Houston can be requested by contacting the newsletter editor or a member of the HBS Board. The rates f or a business-card-size ad (approximately 3 1/2" x 2") are $6 per month, $30 for 6 months and $50 per year (12 issues). A full-page ad is $25 per month. Rates are subject to change without notice. 3½" x 2" classified ads are run free of charge for one month once per 12-month period for non-commercial members.
For special requests or questions related to The Bonsai News of Houston, contact the newsletter editor or a member of the HBS Board.
