January 2011 Newsletter

Transcription

1 January 2011 Newsletter This month s meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 7pm Menne Nursery & Garden Artistry 3100 Niagara Falls Boulevard Amherst, NY President s Corner Now that 2010 has drawn to a close, I find myself thinking of all we have been through and have accomplished this past year. We had diverse topics and wonderful speakers presenting programs at our meetings. We went out into the community with large and small displays promoting the Art of Bonsai at our annual exhibit, Plantasia, book stores, organizations, networking events & the Erie County Fair. Our membership has grown, and we have new members who can learn from our many experienced and talented members, while energizing us all. We also lost a dear friend, Don Butterworth. We were, and still are, there to support members such as Dan Trzepacz and Vince Philippone, while they are facing illnesses in their families. We laughed more at meetings this year than I ever remember; we learned a lot and enjoyed picnics, dinners and a field trip to Hollow Creek. Many of our members got involved and helped with these things, and it has been wonderful. Some even go out of their way to maintain the bonsai collection at the Botanical Gardens. There are four members I want to acknowledge for their consistent and exceptional efforts: Carey Leibring and Vince Philippone for their excellent efforts on our newsletter; Dick Smith for his efforts with our annual exhibit, auction and involvement in supporting the club in multiple ways throughout the year; and Dan Trzepacz, for his work at the Botanical Gardens bonsai display and his involvement and support in so many activities we get involved in. I would like to especially acknowledge the efforts of the other members of the board, and all those who presented programs at our monthly meetings. There are many others I would like to mention, since everyone s efforts are appreciated in making this club successful. So, while we wrap up last year and our bonsai rest for the winter, I wish you a wonderful New Year of Bonsai! Wendy Williams, president Plantasia is coming! This year, Plantasia will be from March at the Hamburg Fairgrounds. Our club will have a space again, and we will need some volunteers to help in various ways. We will need helpers to do set up and breakdown, people to attend the booth during the show, and at least one person to do a bonsai demonstration. We would also like to have people come and spend time working on their trees at the booth during the show days, thereby increasing public interest. This is a great way to get to know people in the club, as well as spread your excitement about bonsai. Wendy will have more details at the upcoming meetings.

2 Buffalo Bonsai Society Pg 2 of 6 This Month: Bonsai Basics with Alayne Werner Alayne is a long time veteran and an asset to the BBS. She has been involved in every aspect of our club, at a variety of locations throughout the years. She has had, and still has, literally hundreds of bonsai in many species, styles and ages. She has an incredible amount of experience, and has taught bonsai classes throughout the Buffalo area, mostly in Adult Education Courses. She continues to delight us and the public at our annual exhibit with trees such as the gorgeous flowering Wisteria she displayed last summer. She has often been a presenter at our meetings, with topics ranging from slide shows of worldwide bonsai gardens she and her husband Art have visited... to muck making and slab plantings, as well as root over rock and raft designs. We look forward to this month's presentation with Alayne: BACK TO BONSAI BASICS. Don t miss it! BBS board 2011 BBS Board Members Wendy Williams President Linda Oldenburg Vice President Paul Pearson Treasurer Neil Jaeger Secretary Carey Leibring Newsletter Editor Month: Chemical Use with Erin Hickey month, Erin Hickey will be presenting some tips and techniques for using chemicals to control pests and diseases. There will be a lot of material to cover, so bring a notebook and don t be afraid to bring your questions too. Hope to see you there! Get Well Soon! Rich Groblewski - Jeanette Trzepacz Vince Philippone An excerpt from a Dan Trzepacz [12/29/10] Tomorrow morning Jeanette will be transported to a rehab facility in Erie, Pa, called HealthSouth Erie. It is supposed to be the best in the country. Thanks to your thoughts and prayers we have come a long way, but we would like them to continue until she is home again. I do not have the words to express our gratitude for all your support. Now, since I will be practically living in Erie for a while, please hold your s. My love to you all and my heartfelt gratitude. Danny A Thank You note from Vince Philippone: [12/30/10] I want to thank the entire board and all the members for the certificate you sent me and the subscription to Bonsai Focus. The latter came at just the right time, for I was about to renew my subscription. Thank you so very much. I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness. I am feeling much better. While my blood levels for the most part are still low, the part of the white cells that fight infection are now in the normal range. As a result, for the past week and a half I have been able to be with people once again. On Monday, I will get the results of my last bone marrow biopsy which will tell me if the treatment destroyed all of the cancer cells. So that's a big day for me. Thanks again for your thoughtfulness and hopefully if all goes well, I will see you at the January meeting. Vince

3 Buffalo Bonsai Society Pg 3 of 6 Club Merchandise Refreshment volunteers needed Who s hungry? Bonsai people are! Bringing refreshments is very simple and easy. Stop and pick up a few cookies or pretzels, and come to the meeting a bit early. Just let us know what month you would like to pitch in and help! Please see Neil Jaeger to sign up. Dues are due GET INVOLVED If you are a member of our bonsai club, you may want to get involved. There are numerous ways to do so. We will need help with exhibits like the upcoming Plantasia, the Erie County Fair and our major yearly show. Volunteers will also be needed for the planned Menne's makeover. Any skill you might have is useful: everything from carpentry and sign making, to cleaning up after meetings. We are always looking for ways to utilize the talents that members have to offer. If you are interested in helping out, please contact any board member for more information on how to get involved. Thank you! Membership dues are payable at this time. The rates remain the same this year: $25 for a single, $30 for a family membership. Please make your checks payable to the Buffalo Bonsai Society, and get your payment to Paul Pearson. Remember to fill out a membership form so that your contact information is always current. Please consider checking the box to have your newsletter ed to you. It is simple and easy to receive, and comes in full color! Simply print at home and enjoy. You will be saving your club a lot of money! Your club-logo merchandise has gone into production, and will be delivered soon. Please be ready to pay for your items when they arrive. Let Wendy know if you have any questions or concerns. Mike Coppola doing light ficus work Bonsai Tasks in January The outdoor bonsai are tucked away and in dormancy for the winter. Remember to keep checking on their moisture levels, and look for signs of pests. Also check pots and soil to prevent fungus and mold growth. January is the month for planning. Now is the time to prepare for what could be a busy spring, and it could be here before we know it. Use this month to study your trees and plan the styling changes that you will perform this spring. Don t rely on your memory take notes and photos, and do sketches. For styling ideas on some of your trees, look at pictures in bonsai books and magazines. Somewhere there is a picture showing you just what you want to do with a particular tree. Don t forget the roots in your styling plans. Your next planning task is repotting. Collect and select the pots that you will use for your trees. Again do not rely on memory. Include in your notes how and where the tree will be positioned in the pot. The more notes, sketches and photos you produce during this planning month, the easier your tasks will be when the spring begins.

4 Buffalo Bonsai Society Pg 4 of 6 Lastly, you should get your potting soils ready. If you mix your own or modify purchased soil to your own formula, now is the month to do it. A common standard mix is 1/3 aged pine bark, 1/3 turface, and 1/3 filter sand or chicken grit. Sift all ingredients before mixing to remove the fines. You can modify this mix slightly for different species of plants, adding more sand or more bark depending on the needs of a particular tree. Adding mycorrhiza to your mixes helps the trees acquire nutrients. Soils purchased from Hollow Creek Farms already incorporate this into their mixes. Spring has a way of creeping up quickly. Get prepared! The January raffle item is a FREE one year membership! Bonsai Links Contact Info Club President Wendy Williams (716) wengo4it@roadrunner.com Newsletter Editor Carey Leibring (716) careyrobin@juno.com Shopping Site Bonsai Forum Bonsai pics More 360 pics BBS Member Bulletin Board- Buy/Sell/Trade Buying Pots: Abe & Amy Sosnowski are looking to buy a large quantity of bonsai pots, new or old. If you have some to sell, ask a board member and we will give you the phone number to contact. Soil & WireFor Sale: At the February meeting the club plans to have soil and wire for sale. They will be packaged in small quantities, and at affordable prices. Members only, please. Post your wanted/for sale bonsai items here! Contact Carey for information.

5 Buffalo Bonsai Society Pg 5 of Monthly Meetings January 19 th Bonsai Basics with Alayne Werner February 16 th Chemical Use in Bonsai with Erin Hickey March 16 th Selecting a Pot & Prepping for our Show with Wendy Williams April 20 th Dave Paris: topic to be announced May 18 th Caring for Conifers with Mike Coppola June 15 th Reducing a Large Tree to a Bonsai with Potential with Hank Miller July No meeting (Club Picnic) August 17 th Photo Workshop & Making Your Own Soil with Paul Pearson September 21 st Annual Club Auction October 19 th Japanese Garden Presentation with visitor Bob Poczak November 16 th The Five Basic Bonsai Styles & Spring/Winter Care with visitor Art Skolnik (tentative program) December Holiday Party (to be announced) 2011 Event Calendar Plantasia March BBS Exhibit at the Botanical Gardens - May Club Picnic July 23 rd Hollow Creek Trip August 20 th Erie County Fair August Annual BBS Auction September 21 st

6 Buffalo Bonsai Society Pg 6 of BBS Christmas Party