February 2020 Meeting this Sunday 15th at West End Hall View St Castlemaine from 11am
Founded 2001 Incorporated 2002
Presidents Notes Hello Members,
Paul Showell President. 0429 016 729 Helen Wheeler Secretary 54 762286 David Rojo Treasurer 0458 811 205 Newsletter– GoldfieldsBonsaiSociety GBS Facebook page
Well that was a quick month since our last meeting and AGM in February must be the short month. It’s nice to see the back of the hot weather, I've noticed some trees starting to drop the occasional leaf because of the cooler nights. Hopefully the first frosts are still a month away at least. Last month we held a Kusamono pot making workshop under the guidance of our expert Potter, Trevor. Just about everybody made one or two pots as you can see on the following pages. It’s fantastic having someone like Trevor in the club who is able to draw on his experience of learning pot making in Japan, and is then willing to share his knowledge and passion with our members. Following the workshop we also held our AGM. Alas you are stuck with me for another year, although this is definitely my final year. 10 years in the role is enough for anyone. Thankyou to Helen and David who have also agreed to continue for another 12 months. Although we have a succession plan in place for Pam to transition into the Secretary role over the next year. Thankyou to those who have offered to contribute more to the newsletter, as you’ll see on page three as Yvonne provides us with Monthly care notes and a Member Profile. This Sunday we have a wiring workshop tailored to our new members. I’m told it is a bit early to be wiring just yet, as our trees are still growing, although not as fast. So if you can bring along a starter tree or two to work on, one that won’t make you cry if you happen to hear a crack. We will have a team of experienced practitioners to show you the correct techniques and processes around shaping your trees with wire. I hope to have some wire available from our friends at Moongate as well. Helen has advised to not water the trees you are brining for a couple of days prior as it can help make them less brittle when bending. Bring your own tools and wire where possible. I hope you have all seen on Facebook that Bjorn Bjorholm is coming back to Melbourne in early August. There were a few workshop places still available if you contact North West for availability. I am going down for a Workshop and will go to the Critique on Tuesday night, so I may be able to drive some down on the Tuesday evening. That’s enough from me for now I’m looking forward to seeing you all again on Sunday for another fun day exploring the world of bonsai with friends . Paul
February Pot making and AGM Helens notes and photos from Paul and Kristy The February meeting was a workshop. Trevor brought clay and tools and members worked on hand building their own shohin and kusamono pot. Some pots were built draped over a rounded form. Trevor assisted members as they worked and most participated and made a pot. Annual meeting. February 16, 2020. Paul welcomed everyone to the meeting. Paul and Helen gave reports on the activities over the past year and David presented his Treasurers audited report. Executive positions were vacated and nominations called for. Paul was nominated in for president, Helen for secretary and David for treasurer. All elected unanimously. Club membership fees to remain as is. Helen
Yvonne's Bonsai Calendar notes Early Autumn Temperatures and sunlight are gradually decreasing. It’s still important to check your bonsai for watering needs. We can still get some hot days. If you have air layers make sure to keep them moist also, ready to be removed before next spring. This is a good time to take cuttings from conifers. Clear adult conifers from their yellowing needles. It is no longer necessary to pinch your bonsai as the shoots stop growing in autumn. Keep an eye out for insects, such as scale, mealy bugs, aphids, greenfly, and spider mite and treat them as required. Also keep an eye out for fungi and treat where necessary. Blight and powdery mildew may appear this time of year with warm days. Autumn is the time to fertilise again to boost your bonsai before winter. You can use organic pellets alternated with power feed to feed your bonsai in autumn. Pines love a heavy fertilising regime this time of the year as well.
If you grow bonsai that fruit you may need to protect them from birds, wasps and possums. As your deciduous bonsai trees start to change colour enjoy the display. Cheers Yvonne
Member profile Name: David R How did you become interested in bonsai? How long ago? When the Goldfields Bonsai Society was formed as a breakaway group from the Bendigo Club, I was actively promoting my Bonsai products to clubs and had good rapport with then President, Pam Caswell. She bought pots, wire and tools for her new club and I kept in touch for business. I lived in the region and offered to support the new club, which I subscribed to and because of my Accounting background, Pam asked me to be the ‘auditor’. What was your first bonsai? I did my first bonsai in a class with my teacher, Greta Brenzy in the 1980s. It was a maple. Did it survive? I still have it today. What is your favourite species for bonsai and why? I love azaleas, the one pictured below is a white Satsuki and there are many varieties of these with beautiful flowers. However I do concentrate on Maples and try to keep as many varieties as possible. They show all the seasons - beautiful in Spring and Autumn. What part of doing bonsai do you want to work on and why? Working on bonsai is very relaxing and very rewarding, particularly when you get the result you want. It is important to be happy yourself with your work. Praise from others is nice, but usually ‘tongue in cheek’ - everyone thinks they can do it better and probably can. One of David's many azaleas and him demonstrating thread grafting to the club back in 2018
9th World Bonsai Convention, Perth, Western Australia 14 - 18 October 2021
The Australia-New Zealand Region of WBFF welcomes you to the web site for the 9th World Bonsai Convention The venue chosen for this event is the Crown Towers, Burswood Western Australia For your planning it is expected that further information and registration will be available May 2020 Tour information will be available from October 2020, if you would like information prior to this then your friendly planning team are happy to assist Email to: enquiries@world-bonsai-convention-2021.com As the program develops, we will post the information here, so please check back from time to time. Western Australia is an exciting and fabulous place to visit For tourism information about our wonderful state visit Tourism Western Australia
Click on the link below for the 2020 AABC Convention booklet http://www.aabcltd.org/uploads/52160/ ufiles/2020_ConvenBooklet_May19.pdf
Goldfields Bonsai Society Program 2020 March 15th– Wiring workshop April 19th– Guest Demo and Autumn pines workshop with Joe Morgan Paylor May 17th– Nursery Tour to be confirmed June 21st– Carving Workshop July 19th– Field trip for a dig still to be decided August 16th– Winter Exhibition at Daylesford Town Hall September 20th– Repotting Workshop
October 18th– Air layer Workshop. Preparation for Exhibition Oct 31st & Nov 1st– Spring Exhibition at Castlemaine Botanical Gardens November 15th– Christmas breakup
Meeting this Sunday 15th Hall open from 11am.
Bring Lunch.
Bring something for the display table.
Wiring workshop, bring along your own trees/tools and wire. David reminded me that Fees are also due at the moment $20 single $25 family