Post on 13-Aug-2020
9PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:
Every meeting we are honored to have a handful of new members joining our club, so, this year we are going to deliver a Circus focusing on topics that will kickstart new members and educate them on key topics to get started in bonsai.
Our club raffle continues to help new members procure books and materials that are imperative to their development in bonsai. Experienced members will find custom items and prints that are truly invaluable to their collection. Please be generous and creative with your donations. The raffle money has helped us procure an adjustable work stand, club stamp and two sets of tools that will be used at our meetings and annual show.
We are always looking for presenters at our monthly meetings. If you have information you'd like to share, please step forward. It can be an article you found online to a story of how you discovered an all new fertilizer or online store that has benefited your collection. Thanks for reading.
Please be sure to bring in your annual dues ASAP. This year we are bringing in multiple speakers and need to provide for their travel and costs
Michael Corbeille / President 4seasonsbonsai@gmail.com 248 250 3602
The Bonsai Circus is one of our club’s most popular events. The Circus has
something for everyone at every level of bonsai experience. Beginners will find
plenty of information on the basics of bonsai, from how to choose a bonsai at
a greenhouse to finding a pot that compliments your tree. Long-time members
can find unique subjects like heavy wiring and styling techniques presented by
experienced bonsai artists. Several presenters will be giving demonstrations on
a variety of topics – all simultaneously!
Subjects this year include: advanced styling, soil and substrates, repotting,
watering, and rock plantings for Beginners.
Members and guests can jump from one presentation to the next. Each
demonstration will be completely interactive, and these presentations move
quickly to allow everyone to enjoy at least 4-6 unique demonstrations. The
presenter will allow time for questions during or after their presentation.
You will not believe how much content will be shared in just a few hours. We are
truly aiming to tackle as many subjects without rushing our presenters. If you
are looking for a subject to be covered, or would like to be a presenter. Please
email or call us immediately. As always, bring in a tree for advice from the club.
CLUB RAFFLE WILL BE HELD THIS MEETING. BRING AN ITEM.
MARCH 24TH AT BORDINES NURSERY 12:30 MEETING SET UP (PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY)
1:00 EVENT DISCUSSION AND BONSAI UPDATES
1:15 CIRCUS BEGINS
3:30 CIRCUS ENDS.
3:40 TREE REVIEW AND RAFFLE.
BONSAI CIRCUS IS BACK
FOUR SEASONS BONSAI CLUBof MICHIGAN
MARCH 24th 2019 www.fourseasonsbonsai.com
http://www.bonsaiempire.com/basics/bonsai-care/calendar
It is common sense to work on a tree at a time when it is possible to obtain the best result, while interfering as little as possible with the plant’s natural activity. Causing stress to a plant will slow down its process of development instead of speeding it up, so timing your work is important!
It is very important to work on vigorous plants. Weak plants respond badly, and their survival may be put at risk. To boost the strength of a plant that you want to work on, you need to apply fertilizer in the previous year: nearly all species absorb and store up nutrients in order to use them during the following growth season.
Within a given year, plants go through various phases:
1. Winter dormancy
2. Revival and flowering
3. Producing new growth and fruit
4. A short period of summer dormancy
5. Consolidation of the new growth
Preparation for the winter dormancy.
The start points and lengths of the phases are very much dependent on variations in the photoperiod (the relationship between the length of the daytime and of night) and climate, which can alter the periods of rest or activity. For example, if there are very high temperatures, above 32–35°C, that last for more than a very brief spell, this will slow down or inhibit photosynthesis: the plant will then go into a period of dormancy that will not end until normal conditions have been re-established.
These are only rough guidelines, however. Geographical position and local microclimate are highly variable factors, so it is necessary to check the plant’s ability to adapt to the chosen location. Paying close attention to the biological cycle of plants to glean useful pointers and to choose the time and method of intervention is much more pertinent, and gives more accurate information than following tables of prescribed data.
Phase 1. During winter dormancy
Broadleaves are inactive during this period. The absence of leaves does not allow photosynthesis, and there is no activity in the organs. The part above ground has no need for either light or fertilizer. Stick only to routine maintenance, to avoid the possibility of infestation by parasites or fungus. The roots, on the other hand, need a certain amount of moisture in the soil to stay alive and not dry out. But take care not to over-water; otherwise you risk asphyxiating them. During this period, because of the low temperatures, water evaporates slowly and is not absorbed at all by the leaves. The soil dries so slowly that it is easy to forget to check it. This is a good period for a number of types of work on bonsai.
Repotting
Most bonsai can be repotted during the winter, but the best period for this is the weeks immediately prior to the early spring revival, when you judge that there is no longer a danger of intense cold that could damage the roots. If repotting a tree in the middle of winter, you need to remember to put it in a place where is safe from frost – although not in a heated room, because you do not want to stimulate premature growth.
Broadleaves are generally repotted after hosing down the root ball to clean it and leave the roots bare. This provides an opportunity to have a good look at all of the roots every two to three years. You therefore need to take advantage of it to improve them, by removing thicker ones so as to stimulate growth of finer ones which absorb nutrients dissolved in water. The improvements must concern either the buried roots, or those on the surface, and the nebari which should be attended to at each repotting.
Repotting conifers is more complicated and carries a slightly higher level of risk than that of broadleaves. It should never be done with bare roots; instead, part of the root ball must be kept intact. The fine roots of conifers generally have more trouble forming. To absorb food, they need mycorrhizas, which therefore need to be retained.old needles to allow more light to penetrate, to activate the dormant buds inside the tree and to sort through the terminal buds at the ends of the branches to leave just two of them.
TIME TO PREPARE YOURSELVES FOR THE SPRING!
The time available in late winter for repotting broadleaves is rather limited. Repotting must be suspended as soon as the first buds start to open. A second possibility for repotting arises in June, when the leaves from the first budding are mature. The period for repotting conifers is much longer and can extend right up to the point when the candles open for pines, or to the growth of new foliage for junipers: in practice, it can last from the first half of February until mid-June, depending on the microclimate of the location concerned. Cutting back the roots during repotting stimulates the plant to quickly produce new roots, new growth, and to repair its wounds: healing is very speedy in this period.
Other tasks for the dormant period
The winter dormancy is a good time for:
6 working on jin and shari (dead parts of branches or trunks
7 major work on deadwood on junipers, pines and Prunus
8 bending trunks and branches, small or large
9 treating deadwood with jin seal to prevent it from rotting
10 using jin seal as a preventative measure (dilute 1 part jin seal with 30 parts water) on trunks and major branches of broadleaves.
On pines, just before maintenance pruning and wire training, if it has not been done already, it is possible to remove the old needles to allow more light to penetrate, to activate the dormant buds inside the tree and to sort through the terminal buds at the ends of the branches to leave just two of them.
It is common sense to work on a tree at a time when it is possible to obtain the best result, while interfering as little as possible with the plant’s natural activity. Causing stress to a plant will slow down its process of development instead of speeding it up, so timing your work is important! This article is written by Bruno Mazza
BONSAI INSPIRATION - https://bonsaimirai.com
2019 OFFICERS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS
President.................Michael Corbeille mrcorbeille@gmail.com
Vice-President ........Lynn Irish ................................ lirish@wowway.com
Secretary ................Josh Barg ................................ rickmarsh@wowway.com
Treasurers ..............Beth Rubinstein (248)752-6258 bethrubins@gmail.com
Newsletter ...............Michael Corbeille mrcorbeille@gmail.com
Website ...................Cate Horn (248) 979-2254 smoknjoeonthego@gmail.com
Quartermaster .........Raoul Van Hecke ................................vanheckeplastering@gmail.com
Director, 2-Yr. Term .. John Stevens jalden123@aol.com
Director, 2-Yr. Term .. Chris Kehrig chris.kehrig@gm.com
Director, 2-Yr. Term .. Tom Kravchenko sirpanda@hotmail.com
Director, 1-Yr. Term .. Rick Bieniek richardbieniek@yahoo.com
Catering, 1-Yr. Term .Judy Muensch mexicomuench@aol.com
POSITIONS ARE OPEN. PLEASE EMAIL US IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN THE BOARD. EXPERIENCE ISN'T NECESSARY. JUST PASSION FOR BONSAI.
FO
UR
SEA
SON
S B
ON
SAI
CLU
B
and
gre
at f
rien
d o
f th
e cl
ub.
BYO
B to w
ork
on
your
tree
s after
the
dem
o a
nd r
ecei
ve h
and
s on
advi
ce fro
m J
ack
and
clu
b m
ember
s. R
aff
le a
nd
dis
cuss
ion
about
the
sho
w a
nd A
uctio
n to
o.
Sund
ay,
JUN
E 2
3rd
BON
SAI
AU
CTIO
N
11-4
pm
*(E
arl
ier
Tim
e) B
ord
ines
Nur
sery
.
A m
ass
ive
colle
ctio
n of bons
ai t
rees
and
bons
ai
rela
ted it
ems
will
be
auc
tione
d to c
lub m
ember
s.
Mem
ber
s are
ask
ed to c
om
e ea
rly
and
reg
iste
r th
eir
item
s. W
e w
ill b
e se
ndin
g e
ntry
form
s and
sa
les
info
rmatio
n pri
or
to the
auc
tion.
Sund
ay, JU
LY 2
1st
Kurt
Sm
ith
of T
he F
low
er M
arke
t 1-4
pm
Bord
ines
Nur
sery
, Ro
ches
ter
Hill
s
Kur
t Sm
ith, th
e ow
ner
of th
e Fl
ower
Mark
et in
D
undee
MI, is
back
to c
ond
uct a
noth
er m
emora
ble
dem
ons
tratio
n and
dis
cuss
ing h
ow to s
elec
t bons
ai.
Pl
us, ex
per
ienc
ed c
lub m
ember
s w
ill b
e st
ylin
g a
larg
e tr
ee in
fro
nt o
f th
e en
tire
club
. W
irin
g,
carv
ing a
nd p
roper
tec
hniq
ues
in la
rge
bra
nch
ben
din
g.
This
tree
will
be
ente
red
in o
ur a
nnua
l sho
w r
aff
le. BY
OB is
enc
our
aged
.
SATU
RDA
Y &
SU
NDA
Y A
UG
UST
10
th &
11
th4
6th
AN
NU
AL
BON
SAI
SHO
W!
JEN
NIF
ER P
RIC
E H
ON
OR
ARY
JU
DG
E
9am
- 6:0
0 S
atu
rday.
9am
- 3pm
Sun
day
Bord
ines
Nur
sery
, Ro
ches
ter
Hill
sC
om
e se
e an
incr
edib
le c
olle
ctio
n of bons
ai t
rees
on
dis
pla
y, li
ve d
emos,
work
shops
and
bons
ai t
rees
fo
r sa
le. W
e are
exc
ited to h
ave
Jen
nife
r Pr
ice
as
our
judge
this
yea
r. J
enni
fer
has
trave
led the
glo
be
with
Walte
r Pa
ll and
cond
ucte
d a
n ex
ceptio
nal
carv
ing d
emo w
ith o
ur c
lub la
st y
ear.
She
will
be
styl
ing a
bons
ai t
ree
that w
ill b
e en
tere
d in
the
ra
ffle
. K
urt S
mith
, Jo
hn W
all,
Vanc
e W
ood a
nd
Matt
Goth
ber
g w
ill b
e se
lling
an
incr
edib
le c
olle
c-tio
n of bons
ai,
tools
, so
il and
oth
er b
ons
ai i
tem
s!
Sund
ay, SE
PTEM
BER
22
rdCh
ris
Bak
er C
urat
or C
hica
go B
otan
ical
Gar
den
11-4
pm
Bord
ines
Nur
sery
, Ro
ches
ter
Hill
s.
C
hris
Bake
r, the
Cur
ato
r of th
e in
cred
ible
Chi
cago
Bota
nica
l Gard
en,
is h
ere
to d
o a
cond
uct a
live
dem
o, dis
cuss
pin
es,
fert
iliza
tion
and
pre
pari
ng
your
tree
s fo
r w
inte
r and
sho
ws.
Bri
ng in
a f
ew
tree
s fo
r C
hris
Bake
r to
sha
re id
eas
and
direc
tion.
Sund
ay, O
CTO
BER
20th
Mem
ber
wor
ksho
p 1-4
pm
Bord
ines
Nur
sery
, Ro
ches
ter
Hill
s.W
e are
get
ting d
irt u
nder
our
nails
. Sty
ing,
wir
ing,
carv
ing a
nd tr
ans
form
ing o
ur tr
ees
bef
ore
win
ter.
Bri
ng y
our
tools
, w
ire
and
rota
ting s
tand
s.
Sund
ay,
NO
VEM
BER
17th
WIN
TER
PR
EPA
RA
TIO
NS
1-4
pm
Bord
ines
Nur
sery
, Ro
ches
ter
Hill
s.W
e w
ill d
iscu
ss h
ow to p
repare
your
tree
s fo
r th
e bru
tal M
ichi
gan
win
ters
. Bui
ldin
g c
old
fra
mes
to
setti
ng u
p g
row
light
s in
doors
for
tropic
al t
rees
.
Satu
rday
, D
ECEM
BER
7th
Hol
iday
Din
ner
6 -
8pm
Cafe
Sus
hi,
Troy
MI
All
club
mem
ber
s and
fam
ily a
re in
vite
d.
We
cele
bra
te o
ur 4
9th
yea
r in
bons
ai.
OF
MIC
HIG
AN
Sund
ay,
FEBRU
ARY
24th
FIR
ST M
EETI
NG
OF
THE
YEA
R1-4
pm
Bord
ines
Nur
sery
, Ro
ches
ter
Hill
s.
Intr
oduc
tion
to the
yea
rs e
vent
s and
sch
edul
e.
Wel
com
e to
bons
ai f
or
new
mem
ber
s &
beg
inne
rs.
M
icha
el C
orb
eille
update
on
club
sta
tus
and
pla
ns
for
201
9.
Cale
ndar
conf
irm
atio
n. B
YOB (
bri
ng in
yo
ur o
wn
bons
ai) h
and
s on
advi
ce a
nd s
tylin
g.
Sund
ay,
MA
RCH
24
thBO
NSA
I CI
RCU
S
1-4
pm
Bord
ines
Nur
sery
, Ro
ches
ter
Hill
s.
New
to b
ons
ai o
r ju
st lo
oki
ng to h
one
your
ski
lls,
donʼ
t mis
s th
is m
eetin
g!
Mul
tiple
mem
ber
s w
ill h
old
si
mul
tane
ous
work
shops
and
dem
os
on
a v
ari
ety
bons
ai r
elate
d topic
s gea
red tow
ard
beg
inne
rs
thro
ugh
exper
t lev
el b
ons
ai a
rtis
ts.
A m
ust a
ttend
!
Sund
ay,
APR
IL 2
8th
JOH
N W
ALL
DEM
O
1-4
pm
Bord
ines
Nur
sery
, Ro
ches
ter
Hill
s.Back
by
popul
ar
dem
and
, Jo
hn W
all,
an
aw
ard
w
inni
ng b
ons
ai a
rtis
t and
foun
der
of Tu
rnbul
l Cre
ek
bons
ai.
John
will
be
cond
uctin
g a
dem
o,
dis
cuss
ing
yam
adori
pul
led fro
m the
sw
am
ps
of Te
nnes
see
and
direc
tion
and
advi
ce o
n cl
ub m
ember
tree
s.C
lub m
ember
and
mast
er c
raftsm
an,
Dan
Ben
nett,
w
ill d
iscu
ss b
uild
ing a
nd d
ispla
ying
sta
nds.
He
will
ha
ve s
tand
s fo
r sa
le.
BYO
B a
nd it
ems
for
the
raff
le.
Sund
ay,
MA
Y 19
thJA
CK S
UST
IC D
EMO
11-4
pm
Bord
ines
Nur
sery
, Ro
ches
ter
Hill
s
W
e are
hono
red to h
ave
Jack
Sus
tic b
ack
to s
tyle
a
mass
ive
Juni
per
. M
r Su
stic
is the
form
er C
urato
r of
the
Natio
nal B
ons
ai C
olle
ctio
n in
Wash
ingto
n D
C
ww
w.f
ours
easo
nsbo
nsai
.com
4se
ason
sbon
sai@
gmai
l.co
mFS
B M
EETI
NG
S AR
E H
ELD
AT
BORD
INES
NU
RSE
RY •
1835
RO
CHES
TER
ROAD
SO
UTH
• R
OCH
ESTE
R H
ILLS
MI
4830
7
2019
Cal
enda
r of E
vent
s All e
vent
s are
ope
n to
the
publ
ic
THE MAJORITY OF OUR CLUB MEETINGS WILL BE HELD AT BORDINES NURSERY IN ROCHESTER HILLS. PLEASE CHECK THE NEWSLETTER AND FACEBOOK PAGE FOR ANY
LOCATION CHANGES AND TO CONFIRM OUR MEETING TIMES.
SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BONSAI VENDORS