Founded January, 1964

JOURNAL

March 2011www.torontobonsai.org

Schedule of eventsMeetings are held at the TBG (Toronto Botanical Gardens), at 777 Lawrence Avenue East, Toronto, in the Garden Hall, (lower auditorium on the west side of building), unless otherwise noted.

Beginner sessions: 6:30 – 7:20

The beginner sessions are held in Studio #2 upstairs. All beginners should take a look at the new TBS Journal section, beginner corner, and visit the BEGINNERS section, under ARCHIVES on the TBS web site.

March: suitable trees for bonsai; how to manage your bonsai collection, with Ray Shivrattan.

April: essentials of repotting, pruning, wiring, root development.

General meetings: 7:30 – 10:00

March 14: TBS meeting: elm bonsai presentation. Workshop: shohin dwarf elm (Ulmus x hollandica 'Jacqueline Hillier'). Cost: $28. Sign up with Cheryl or Linda.

April 11: TBS meeting: white spruce forest demo, presented by Mike Roussel. Workshop: bring your own tree (club wire provided).

May 9: TBS meeting: Marco Invernizzi critique. Got a tree that needs an expert opinion? Bring it in to the master for advice and adjustments.

May 28, 29: TBS spring show. TBG, 8:00: bring in your bonsai, or bonsai in development, accent plants, viewing stones, for display. Contact Mike or Otmar to volunteer your help.

June 13: TBS meeting: Workshop: Shimpaku, Blaauwi juniper workshop. Cost: $30. Contact Cheryl & Linda to register. Bring your own tree workshop, (club wire provided).

Backyard workshops/garden parties: contact your TBS executive, listed on the back page, to offer your backyard for a get together.

Outside the club:

June 16 - 19: ABS/BCI Symposium: bonsai in the bluegrass, in Louisville, Kentucky.

November 17 - 27: BCI Grand Bonsai Tour Japan. Osaka, Kyoto, and Taikan-Ten, western Japan's most prestigious show.

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On the cover: Mike McCallion's slanting style cedar (Thuja occidentalis), on a slab. Photo taken by Mike in July, 2008. See page 4 for story.

When disaster strikes by Mike Roussel

I have a number of routines that I follow in the morning, and one of the first things I do is open up the blinds in the bedroom and peer outside. This ritual of “welcoming of the day” is coupled with a desire to see what the weather is like outside, and regardless of rain or shine, I am typically greeted by idyllic scenes of birds at the feeder, freshly fallen snow, spring flowers, lush summer growth or fall leaves. Most of the time there really is nothing overly special happening outside, and this activity passes quickly as I get on with my other morning activities.

However, the morning of February 12 this year was different. That morning, I stood at the window transfixed, eyes on the garden, simply repeating the phrase: “oh no, oh no”! There had been a heavy windstorm the previous night and one side of my bonsai shelter had collapsed. Knowing that this shelter houses most of my best trees, and fearing the worst, I quickly got ready and went outside to survey the damage. Relief passed through my heart when I realized that by fluke I put the taller trees on the side that didn’t collapse, and as a result the damage was not nearly as bad as I had feared. Luckily, most of the trees, while they had a lot of snow on them and a couple bent branches, generally came out unscathed. That is not to say that damage didn’t occur though. The tree that got the worst of it is the beautiful hawthorn I bought from Bob Wilcox a few years back. It will not be in any shows for the next year or two as I rebuild the apex where many of the buds were damaged and will need to be replaced. Sorry, Bob.

What happened? Well, it seems that screws are not nearly as strong as nails, and the strain on the structure from the intense wind and heavy snow literally broke them in half! I suppose that once a number of them broke, the rest followed suit. What a disaster. I put the shelter together again, this time with 4 inch nails which should hold it until spring. Next year I will bolt it all together. Lesson learned.

And this is not the first disaster I have had. Again in February, a few years ago, I had a massive mouse attack in my garage cold room, in which I lost a large number of my Japanese maples and other deciduous trees. I was busy that winter, and had neglected to put out traps, the result being that I lost some very nice trees that I had been developing for quite some time. Once I put out the traps I caught in excess of 20 mice. What a plague. I am still kicking myself over that one.

Two years ago I had a similar problem in that I left some trees on the deck at the new house while in the throes of moving, only to find that there are rabbits here who really enjoyed munching on my crab apple and other tasty trees.

Luckily, in that case, they were only seedlings and recovered quickly. Now, all trees reside on benches and anything on the ground that could be considered tasty is surrounded by a chicken fence.

I have had other disasters too, like trees flying off benches resulting in broken pots and branches, death due to improper watering, sun scald, insect attacks, my pet dog pulling trees of benches and chewing on them, etc … Thankfully, I have never had to deal with theft; but that is something I do worry about and am taking precautions against.

Now I am sure some of you have experienced similar, if not worse, disasters yourselves, and each time you must do what I do: chastise yourself for not being more careful, learn your lesson, and fix the situation. It is so disheartening to have your trees damaged or killed after so many years of loving care and hard work.

One thing I know is that when I redesign my bonsai display this year you can be certain that I will be tying my trees down and taking other means to ensure that my trees are not damaged by pests or the more violent moods of Mother Nature.

Anticipate disasters my fellow bonsai hobbyists, and protect your trees!

TBS web site redesign By Jorge Pereira

I would like to start by thanking Mike Roussel and the other members of the executive for the warm welcome. I felt accepted, heard, and truly welcomed from day one.

But now let’s get on with the business at hand...

The TBS web site (www.torontobonsai.org) is a great site with lots of information, but most will agree it is in need of a face lift. It represents the TBS to the bonsai world, but is primarily for the benefit of the members, so I would ask that everyone participate in the redesign.

I would like to start by asking members to provide input and ideas. I need to know what you like and don't like in the current site; what you want to see in the new site. Provide examples of things you like in other web sites that you want to see on the TBS site.

There are a number of other ways you can participate in the redesign and future maintenance of the site:

− Proofread the existing articles and/or write new articles.

− Help testing (i.e. look for errors and verify that the new site works well on different browsers.)

− Help with the creation of the new site (this will require advanced computer and software development skills.)

− Provide pictures and videos of past or future bonsai trees and events.

To provide your ideas or to volunteer your help, just email me, Jorge Pereira, at webmaster@torontobonsai.org, with the email subject line “Website Redesign”; or just come over and see me at the general meetings. As the new TBS web master, I will try to incorporate as many of the ideas provided as possible, so please participate and help make the TBS web site even better.

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Jorge Pereira

Slanting cedar.. progressionby Mike McCallion

I collected this cedar in early 2002, and it had it’s first styling at a backyard workshop at Grace Wicht’s the following summer – from there it just progressed. What is remarkable is that it has actually achieved pretty close to what I had envisioned for it when I first decided on a slanting style. Initially I had some trouble picturing the right balance for the tree – position, weight of foliage, branch angles etc. But I knew that’s what the tree had in it.

After seeing a picture of a slanting spruce in Masahiko Kimura’s book, I finally was able to get past the design decisions which I had been unable to make. His tree, while different, is planted at a very similar angle and appears to have similar proportions. So with that image in mind, I have been able to move forward and bring the elements of this tree together into a harmonious image.

I had always envisioned it on a rock, ideally an inverted curve or small hill. I had been showing pictures of the tree to Nick Lenz during a workshop, and he took me out to his pile of stuff, pointed to a rock and said: “the border cops don’t care about rocks do they? Plant it on that. It’s too heavy for me to use anymore.”

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July, 2002.

September, 2004.

October, 2008.

Dead branchesby Greg Quinn

If you're interested in making excellent bonsai, one of the things you should consider is creating jins on your trees. The bonsai technique for the creation of a dead wood branch,called a "jin" in Japanese, is yet another technique used to add character and the appearance of age to your bonsai. Done properly, your tree looks very realistic, adding to the illusion of a natural circumstance. Done improperly, it erodes the image, and makes your bonsai look artificial, unrealistic, and cheap. So it's important to jin branches with skill, appropriateness, and

discretion.

As is most often the case with bonsai, the natural world is the best teacher, showing you what dead branches actually look like. Mostly found in coniferous trees, such as cedars, junipers, and pines, dead branches are created by top growth shading the lower branches, the weight of snow, the force of wind, and lightning. But branches also do not break in the same way for each

species, given the differing fibrous woods, branching patterns, and other factors. This givesg you a fairly wide range of motifs to follow, in your role as weather god.

Studying pictures of bonsai with dead wood is an additional practice which can yield results. Viewing others' attempts, you will probably be stricken by the over-use of dead wood on many bonsai, and on junipers in particular. It's easy to get carried away with this creative, and destructive, activity. Exercise restraint and subtlety using deadwood techniques. And remember that what you see in a photograph is an image - the photographer's split second take of the bonsai. Bonsai are experienced differently when seen in person.

It's a good idea to pay attention to the wood grain and fibers on the branch, peeling away the finer sinews, rather than ripping the wood. And consider treating the dead wood you create with lime sulphur or a wood preservative, as protection against bacterial and fungal rots. Adding some pigment to the solution will give it texture and depth. Again, these decisions depend on the species, and how long you intend to retain those dead branches. Over time, all things break down, so you will have to keep on applying the preservative...

Creating jins, and any dead wood, takes some bravery, since these features will certainly draw the eye, leaving any mistakes you make fully visible. And they could make bad horticultural sense, since you are taking a chance on rotting the wood when you take the bark off.

But if you do succeed - whoa! 5

Cedar.

Weeping willow (Salix alba.)Cedar (Thuja occidentalis.)

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris.)

Beginner cornerby Greg Quinn

TBS beginners are encouraged to visit the BEGINNERS section, listed under ARCHIVES on the TBS web site, and read the articles written by Bob Wilcox introducing you to the bonsai hobby here in Toronto. For seasonal care advice, the TBS web site has specific monthly care advice for your Toronto bonsai, in the MONTHLY section, also listed under ARCHIVES.

It is worthwhile learning some English bonsai terms, Japanese bonsai terms, and general terms. (Follow the links.)

TBS beginner spring check list:1. Trees: do you have some to practice on? If not:

i) Sign up for workshops with Linda and Cheryl (listed on back cover.)ii) Check for a tree collection this spring, reading Norman Haddrick's "Collecting Trees from Nature"iii) Visit the nearest bonsai nursery (see 'VENDORS' on the TBS web site and Gim Retsinas's article, "Bonsai is Close

Enough to Purchase", from the November, 2006 TBS Journal.iv) Visit your local nursery, after reading Norman Haddrick's "Bonsai From Nursery Stock - Reduction Building", and

Reiner Goebel's demonstration of "Potting Up a Nursery Boxwood", if ready for bonsai treatments. v) Volunteer to help and attend our twice annual TBS Show, and purchase trees in the vendors section.vi) Speak to any TBS member about acquiring trees suitable for bonsai.

2. Bonsai soil: did you know that most people make their own bonsai soil, using various materials and screens for eliminating fine particles? See Mike McCallion's article on this subject, "What is Bonsai Soil?"

3. Tools: do you have what you need to create bonsai? Speak to Robert Dubuc, who runs the club tools desk. He can also advise you about general care, and oiling and sharpening of bonsai tools. There's also a useful carving demo article, by Dierk Neugebauer and Jeff Shortt, "Carving Demo & Clinic."

4. Research: have you read the TBS books and looked at pictures of bonsai to know what you like? If not, see our club librarian Keith Oliver to edify yourself. There are a number of bonsai magazines bound, and soon the TBS book list will be on line.

5. Style: have you decided which style your trees will be in? Explore bonsai design using software, see Bob Wilcox's "Creating Virtual Foliage".

6. Growing seeds and cuttings: a good background activity. Remember that there are no "bonsai seeds", and it takes about 10 years for a tree to get to the size where it will be useful as bonsai. Making cuttings is a good activity when you are pruning your trees, to make a clone, or exact genetic copy, of your tree. Once again, it takes a long time to grow a tree from scratch, and still longer to make it a bonsai. Dierk Neugebauer wrote "Multiplication", and "Propagating Cuttings", dealing with this practice.

7. Bonsai pots: you need to own a number bonsai pots to get the right one for your bonsai. John Biel's article, The Right Pot?, explores that all important decision.

8. Bonsai stands: yes, you need these too, if you intend to show your bonsai in home or at the TBS Show. Some of the Sean Smith black walnut bonsai stands are still available for purchase from the club.

9. Shitakusa/Kusamono: these are herbaceous plants for the bonsai show, or to be enjoyed on their own. Shitakusa are accent plants, to complement your woody bonsai, and kusamono are meant to contrast. Jean Charing has written an excellent article on the subject, after her trip to the Symposium in Rochester, "Shitakusas, or Complementary Plants". They have their own pots, too. Ask any senior or executive member for guidance.

Editorial: electionsby Greg Quinn

As we all know, there are many areas where we, as a club, can, collectively improve. We are very good in our advisory actions, and this is a very useful and necessary. But who will bell the cat?

Talk is great; but unfortunately, that's all it is. It takes some force to put words into action. Communication, involvement, repetition, cajoling - what ever it takes. That's where candidacy, elections, and volunteering on the executive come in: this is your one chance to change the course for the next two years.

Think of it like a ship, full of cargo, headed to foreign ports. In this case, we, the crew, elect the captain, who, for the good of all, chooses our course for us. But knowing that some crew members may not agree with that chosen course, we allow this minority a chance to build consensus and nominate a candidate for the next election. They can then get their program into action. Otherwise, if we let ambivalence and apathy govern our actions and remain silent, we lose hope and give up trying.

For the sake of ourselves, our hobby, and our club, we all need to get involved in this selection process, to choose and support a candidate we can follow; and having chosen, fully support the club from that point on to the next election in 2013.

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TBS announcements

Two new members

We would like to welcome into our club two new members, Allan Cheung and Joel Lifschitz.

The silent auction

Thanks to all who brought in donations and snacks to our silent auction. Even though it was Valentine's day, we still had a good turn out.

TBS elections

This is an election year for us, so consider entering your name for a position on the TBS Executive. This need not be an entire portfolio, but just some involvement. Please let the executive know of your candidacy. The vote will be held in June.

Bonsai - not for profit

The TBS has decided to go the route of a "not-for-profit" corporation, in order to take advantage of discounts and sponsorship money to fund shows, guest speakers, better workshop material, pots, and everything else. In this matter, we need guidance from members who have a legal or accounting background, or know from experience what kind of support would be useful to make our application successful. Contact Mike Roussel or Otmar Sauer if you can make a contribution.

Finished bonsai stands available for purchase

There is just one finished Sean Smith workshop walnut bonsai stand left, available for purchase from the club for $100.00. Contact Linda or Cheryl to purchase.

Tree collection

If you know of any sites where club members can get permission to dig up trees suitable for bonsai, please let the TBS executive know.

Larch workshops with David Easterbrook

We are happy to announce that David Easterbrook, curator of the bonsai collection at Le Jardin Botanique, the Montreal Botanical Garden, is coming to Toronto in October 2011 to hold a series of workshops with larches he collected north of the St. Lawrence River, close to the border of Labrador. These workshops are a full day (max. 8 hours), with a lunch break and will be held at the TBG. There will be eight (8) trees for each workshop.

Sunday, October 16, 2011: Natural root-connected style larch clumps, ranging from 7-20 trees per clump; 18" to 24" high; planted in 20" x 16" plastic trays. Location: TBG, upstairs studio. Price: $160.00.

Monday, October 17, 2011: Single trunk - medium sized larches; 18" to 26" high; trunk 2" to 3" diameter; age 30 to 60 years. Location: TBG, Garden Hall. Price: $270.00.

The silent observer charge for each of the workshops will be $10.00.

On this same Monday evening, at the general meeting, David Easterbrook will demo a single trunk, medium, larch, which will be raffled off.

David is also available for Tuesday, October 18 for a private full day workshop. His cost for this is $500.00 plus food to be provided. He does not mind if a group of people get together with him to work on their trees, but the maximum number is five (5) participants. Please let me know if you are interested in this; it is a good deal in my opinion. The workshop will be held at a member's home.

Bookings for both workshops will start in May. If we have an inordinate number of members applying, a draw for the available spaces will be held. David has also promised us pictures of the trees once they have been taken out of the ground, which will be probably by the middle of April, weather permitting. If anyone has any questions please do not hesitate to email me, Otmar Sauer, or talk to me at the general meetings.

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Walnut bonsai stand, 10.5"x 14.5".

Goodies at our annual TBS silent auction.

Regular TBS meetingsMeetings take place on the second Monday of every month, except July and August, at the Toronto Botanical Gardens, located at 777 Lawrence Avenue East, at Leslie Street, in the auditorium on the west side of the building at 7:30 p.m. The general meetings frequently include: demonstrations of bonsai techniques, critiques of bonsai trees, and workshops, in which each participant styles a tree with the help of an experienced member. These meetings are preceded at 6:30 p.m. by the Beginner sessions, held upstairs.

A small fee is charged for workshops, and a tree, wire and instructor are provided. To participate in workshops, it is necessary to register in advance of the meeting so that materials can be provided.

Members are encouraged to bring in bonsai to show and work on during the meetings. Wire is provided at no charge. Non-members may attend a meeting at no charge to see if the club is of interest to them.

Library hours and policyThe library is open to members at the beginning of our regular meetings. Members may borrow books free of charge for one month. Late returns cost $2 per month with a minimum charge of $2. Please return all materials the next month, and before summer.

Membership deskThe membership desk will be open at all meetings. The opening time may be extended for the first fall meeting to assist with renewals. You may also register for workshops there.

Tools & suppliesTools and supplies are sold by the club at most meetings. It is a good idea to contact the executive member in advance of the meeting for specific tools and supplies.

TBS executive:President:Mike Rousselmike.roussel@sympatico.ca

Vice-president:Otmar Sauerotmar.sauer@sympatico.ca

Web-master:Jorge Pereirawebmaster@torontobonsai.org

Treasurer:Jean Charingjeancharing@rogers.com

Editor/publisher:Greg Quinngquinn@hotmail.com

Tools & supplies:Rob Dubucrobdubuc@bellnet.ca

Membership secretary:Linda Chevrier, Cheryl Johnsoncjohnson24@sympatico.ca

New member host:Karen Brankleykayeb29@hotmail.com

Recording secretary:Barbara Popebarbaralpope@rogers.com

Past-president:Mike McCallionmwm@aplixcanada.com

Librarian:Keith Oliverkeitholiver1@hotmail.com

Members at large:Bob Colebcole@metroland.com

Lilly Tsirulnikovlilia.tsir@gmail.com

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The JOURNAL was founded in January, 1964, is published

monthly, except July & August, and exists to further the study,

practice, promulgation, and fellowship of bonsai.

Visit the Toronto Bonsai Society’s web site at:

www.torontobonsai.org

Toronto Bonsai SocietyP.O. Box 155

Don Mills, OntarioM3C 2S2