8
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:
Every meeting we are honored to have a handful of new members joining our club. We are all doing an excptional job sharing our newsletters and social posts with our friends and family. This year we have a more aggressive calendar and will need everyone to contribute. Please be sure to connect with Beth R with your annual dues.
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.
Michael Corbeille / President [email protected] 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, guy wiring, repotting, soil
development, watering, grafting and Bonsai 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
CLUB RAFFLE WILL NOT BE HELD THIS MEETING.
MARCH 25TH 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 Q & A.
BONSAI CIRCUS IS BACK
FOUR SEASONS BONSAI CLUBof MICHIGAN
MARCH 25th 2018 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
2018 OFFICERS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS
President.................Michael Corbeille [email protected]
Vice-President ........Lynn Irish ................................ [email protected]
Secretary ................Rick Marsh ................................ [email protected]
Treasurers ..............Beth Rubinstein (248)752-6258 [email protected]
Newsletter ...............Michael Corbeille [email protected]
Website ...................Cate Horn (248) 979-2254 [email protected]
Social Director ........Postition is Open
Director, 2-Yr. Term .. John Stevens [email protected]
Director, 2-Yr. Term .. Chris Kehrig [email protected]
Director, 2-Yr. Term .. Tom [email protected]
Director, 1-Yr. Term .. Rick Bieniek [email protected]
Catering, 1-Yr. Term .Judy Muensch [email protected]
POSITIONS ARE OPEN. PLEASE EMAIL US IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN THE BOARD. EXPERIENCE ISN'T NECESSARY. JUST PASSION FOR BONSAI.
FOU
R SE
ASON
S BO
NSAI
CLU
B
Sund
ay, J
UNE
24th
JENN
IFER
PRI
CE C
ARVI
NG T
ECHN
IQUE
S 12
-4pm
* Bo
rdin
es N
urse
ry, R
oche
ster
Hill
s
Jenn
ifer
Pric
e w
ill c
ondu
ct a
live
dem
o on
ad
vanc
ed c
arvi
ng te
chni
ques
and
sha
re s
torie
s on
he
r tim
e sp
ent s
tudy
ing
and
wor
king
with
bon
sai
lege
nd, W
alte
r Pa
ll. S
he is
com
ing
in fr
om C
hica
go
just
for
our
mee
ting.
We
are
star
ting
an h
our
early
.
Sund
ay, J
ULY
22nd
Kurt
Sm
ith &
Lar
ge tr
ee s
tylin
g de
mo.
1-4p
m B
ordi
nes
Nur
sery
, Roc
hest
er H
ills
Ku
rt S
mith
, the
ow
ner
of th
e Fl
ower
Mar
ket,
is ba
ck
with
ano
ther
pre
sent
atio
n. P
lus,
exp
erie
nced
clu
b m
embe
rs w
ill b
e st
ylin
g a
larg
e tre
e in
fron
t of t
he
entir
e cl
ub. W
iring
, car
ving
and
pro
per
tech
niqu
es
in la
rge
bran
ch b
endi
ng. T
his
tree
will
be
ente
red
in o
ur a
nnua
l sho
w r
affle
. BYO
B is
enco
urag
ed.
SATU
RDAY
& S
UNDA
Y AU
GUST
11t
h -1
2th
45th
ANN
UAL
BONS
AI S
HOW
!!!
9am
-7:0
0 Sa
turd
ay. 9
am -
4pm
Sun
day
Bord
ines
Nur
sery
, Roc
hest
er H
ills
Com
e se
e in
cred
ible
bon
sai t
rees
on
disp
lay,
live
de
mos
, wor
ksho
ps a
nd b
onsa
i tre
es fo
r sa
le.
We
are
exci
ted
to h
ave
the
form
er c
urat
or o
f the
N
atio
nal B
onsa
i Mus
eum
, Jac
k Su
stic
, as
our
judg
e.
Live
dem
os a
nd b
egin
ner
wor
ksho
ps, r
affle
s an
d m
ore
Jack
Sus
tic w
ill b
e co
nduc
ting
a sp
ecia
l w
orks
hop
and
criti
que
of a
ll th
e tre
es.
Sund
ay, S
epte
mbe
r 23
rdBO
NSAI
AUC
TION
11
-4pm
* Bo
rdin
es N
urse
ry, R
oche
ster
Hill
s
A m
assiv
e co
llect
ion
of b
onsa
i tre
es a
nd b
onsa
i re
late
d ite
ms
will
be
auct
ione
d to
clu
b m
embe
rs.
A m
ust a
ttend
for
all l
evel
s of
bon
sai a
rtist
s.
Mem
bers
are
ask
ed to
com
e ea
rly a
nd r
egist
er
thei
r ite
ms.
We
will
be
send
ing
entr
y fo
rms
and
sale
s in
form
atio
n pr
ior
to th
e au
ctio
n. T
his
even
t w
ill s
tart
ear
lier
than
pre
viou
s m
eetin
gs a
nd w
ill
be a
cat
ered
eve
nt.
Mon
day
- Tue
sday
Oct
ober
8-9
th
WAL
TER
PALL
SPE
CIAL
EVE
NT (t
imes
tbd)
Bord
ines
Nur
sery
, Roc
hest
er H
ills
We
have
bon
sai l
egen
d W
alte
r Pa
ll fo
r tw
o da
ys!!
Mon
day
will
be
paid
wor
ksho
ps a
nd T
uesd
ay
Wal
ter
will
del
iver
his
bons
ai in
spira
tion
open
to
club
mem
bers
. Be
sure
to s
ign
up e
arly
, brin
g in
a
tree
to h
ave
eval
uate
d. S
pots
will
fill
imm
edia
tely
.
Sund
ay, O
CTOB
ER 2
1st
BONS
AI F
OR K
IDS
and
BEGI
NNER
S1-
4pm
Bor
dine
s N
urse
ry, R
oche
ster
Hill
sA
new
idea
we
are
goin
g to
try.
Brin
g yo
ur k
ids
to
the
club
day
. Our
cha
nce
to g
et n
ew fa
ces
and
the
oppo
rtun
ity to
dev
elop
new
bon
sai a
rtist
s.
Sund
ay, N
OVEM
BER
18th
WIN
TER
PREP
ARAT
IONS
1-
4pm
Bor
dine
s N
urse
ry, R
oche
ster
Hill
sW
e w
ill d
iscus
s ho
w to
pre
pare
you
r tre
es fo
r th
e br
utal
Mic
higa
n w
inte
rs. B
uild
ing
cold
fram
es to
se
tting
up
grow
ligh
ts in
door
s fo
r tro
pica
l tre
es.
Satu
rday
, Dec
embe
r 9t
hHo
liday
Din
ner
6-8p
m C
afe
Sush
i, Tr
oy M
IA
ll cl
ub m
embe
rs a
nd fa
mily
are
invi
ted!
We
cele
brat
e ou
r 48
th y
ear
in b
onsa
i.
OF M
ICHI
GAN
Sund
ay, F
EBRU
ARY
25TH
FI
RST
MEE
TING
OF
THE
YEAR
1-4p
m B
ordi
nes
Nur
sery
, Roc
hest
er H
ills
Intro
duct
ion
to th
e ye
ars
even
ts a
nd s
ched
ule.
W
elco
me
to b
onsa
i for
new
mem
bers
& b
egin
ners
. M
icha
el C
orbe
ille
upda
te o
n cl
ub s
tatu
s an
d pl
ans
for
2018
. Cal
enda
r co
nfirm
atio
n. B
YOB
(brin
g in
yo
ur o
wn
bons
ai)
hand
s on
adv
ice
and
styl
ing.
Su
nday
, MAR
CH 2
5th
BONS
AI C
IRCU
S
1-4p
m B
ordi
nes
Nur
sery
, Roc
hest
er H
ills
N
ew to
bon
sai o
r ju
st lo
okin
g to
hon
e yo
ur s
kills
, do
nʼt m
iss th
is m
eetin
g! M
ultip
le m
embe
rs w
ill h
old
simul
tane
ous
wor
ksho
ps a
nd d
emos
on
a va
riety
bo
nsai
rel
ated
topi
cs g
eare
d to
war
d be
ginn
ers
thro
ugh
expe
rt le
vel b
onsa
i art
ists.
A m
ust a
ttend
!
Sund
ay, A
PRIL
29t
hBE
GINN
ER W
ORKS
HOP
& D
AN B
ENNE
TT S
TAND
S.
1-4p
m B
ordi
nes
Nur
sery
, Roc
hest
er H
ills
C
lub
mem
ber
and
mas
ter
craf
tsm
an, D
an B
enne
tt,
will
disc
uss
build
ing
and
disp
layi
ng s
tand
s. H
e w
ill
have
sta
nds
for
sale
. We
are
also
hol
ding
a p
rivat
e w
orks
hop
area
for
new
mem
bers
to b
ring
in a
tree
an
d le
arn
how
to s
tart
thei
r fir
st tr
ee. E
xper
ienc
ed
mem
bers
will
sha
re w
iring
and
sty
ling
tech
niqu
es.
Sund
ay, M
AY 2
0th
JOHN
WAL
L - S
HOW
PRE
PARA
TION
S12
-4pm
* Bo
rdin
es N
urse
ry, R
oche
ster
Hill
sJo
hn W
all,
our
show
judg
e fro
m la
st y
ear,
is ba
ck
by p
opul
ar d
eman
d. J
ohn
will
sha
re h
is ex
perie
nce
in p
repa
ring
bons
ai fo
r sh
ows.
Pop
ular
sub
ject
s of
st
ands
, wiri
ng, m
oss
and
prop
erly
disp
layi
ng y
our
bons
ai w
ill a
ll be
add
ress
ed. B
ring
in y
our
trees
.
ww
w.fo
urse
ason
sbon
sai.c
om
4se
ason
sbon
sai@
gmai
l.com
FSB
MEE
TING
S AR
E HE
LD A
T BO
RDIN
ES N
URSE
RY •
1835
ROC
HEST
ER R
OAD
SOUT
H •
ROC
HEST
ER H
ILLS
MI 4
8307
2018
Calen
dar o
f Eve
ntsAll
even
ts ar
e ope
n to t
he pu
blic
*mee
ting s
tarts
earli
er tha
n 1:00
8
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.
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