January Meeting - Cancelled
January 19 Meeting Cancelled due to Covid Surge
Due to the current rapid increase in the rate of Covid infections in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, the January 19th club meeting has been cancelled. The planned January program of working on dwarf Alberta spruce trees would have required members to be in close and prolonged contact which is one of the major ways Covid is being spread. With infection rates at the highest level since the Omicron variant, it was decided not to take the risk.
We will still be holding our potting party on Sunday, January 21. This event is outdoors and we can have safe distance from each other. Please come and bring the trees for repotting that you are donating to the sale.
The February meeting will go ahead as planned, as the church hall can be set-up so members are not in unsafe contact. If you are going to show a winter silhouette deciduous tree, please plan on still doing so. And don’t forget those Valentine’s goodies to share!!
January Potting Party
Rescheduled!
Because of expected rain on January 21, or planned day for the potting party, it has been rescheduled to January 28. All other details remain the same.
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What is a potting party you might wonder? This is where we gather and work on trees that are intended to be sold at our show in April. So what do you do if you don’t yet know how to repot a bonsai tree? Do you come to a potting party if you are a beginner or inexperienced bonsai enthusiast? The answer is yes, of course! By sitting next to an experienced member, you can learn how to repot and ask for advice on good practice and techniques. Plus visiting other members as they repot also helps you see techniques that have worked for them. The trees you pot are taken home with you to “baby sit” (watering, feeding etc.) until we bring them all to the annual show in April for sale.
At potting parties, we work only on trees that will are intended to be sold. Although I have to admit that I have ended up buying my own donation tree after I worked on it finding that I liked the result. We have some trees provided by the club and also ask our members to donate at least 2 trees or bonsai pots of a value of at least $25 each. If you can donate more that is fantastic! Material for our potting parties is often found on the raffle table at our club meetings. Or you may purchase a suitable tree at a nursery and bring that as a donation. Many of us bring a tree from our collection that just doesn’t grab us anymore.
The potting parties are important because they provide the items we use for the very important fundraising component of our budget. New members who do not have trees to donate are welcome to consider a cash donation to the club.
Bring your tools, water and lunch/snack if needed. Dress warm as we will be working outside.
February 16 Meeting - Deciduous Bonsai Winter Celebration
We may not think of Winter as a time to celebrate the beauty of our deciduous bonsai, but it's a prime time to admire their bare trunks and branch structure. The February program will be a chance for you to display your favorite deciduous bonsai in a form that we usually don't get to see at our Spring show.
And to make this a true celebration, how about an expanded snack table featuring some creative Valentine's Day-themed treats to munch while touring the displayed trees. Heart-shaped cupcakes anyone? More details to follow, but start thinking about what tree you might want to show and while you're at it, find a recipe for a snack table "treat."
March 15 meeting - Jerry Braswell - The Art of Viewing Stones
Jerry has been collecting stones from all over California and beyond for many years. He’ll share his insights into what to look for in a viewing stone, using stones as accent to bonsai, how he “works” the stone into a tactile piece of art and tips on making a carved wooden stand for the stone.
More info at March Meeting Event.
Time to Renew Membership Dues
Help keep the club going strong by renewing your membership today!
Club membership dues are $45 for a single membership or $55 for a family membership, and the due date is Jan 30.
New members who joined Sept through Dec 2023 are also considered paid for 2024.
Renewal online is very easy. Simply login and look in the Members-Only menu to find the Renew Membership page.
Additionally, our treasurer is able to take checks or credit card payments in person at the Feb meeting. Please make your check payable to Kusamura Bonsai Club.
Members who haven't renewed by end of March will be dropped from the membership.
BGLM Special Announcement - Sign Up for Mammoth 2024
To the local bonsai community and friends of the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt::
Mammoth 2024 Auction & Sale is scheduled for February 17 & 18, 2024.
We need volunteers to make this fundraiser successful. Join us!
Again, this year we are using the Sign Up Genius app for recruiting and registering all volunteers. It’s easy to select as many slots as you want or can perform in supporting the fundraiser. Sign Up Genius provides direct communications by email such as confirmed dates/times, reminders and updates.
Thank you,
George Haas, Mammoth Chair
Recap of Our December Holiday Party
We had a festive gathering of over 30 members at our Holiday Party complete with unique decorated bonsai on each of the dinner tables. A generous array of member-prepared appetizers, desserts and libations was satisfying and impressively presented. Thank you, Barbara, for your cheery table decorations. On behalf of the club, Idris brought baked ham and Barbara contributed roast turkey.
Many members picked up coveted items at the silent auction tables and our repeat “Select and Steal” game elicited smiles and groans (when their gift was stolen.)
Recommended Videos - Bonsai Repotting Season
Now is the optimal time to repot bonsai trees in the Bay Area. We begin repotting earlier than many places in the world because of our warmer climate. I’ve looked through many videos on repotting and the ones here are among the best for various reasons. You’ll need to correct the timings suggested in some videos because of their locations, but in all of them the advice is sound about technique. Note the differences in repotting conifers and deciduous trees. Enjoy your repotting!
Highly recommended: come to Kusamura’s potting parties for hands on practice with Kusamura trees and veteran members by your side to help and explain. Enjoy!
Why, When and How to Repot a Juniper Bonsai
David Easterbrook | Canada
24 minutes | April 3, 2023
David’s explanations are exceptionally clear and attentive to details.
Repotting your Bonsai
Herons Bonsai (UK) | Peter Chan
Part 1: 25 minutes 44 seconds
Part 2: 32 minutes 12 seconds
Once again, Peter Chan makes it all seem easy, though there are many steps and pieces of advice. In this 2-part video he repots four smaller and younger deciduous trees and then a larger and more mature deciduous trees. There are different challenges.
How to Repot a Bonsai Tree
Eastern Leaf | Jason Chan
19 minutes 17 seconds
Bonsai Care - How to Repot a Bonsai Tree
Part 1: Why and When You Should Repot | 11 minutes 24 seconds
Part 2: Reasons Not to Repot | 7 minutes 22 seconds
Terrific reminders about when and why you should or should NOT repot. Excellent presentations.
Repotting Conifers: a blog
Bonsai Mirai | Ryan Neil
https://bonsaimirai.com/blog/repotting-conifers
Superb checklist here.
Bonsai Beginner Series - Repotting
Bonsai Mirai | Ryan Neil
19 minutes 40 seconds
Ryan repots a small (for him) conifer. Especially good for beginners.
Newsletter Editor: Jenn Tan