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February Tips:

If a deciduous bonsai starts sprouting or blossoming, it should be brought out of the shade into the sunlight gradually.

Location: If left in the shade, the new sprouts will grow too long and spindly.

Watering: Because this month is cold and rainy, the bonsai will not need to be watered daily, but make it a point to check every day.

Fertilizing: No fertilizing this month.

Pruning: This is the best time to reshape any deciduous tree because it is bare. Do not do too drastic shaping because the branches may be too brittle. Check all plants to see that the wires are not too tight.

Transplanting: No transplanting or soil changing should be done this month unless bare-root stock is available for starting.

Miscellaneous: Prepare soil mixture for future use. Move all deciduous trees into a shady place. This will prevent them from sprouting during a warm winter. It will also help keep the trees in a dormant stage.

Bonsai Techniques I
by John Naka

February 2nd Meeting

Our first meeting of the new year will feature a benefit drawing of bonsai, pots and material donated by members to aid in fund raising for the Club. In addition it is a great way to get rid of bonsai materials that you don’t currently need. But best of all is a great way to help those new to bonsai get started in bonsai. So check around your house and yard for some bonsai material that you don’t need and bring it to the next meeting. We will also work on our trees.

Thanks to our treasurer, Dianne Woods, we have a financial report for 2009 that she will deliver to us at our next meeting. The basics are that our expenses for 2009 totaled $1,710. Our net income including the exhibition was $2,586. This gave us an excess of $876 for the year. Our checking account balance at the end of 2009 was $6,580.

This means that we have sufficient funds to conduct our annual exhibition and engage in some Club activities as the membership sees fit. Your suggestions are welcome.

Domo Arigato

Thanks to Javier Osonio, Monica Lee, and Kristine Uyehara who brought refreshments to the last meeting. Dianne Woods and Jackson Mitchell will bring refreshments to the next meeting. Thanks to Tom Lawson who performed at our New Year’s party and to Ardelle Gilbert for binging the gift boxes, to Brad Coleman who donated bonsai, and the Kinoshita’s for the orchids.

Don’t forget to visit our Club Library at the next meeting.

January Meeting Notes

The annual Monterey Bonsai Club New Year’s party was fun for all who attended. Tom Lawson provide the entertainment with he piano and each member in attendance received a tree from Blue Oak Nursery and gift boxes from Ardelle or orchids from the Kinoshita’s. It was great to have so many members and their guests in attendance. We are already planning our event for next January and a pot luck dinner at the Buddhist Temple is under consideration so that more members can attend. We appreciate your input.

For those who didn’t attend or pay their annual dues, please do so at the next meeting. Membership dues are $20 each member or $30 per couple.

We also gained two new members, Ann Niland and Clari Binder. You may remember Clari was a member a few years ago and she left to start the Salinas Bonsai Club. It is great to have her back with us.

At the December meeting we discussed the great opportunity to purchase great bonsai, pots, tools and materials at the Mammoth Fundraiser on February 27-28 at the Lake Merritt Garden Center in Oakland. There is an auction of prize trees on Saturday and a sale bonsai plus a vendor area on Sunday. All Club members needing bonsai should attend.

Coming Events

February 27-28, 2010 Oakland
GSBF Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt: Mammoth Fundraiser, 2010 at the Lakeside Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Avenue. Saturday (Feb 27): Auction of fabulous bonsai 1PM-4PM with preview at 12 Noon. Sunday (Feb 28): Mammoth Fundraiser and Bazaar, 9AM-4PM. Demonstration at 1:30PM by Collection Curator, Kathy Shaner. Silent auction, vendors, benefit drawings, raffles and a large consignment sale of bonsai and bonsai related items. For general information: www.bonsailakemerritt@gmail.com or Linda Soliven, 925-776-2342.

March 13-14 Oakland
Bay Area Bonsai Associates: 29th Annual Show, Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Avenue. Hours are Saturday, 4:30PM-10PM, and Sunday, 10AM-4PM. Demonstration and critique illustrating design concepts by Dave DeGroot starts at 6PM, Saturday, followed by a raffle. The plant and pot sale, including related bonsai items (bonsai books, tools, etc.) is continuous both days. Admission is Free. For more information contact Jeff@saber.net or 707-984-8012

March 20-21 Scotts Valley
Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai presents its 21st annual show at the Scotts Valley Community Center, 360 Kings Village Road from 10:30AM-4:30 PM. Demonstration at 2PM on both days by Katsumi Kinoshita. Plant sales, door prizes, demonstration tree raffle and much more. For more information call 831-469-0688.