Kusamura Club Calendar
March 2008
• March 12 - Board Meeting
• March 21 - Air layering and grafting techniques.  Lonnie to oversee a demo of these techniques with work performed by Stephanie (air layering) and Bang (grafting). 
April 2008
• April 18 — Prepare for show with Tokonoma setup.
• April 26-27 - Kusamura Bonsai Show
May 2008
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June 2008
•
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Other Events
March 12-16 San Francisco, California -Bonsai Society of San Francisco:  Exhibit at the annual San Francisco Flower and Garden Show, Cow Palace.  Hours are 9AM-8PM on Wednesday through Saturday, and 9AM-6PM on Sunday.  For information, call Eric Schrader (415) 786-1349, or visit www.bssf.org.

March 12-16 Santa Cruz, California - Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai: 19th Annual Bonsai Show at the Elk’s Lodge, 150 Jewel St.  Hours are 10:30AM-4:30PM.  Demonstration at 1:30PM by Katsumi Kinoshita.  Plant sales, door prizes, raffle of the demo tree and much more.

April 12-13 San Jose, California
San Jose Betsuin Bonsai Club: 38th Annual Spring Exhibit at the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, 640 North Fifth Street.  Hours are Saturday 12noon-5PM and Sunday 11AM-4PM. Demonstration at 1PM both days by “Mr. California Juniper” Harry Hirao from Huntington Beach.  Raffles. Plants, tools, pots, and soil for sale.  For information, call Ken Azuma (408) 730-4506.

April 26-27 Palo Alto, California
Kusamura Bonsai Club:  Annual Bonsai Show and Sale at the Mitchell Park Community Center, 3800 Middlefield Road.  Show hours are Saturday 12noon-5PM and Sunday 10AM-5PM.  Featured guest, bonsai plant sale, and a show of both established trees and educational work in progress tress.

More Events
(from Golden State Bonsai Federation)

Topics of Interest for the
March Meeting

Excerpt from “Root Grafts for Bonsai” by Brent Walston

“The very best grafts are 'root grafts'. The scion is not actually grafted to the roots, but rather to the stem tissue below the 'crown' that forms when the seed emerges from the shell. This is a small ring of tissue on the stem that clearly marks the division of root type tissue (was the radicle of the seed) and the true stem which is capable of producing foliage. On pines and cedars this 'root' portion of the stem can be very long, as much as six inches or more before actual roots appear.

For bonsai the seedling understock is potted up high so that the root portion of the stem stands several inches above the pot. This makes it easy to do a low graft. The graft can be placed just below the crown ring and after the graft takes, about a year later, the whole thing buried so that the graft sits right at the soil line. Since the buried stem portion is root tissue it can stand this procedure and has the possibility of forming roots. Grafted in this fashion the union will blend perfectly into the nebari (crown and surface roots). Also, since there is usually a bulge for dwarf cultivars, what was once a liability now becomes an asset since the swelling will be right at the crown.”

Excerpt from “What is Air Layering?” by Andy Walsh

“Air layering is the process of removing a large branch or section of the trunk of a tree to create another tree. Before the branch is removed it is girdled, protected with peat moss or other media and the girdled section is allowed to root. After rooting the branch is removed from the tree. This is a very common practice in bonsai to obtain another tree from an unwanted branch or to save a thick trunk section that was going to be removed anyway. Andy Walsh posted a short but very informative article on the physiology of this process on the Internet Bonsai Club mail list. Knowing how a tree forms roots at an air layer site provides powerful information for not only understanding the process, but also a vehicle for answering your own questions and solving your own problems in air layering.”
See the entire article at:
http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/airlayer.htm

March 21, 2008 Meeting
7PM-8PM Demonstration
8PM-10PM Workshop
Air layering and grafting techniques.  Lonnie to oversee a demo of these techniques with work performed by Stephanie (air layering) and will assist Bang grafting in a demo of grafting.

Show and Tell will feature your Seasonal Beauties.

Refreshments for March will be provided by: Marcel Janssens and Charlene Fischer. If you cannot make it please be sure to call for a replacement.

News
Dues Now Due
Hard to believe but another year has gone by and our membership dues are up for renewal. We hope you all choose to continue with us and bring a check to John or Helen valued at $25 for a Single and $35 for Couple. Name badges and club pins are available from Helen as well.

Workshops Resume Regular Schedule
Workshops resume their regular scheduled time periods this month. Please see Sandy Planting if you want to sign up for a slot. Prerequisite for this workshop time are the beginning class sessions.

Workshops are held:
2^nd, 3^rd Saturday at 1PM
3^rd, 4^th Thursday at 7PM
4^th Friday at 1PM

Fliers will be available at the meeting providing more information.

Tree of the Month

This member tree is Elm in winter profile. This was an experimental photo to capture the interesting shadow. The shadow reveals the intricate ramification of branches.
 

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