M A Y 2 0 1 4 V O L U M E 1 1 N U M B E R 5

Conejo ValleyConejo Valley Bonsai SocietyBonsai Society

A member of the Golden State Bonsai Federation

CVBS on the Web (Click on name to visit Web site.)

Conejo Valley Bonsai Society CVBS CaféPress Store CVBS Online Bonsai Gallery

Other Bonsai Groups (Click on name to visit Web site.) Golden State Bonsai Federation American Bonsai Society Bonsai Club of Santa Barbara California Aiseki Kai Descanso Bonsai Society Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai Shohin Bonsai Society of So. Cal. Sansui-Kai of So. Cal. Santa Anita Bonsai Society South Coast Bonsai Association San Diego Bonsai Club

In This Issue • President’s Message:

Ah, the Boxwood Is Done! … 1

• Library: New DVD … 1

• CVBS Programs: The 2014 Schedule … 2

• Barrett’s Bonsai Tips: Spring Care for Azaleas, Pomegranates, More … 3

• Refreshments … 3 • CVBS Membership … 3 • Club Program:

Pressler ‘Completes’ Twin-Trunk Boxwood … 4 – 6

• April Niche: Boxwood Forrest … 6

• Bonsai at Home: Marj Branson’s Back Yard Bonsai Benches … 7

• Niche Displays … 7 • Coming Events … 8

Graphic by Paul Centeno © Conejo Valley Bonsai Society

© 2014 CONEJO VALLEY BONSAI SOCIETY Views expressed by authors are not necessarily those of the Conejo Valley Bonsai Society

O ur April meeting was the final demonstration in a series of three by Bob Pressler, owner of Kimura Bonsai Nursery in

Northridge and a member of this club. During this installment, Bob finished the boxwood he’s been working on for us since March 2013. It was a fun night. Bob put the tree in a bonsai pot. It had been severely cut back and wired (see story, page 4). The tree is beautiful and will be in our Holiday Potluck Auction.

Our May meeting will be a workshop, so bring your trees. Start thinking about and preparing the trees you want to put in our October show. You might want help with styling or potting, so bring them in.

We have confirmed our club’s annual exhibition at the Gar-dens of the World for 2014. It will be the first weekend of Octo-ber—Saturday and Sunday October 4th and 5th. Set-up will be the Friday before, so please put these dates on your calendar.

There are a number of club spring exhibitions coming up. For May we have the Bonsai Club of Santa Barbara show and in June there is the Descanso Bonsai Society. These are just a couple of local shows (for details see page 8 of this newsletter).

I am putting out a call for support by members to put trees in our niche display. (See page 7 for the current list.) Don’t feel intimidated—this display is also meant to be a learning experi-ence whereby we can show and discuss our work-in-progress trees.

The Bonsai at Home section of our Newsletter, started by Ann Lofquist, is an interesting addition (see story, page 7). Thanks Ann!

We have been getting temperature swings. Last week was quite hot and trees in small pots can easily have their little roots cooked, so think about repositioning some of your smaller trees to a shady area.

See you Thursday, May 15th (it’s coming early this month)!

President’s Message

Ah, the Boxwood Is Done! By Marj Branson

President Marj Branson

Library

A New DVD for Our Club’s Library Larry Kimmelman

N ew member Scott McVey donated a DVD titled “Painted Daiza—Japanese Style” by Al Nelson. It shows—step-by-step—how to create a daiza (a carved wooden stand) for

a viewing stone. The DVD includes a source document identifying the tools and resources used to make the daiza. Meanwhile, I still am looking for DVD topic suggestions from mem-bers. Thank you, Scott! Please email suggestions to me at kimmelmail@verizon.net.

Members are welcome to borrow club library materials for a month at a time, and we only ask that the borrowed materials be returned at the next club meeting. Please note we also have novice books that provide bonsai basics to help our newer members.

2 CONEJO VALLEY BONSAI SOCIETY MAY 2014

Contact Us (Click on E-mail)

Officers PRESIDENT Marj Branson Phone (805) 373-1330 E-mail Marj VICE PRESIDENT Ann Lofquist Phone (805) 484-3140 Email Ann TREASURER Ken Fuentes Phone (805) 495-7480 E-mail Ken SECRETARY Ken Martin Phone (805) 445-9221 E-mail Ken ADVISOR Ken Fuentes Phone (805) 495-7480 E-mail Ken

Committees MEMBERSHIP CHAIR Larry Kimmelman Phone (805) 493-5103 E-mail Larry NEWSLETTER EDITOR David E. Whiteside Phone (805) 647-8803 E-mail David PROGRAM CHAIR Al Espinoza Phone (818) 284-1693 E-mail Al PUBLICITY CO-CHAIRS Guy & Deborah Ervin Phone (805) 495-8688 E-mail Guy & Deborah REFRESHMENTS CHAIR Grace Sy Phone (818) 915-8545 E-mail Grace LIBRARIAN Larry Kimmelman Phone (805) 493-5103 E-mail Larry Field Trips & Activities Rick Naber WEBMASTER Tom McGuire E-mail Tom Conejo Valley Bonsai Society Meetings Westlake Village City Hall Community Room 31200 Oakcrest Drive Westlake Village, CA 91361 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM 3RD Thursday of every month

2011

January 20 6:00 PM Bonsai Basics Class: Bonsai History & Styles 7:30 PM Brief Meeting followed by DEMONSTRATION: ROY NAGATOSHI / Grafting

February 17 6:00 PM Bonsai Basics Workshop 7:30 PM Brief Meeting followed by Workshop—BRING YOUR TREES

March 17 6:00 PM Bonsai Basics Class: Basics of Design 7:30 PM Brief Meeting followed by DEMONSTRATION: Ted Matson / Repotting Boxwood

April 21 6:00 PM Bonsai Basics Workshop 7:30 PM Brief Meeting followed by Workshop—BRING YOUR TREES

May 19 6:00 PM Bonsai Basics Class: Shaping with Wire 7:30 PM Brief Meeting followed by DEMONSTRATION: Kathy Benson / Crapemyrtle

June 16 6:00 PM Bonsai Basics Workshop 7:30 PM Brief Meeting followed by Workshop—BRING YOUR TREES

July 21 6:00 PM Bonsai Basics Workshop 7:30 PM Brief Meeting followed by Workshop—BRING YOUR TREES

August 18 6:00 PM Bonsai Basics Class: Soils & Fertilizers 7:30 PM Brief Meeting followed by DEMONSTRATION: CESAREO PEREZ / Bonsai Displays

September 15

6:00 PM – 9:30 PM: Workshop to Prepare Trees for Exhibition (Maximum 3 trees per person) BRING THE TREES YOU PLAN TO EXHIBIT

October 1 – 2 8TH ANNUAL EXHIBITION Gardens of the World

October 20 6:00 PM Bonsai Basics Class: Potting & Repotting 7:30 PM Brief Meeting followed by DEMONSTRATION: Jim Barrett /Proper Pot Selection

November 17 6:00 PM Bonsai Basics Workshop 7:30 PM Brief Meeting followed by Workshop—BRING YOUR TREES

NOTE: NEW DATE December 12

HOLIDAY POTLUCK 7:30 PM

Bonsai Basics classes and workshops are open to every member at all levels of experience. They are designed to be introductory for newcomers and refreshers for more experienced bonsai hobbyists.

CVBS Programs CVBS Programs

2014

January 16 7:30 PM: Brief Meeting followed by DEMONSTRATION: Peter Macasieb / Itoigawa/Kishu Juniper Grafting

February 20 7:30 PM: Brief Meeting followed by Workshop—BRING YOUR TREES

March 20 7:30 PM: Brief Meeting followed by Workshop—BRING YOUR TREES

April 17 7:30 PM: Brief Meeting followed by DEMONSTRATION: Bob Pressler / Boxwood. Third of a series from raw material to finished bonsai

May 15 7:30 PM: Brief Meeting followed by Workshop—BRING YOUR TREES

June 19 7:30 PM: Brief Meeting followed by DEMONSTRATION: Ryan Nichols / Bonsai soils and the science of growing bonsai

July 17

7:30 PM: Brief Meeting followed by DEMONSTRATION: Roy Nagatoshi / Styling/Critique of Club Members Trees (each member will be allowed to bring in one tree)

August 21 7:30 PM: Brief Meeting followed by Workshop—BRING YOUR TREES

September 18 7:30 PM: Brief Meeting followed by Workshop—BRING TREES YOU PLAN TO EXHIBIT

October 4 – 5 11TH ANNUAL EXHIBITION Gardens of the World

October 16 7:30PM : Brief Meeting followed by Workshop—BRING YOUR TREES

November 20 7:30PM : Brief Meeting followed by DEMONSTRATION: Ann Erb / Japanese Black Pine

December 18 HOLIDAY POTLUCK 7:30 PM

If you are interested in the CVBS Mentoring Program, please see Larry Kimmelman for more information & applications to participate.

MAY 2014 CONEJO VALLEY BONSAI SOCIETY 3

S atsuki azaleas should be nearly through blooming this month. If

your azalea has an established shape, now is a good time to clean out extra and unwanted growth. Trim for form and style.

Make sure all seed pods are re-moved as soon as possible. Leaving the seed pods to mature tends to weaken the tree and new growth is likely to be weak. Repotting of azaleas can be done now. It might be wise to wait to move your azaleas from nursery containers to bonsai pots until next spring.

Pomegranates and olives may be potted from nursery containers to bonsai pots during June and early July. Protect any newly potted plants from direct sun for a week or so. Black pines should have had their candles pruned by the end of this month and certainly by the middle of July.

Deciduous trees such as elm, Japa-nese and trident maples, liquidambars, etc. should have slowed down by now. Trim all new twigs to one or two sets of leaves. Pay attention to the way new buds point and trim for direction. Estab-lished bonsai should be developing the ramification needed to create the illusion of a mature tree. Remember that most deciduous trees in nature develop soft outlines and rounded apexes. Trim ac-cordingly.

Fertilize trees that develop flower buds in early summer, such as crab apple,

q u i n c e , ume, and w i s t e r i a with a low n i t r o g e n , rich phos-phate fertil-izer. Re-p e a t throughout the sum-mer at least two more times.

P o w -dery mildew is already showing up on maples, crapemyrtle, and quince. Spray with Benomyl or a good fungicide that is recommended for mildew.

Pine tip moth has been active again. The grub eats the center of new pine candles. If your black pine candles turn brown at the very tip, chances are that pine tip moth grubs are active. Pick off the brown end and inspect the inside. You should find the grub, a pupae, or the pupae case. Destroy the critter and dis-pose of the candle tip. Since this grub lives inside the candle, only a systemic poison would be effective. Cygon-2, Borer Control, or a systemic rose insec-ticide in granular form might work.

Pay special attention to water sched-ules. Gloomy June days can be deceiving when it comes to watering needs of our plants.

Refreshments

Volunteers Needed!

By Grace Sy

2014 Refreshments

Cold Drinks

Eats / Sweets

May Larry Kimmelman

Nancy Smeets

June Ken Martin

Evans Thomas

July Volunteer Needed

Mike Mulhern

Aug. Volunteer Needed

Volunteer Needed

Sept Volunteer Needed

Volunteer Needed

Jim Barrett

Barrett’s Bonsai Tips

Spring Care for Azaleas, Pomegranates, and More By Jim Barrett

CVBS Membership

Come Join Us! By Larry Kimmelman

W hether you are a visitor to our website, a reader of our newsletter, a guest at a monthly meeting, or have already de-cided to join our club, there are effectively no barriers to entry. Annual dues are $25 for one, $30 for couples.

Our monthly meetings are held on the third Thursday of every month, starting at 7:30 PM, in the Westlake Village City Hall (located at 31200 Oakcrest Drive, Westlake Village, CA 91361).

To join our club, please bring your check (made out payable to the Conejo Valley Bonsai Society) to our next monthly meeting, or mail it to: Larry Kimmelman, CVBS Membership Chair, 2727 Autumn Ridge Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362.

T hank you to the last month’s participation of Norm Nason

for the yummy feast of sweets, res-freshing drinks provided by Father Tom Davis, and Ken Fuentes for picking up the Starbucks coffee. Re-freshments are covered up to July. But wait—I need July cold drinks participation.

Please sign up at the next meet-ing, or you can email me at wkhlady@yahoo.com, or call (818) 915-8545 to volunteer.

4 CONEJO VALLEY BONSAI SOCIETY MAY 2014

Club Program

Pressler ‘Completes’ Twin-Trunk Boxwood By Ken Martin

O ver the past year, Bob Pressler has been working on a box-wood that will be donated to the club for our Holiday Pot-

luck party auction. Bob, the owner of Kimura Bonsai Nursery in Northridge and a member of this club, worked on the tree in three demonstrations beginning in March 2013. The tree is now essentially complete.

PART I Bob, for his demonstration at the March 2013 meeting,

brought a two-trunk, 26-inch tall boxwood (Buxus microphylla var. japonica) in a 15-gallon nursery can. He got this boxwood from a nursery that rented out plants for movie props. The only thing that had been done to it was some of the upper branches had been tied together at the nursery to make the top fuller. At this meeting, Bob cut off half of the root ball and pruned the roots further. He also cut out dead branches and shortened all others. He repotted the tree in a 10-gallon can.

PART II At the October 2013 meeting, Bob decided this tree will be

styled in the manner of an oak. He said this tree has several chal-

(Continued on page 5)

The boxwood as it appeared at the very beginning, before Bob Pressler did any demonstration work on it (above).

At the beginning of the second demonstration, to the casual eye there wasn’t a lot of change in the tree (below). If you look closely, it’s less dense—many branches and a lot of foliate has been cut out.

By the end of the second demonstration (above), the tree has been transformed. All the excess branches and most of the foli-age has been removed, a jin created, and some shari begun.

When Bob brought the tree back for the third demonstration (below), it was clear that it had recovered since the previous work with plenty of new foliage. Bob did some work on it at his nursery before this final demonstration.

Photo by David Williams

MAY 2014 CONEJO VALLEY BONSAI SOCIETY 5

lenges (read, defects). The main problem, in Bob’s mind, was the long, straight, untapered leader of one trunk. He will reduce or get rid of this unwanted fea-ture.

The first thing he did was to shorten many branches especially near the top. Bob then made the decision to go for a smaller tree. The two long straight trunks were too much of a challenge. The two trunks were cut and a smaller branch was wired upward for the main apex. He planed to wire the still fairly long lower branches slightly down and the branches near the top are already slightly up. He carved material out of the crotch in one lower trunk so it wouldn’t look so “klunky.”

PART III Bob took some of the foliage off the tree a

few days before the April 2014 meeting as it had grown well in the past several months. At this meeting, Bob did some deadwood carving. He used a DremelTM with a RotozipTM bit for most of the work. He carved out hollows in the upper trunk of the smaller tree and did a similar carving lower down on the larger trunk.

He brought in two pots: one a large yellow, the other a slightly smaller shallow oval blue pot. Bob and the audience all thought the blue pot was the best choice. He completely prepared the pot with screens over the drainage holes and wires to tie the tree in the pot before removing the tree from the 10-gallon can (always a good practice as it minimizes stress on the roots).

Bob said the roots on boxwoods tend not to be thick but more fine and dense. The root ball on this tree when removed from the can was just that. They essentially filled the can and there were roots very near the surface, all indicative of good soil, good fertilizing, and good root health. He combed (teased) the roots and substantially trimmed the mass.

(Continued from page 4)

(Continued on page 6)

Bob sawed off about half of the root ball and then worked a lot of the soil out of what remained (top).

Before transplanting the tree into a bonsai pot, Bob did a significant amount of dead-wood carving, using a DremelTM rotary tool (bottom left and bottom right). The results add a great deal of visual interest while also re-ducing some of the bulk in one trunk (right).

Photos by Shig Hayashi

6 CONEJO VALLEY BONSAI SOCIETY MAY 2014

He used a soil mix of two parts pumice, one of scoria and some redwood. The overall texture was fairly coarse as this tree is a larger bonsai. He placed the tree in the pot slightly to one side and to the back. He placed it so the areas he carved can be seen without being in your face. Generally with a two-trunk bonsai, one tree should be a little in front of the other as is the case here.

When placed in this relatively shallow pot the nebari is quite high and there is a significant slope in the soil from the pot edge up to the nebari. Bob put some fine New Zea-land sphagnum moss on the soil. He said when this moss gets wet it will bond and hold the soil down. He said if you want a moss covering you can mix dried moss spores with the sphagnum before applying.

Bob said boxwoods like shade so this tree will go back in partial shade in his nursery until our holiday party at which time it will auctioned off. It is well on its way to being a good show tree in a year or so. Great work Bob!

(Continued from page 5)

April Niche

Boxwood Forest Editor’s Note: Ken Martin provided the niche display at our April 2014 meeting.

I have been jealous of and inspired by Rick Naber’s gorgeous bonsai forests for some time now. Three years ago I bought several 2.5 qt. cans of boxwood (Buxus microphylla var. japonica) from Home Depot. In each can there were three to five trees. I kept the trees in the original cans and fertilized and trimmed them occasionally so they would develop some secondary and tertiary branching. Six weeks ago I pulled some of them apart and placed them in a tray. I used illustrations in John Naka’s Bonsai Techniques I for guidance on where to position the trees. This forest being brand new is not ready to show, but the thought I want to pass on is that for very little money a forest can be built. The three cans of trees used were only $3.33 each and the tray was relatively inexpensive. Although some say accent plants normally shouldn’t have blooms as they could detract from the main subject, the blooms on this succulent are fairly small and, after all, it is spring. —Ken Martin

Photo by Ken Martin

With the assistance of Ken Martin, Bob positioned the tree in its new home, a shallow blue oval bonsai pot. When finished, the tree is atop a significant mound of soil and roots. Bob covered the soil with New Zealand sphagnum moss to help hold the soil in place.

MAY 2014 CONEJO VALLEY BONSAI SOCIETY 7

Bonsai at Home

Marj Branson’s Back Yard Bonsai Benches

2014 Niche Displays

May Ann Lofquist

June David Whiteside

July Ken Martin

August Larry Kimmelman

Sept. Volunteer Needed

CVBS Niche Displays

Our Niche Display Program I n the Niche Program, club members

set up a mini exhibition display. Such a display consists of: • The tree in a nice bonsai pot • An accent plant • A stand

All these items are important to create the balance for a good display. We aspire to present the best display possible for everyone’s pleasure and edification, so the niche is often assembled by one of the more experienced members. However, it is also our desire to give less experienced bonsai hobbyists an opportunity to learn by

doing. So if any less experienced member feels his/her trees are not ready for a fin-ished display, it is worthwhile to create a display that is a work-in-progress. It will be up to the club member to determine which category his/her display falls into, and then the work-in-progress display can become the talking point of work done, work in-tended, and suggestions from the floor.

We encourage all members to sign up for the niche display! Please have a look at the calendar and let us know when you would like to present your display.

—Marj Branson

M y bonsai trees are incorporated within my back yard. The area is small so rather

than have a bonsai area I have distributed benches around the yard using the trees as features. I do not have a sprinkler system, so all my trees are hand watered. This gives me flexibility in positioning the trees in a variety of spots—however if I go away I ask friends (club members Debbie and Guy Ervin) to water for me.

When we first moved here, we had large trees in adjacent yards that shaded most of our yard. Two big trees have recently been removed, so I now have full sun. I previously complained because of too much shade—and now because of too much sun. On extremely hot days, I have to move my trees around, in particular the smaller one posi-tioned on the ledge. I am still working on a happy balance for everything.

I have a mixture of large and small trees. Most of my trees are in bonsai pots. However, I do have some trees in training pots. I have started developing a few shohin trees. It is not easy to find small trees with fat bases. This takes time and money!

I get most of my trees from the various bonsai nurseries, shows, and conventions or collec-tion sales. There are many regular nurseries in the area, and I like to go on nursery crawls checking for unusual things stuck in corners.

I started my collection in 2001. At the time in my enthusiasm I collected everything and anything that looked interesting. This was not a wise decision so now I have become very selective. —Marj Branson

Photos by Marj Branson

8 CONEJO VALLEY BONSAI SOCIETY MAY 2014

Coming Events (click on the hyperlinks to visit Web sites or send e-mails) 2014

May

May 10 – 11, 2014 / Carlsbad, California San Pu Kai Bonsai Club: Annual Show and Sale, Carlsbad Flower Fields, 5704 Paseo Del Norte. Exhibit hours are 9 AM to 4 PM both days with demonstration at 1 PM each day. Beautiful bonsai displayed along with plant sales. For more information: www.sanpukai.org.

May 17 – 18, 2014 / Santa Barbara, California Bonsai Club of Santa Barbara: Annual Bonsai Exhibition in the Blaksley Library at the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, 1212 Mission Canyon Road. Hours are Saturday 11 AM – 4 PM and Sunday 9 AM – 4 PM. Demonstrations at 1 PM both days: Plant sales by the club. Display of native plants as bonsai in the courtyard. Native plants suitable for bonsai in the Botanic Gardens nursery. Books and other gifts in the Garden Shop. For more information, contact Tom Post, (805) 964-2717, email tompostart@yahoo.com, or visit www.santabarbarbonsai.org.

May 24 – 26, 2014 / Arcadia, California Santa Anita Bonsai Society: Annual Show at the Los Angeles County Arboretum – Ayres Hall, 301 N. Baldwin Ave., 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM each day, with a demonstration at 1 PM. Bonsai tools, trees, and pots available for purchase during show. For more information visit our website: www.sabonsai.org.

May 31 – June 1, 2014 / San Mateo, California Sei Boku Bonsai Kai: 31st Annual Show at the San Mateo Garden Center, 605 Parkside Way, next to Beresford Park. Admission is free. Show hours are 10 AM to 4 PM. Peter Tea will be conducting a demonstration Saturday and open viewing workshop Sunday from Noon – 3 PM both days. Raffle, door prizes, vendor sales, and member plant sales will be featured. There will also be Dr. Bonsai to answer questions regarding bonsai care. For additional information contact Marsha Mekisich at (650) 477-4761. June

June 8, 2014 / Seaside, California Monterey Bonsai Club: 51st Annual Exhibition at the Monterey Buddhist Temple, 1150 Noche Buena Street. Show hours are 11 AM – 4 PM. Demonstration at 1:30 PM by Gareth Shepherd. Silent auction area will include bonsai, pots and plants. For more information: email Rich Guillen at richguillen@sbcglobal.net or Dianne Woods at vinca27@comcast.net.

June 14 – 15, 2014 / La Cañada Flintridge, California Descanso Bonsai Society: Annual Show at Descanso Gardens,1418 Descanso Drive. Hours are 9 AM – 5 PM, with Demonstrations 11 AM and 1 PM each day. Sales area is open to the public. Admission to the exhibition is free with admission to Descanso Gardens. A Saturday night reception 6 PM – 9 PM includes light refreshments, auction and raffle. For more information go to www.descanso-bonsai.com or contact Michael Jonas at (818) 776-0813.

June 14 – 15, 2014 / Encino, California Sansui Kai of Southern California: Annual show in conjunction with the Los Angeles Cactus and Succulent Society at Sepulveda Garden Center 16633 Magnolia Blvd. Hours are 9 AM – 5 PM Saturday and 9 AM – 4 PM Sunday. This is a family friendly venue with club bonsai sales, amazing vendors from the succulent, iris, and native plant community. Admission is free. For more information contact Dan Kashinsky at (818) 512-7661 or Kaptankaiser@gmail.com for timing of lectures on bonsai, succulents and native plants as well as entertainment and day-end feast.

June 21-22, 2014 Anaheim, California Orange County Bonsai Society: 51st Annual Bonsai Exhibit at the Orange County Buddhist Church, 909 S. Dale Ave. Exhibit hours are 10:30 AM – 4 PM both days. Demonstration at 1 PM each day followed by a benefit raffle. Demonstration trees will be included in raffles each day. Bonsai pots, tools and accessories along with books, trees and plants will be on sale. All ages welcome. Free admission and parking. There is a possibility of a schedule conflict with the venue. Please email or call to confirm exhibit dates/times prior to attending. For more information contact ocbonsai@gmail.com or Ken Schlothan at (714) 553-7516 August

August 23 – 24, 2014 Santa Rosa, California Redwood Empire Bonsai Society (REBS): 31th Annual show at the Santa Rosa Veterans building, 1351 Maple Ave. 10 AM – 5 PM Saturday and 10 AM – 4 PM Sunday with demonstrations both days at 1 PM by club sensei Kathy Shaner. Large exhibit of members’ trees, vendors’ sales room, members’ sales room, raffle and silent auction. Free admission, parking and treats. Contact Bob Shimon @ (707) 884-4126 or shimon@mcn.org. October

October 30 – November 2, 2014 Sacramento, California Golden State Bonsai Federation and American Bonsai Society present 2014 Convention XXXVII “Bonsai Visions of the West” at the Double Tree Hotel, 2001 Point West Way. Reservations for hotel (916) 929-8855. Headliners include Peter Tea, Kathy Shaner and David De Groot, ABS Learning Seminars with Ted Matson and Jack Sustic, Joshua Roth New Talent Bonsai Competition, and Special Tribute to John Naka – 100 years (b. August 16, 1914). Demonstrations, seminars, critiques, workshops, excursions, benefit drawings, vendors, and much more. More information available at www.gsbfconvention.org.