The Bonsai News of H ouston A Monthly Newsletter of the Houston Bonsai Society Inc.

Make the Cut” , April 6th -9th. Sheraton Dallas North Hotel, Demos

Bjorn Bjorholm and Daisaku Nomoto collaborated on a spectacular Suiseki (Photo: Ken Cousino)

The next meeting of the Houston Bonsai Society will be at the Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion in Hermann Park, 1500 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX 77004. Refreshments at 7 PM, meeting starts at 7:30 PM.

Wednesday, May 3rd, HBS Monthly Meeting: Tool Care and Sharpening with Bill Boytim. Bring your problematic tools to seek advice from this expert.

Upcoming Events

May 6 Saturday Study Group at Quality Feed & Garden. Free, refreshments.

May 6-7 HBS Spring Bonsai show at Japan Fest in the Japanese Garden, Hermann Park. Dr. Hoe Chuah will be in charge, so please meet with him about displaying your bonsai. Hours: Saturday: 10AM - 7PM and Sunday 10AM– 5PM.

Saturday May 13, Basic Bonsai #1 Class, Timeless Trees, 9AM – 1PM. Focus will be on repotting. $60 includes a tree, pot, scissors, soil, wire, and hand-out.

Saturday May 20, Let’s Get Serious about Wiring Class, Timeless Trees, 9AM – 1PM. Focus on effective and “clean” wiring for styling.

May 25 – 28 Brussel’s Annual Rendez-vous, Olive Branch, MS - Featuring Marc Noelanders, Kathy Shaner, Rodney Clemons, Suthin Sukosolvisit, Mauro Stemberger, Mark Fields, Pedro Morales, and John Powell.

May 25 – 29 Moving American Bonsai Forward Convention in Orlando, Florida - presented jointly by the American Bonsai Society and the Bonsai Societies of Florida. Anniversary exhibition. More details in Calendar of Events.

Volume 46 Number 5 May 2017

IN THIS ISSUE

Upcoming Events

Bonsai tool care HBS Spring Show

Showcase of the Month

HBS at LSBF 2017 Dallas

May Bonsai Care

John Miller

President’s Letter

LSBF 2017

Bonsai: Make the Cut Dallas Exhibit

HBS Spring Show

At Japan Fest Hermann Park

HBS at LSBF Dallas (Photos courtesy of Ken Cousino)

May Bonsai Care The abnormal winter we had this year will cause you to need to adjust your work schedule. You’ve already done your repotting and the first pruning. Now you should look at adjusting your fertilizing and any necessary leaf pruning.

Usually May is the time for leaf pruning. If you have kept the new growth pinched properly, you have been getting the ramification usually attributed to leaf pruning. The only good reason for leaf pruning is to replace foliage damaged by wind or insects. Some plants with large foliage will produce smaller leaves. Leaf pruning should only be done on strong healthy bonsai and should be done after the spring foliage has matured, to supply the trees with enough nutrients to produce a good crop of new foliage. It must be done well before the summer heat causes the plant growth to slow or stop. The very latest time (and not at all desirable) should be Memorial Day. Leaf pruning is usually done by cutting the stems of those leaves (like maples) or cutting across the leaves about 1/16 inch from the twig, (like elms). The trees should be well fertilized 7 - 10 days before this operation although they don’t need as much water until the new foliage has developed.

When the nighttime temp stays above 60 degrees, it is time to start repotting the tropical material. Since there are so many different requirements for tropical, I will not try to cover their needs here. In general, I like to put the repotted ones in partial shade and mist them until the new growth starts.

Warm humid days are favorable for fungal growth. Watch for mildew, black leaf spot on elms and yaupons, among others. As an organic control, I use hydrogen peroxide in a 1% solution (mix 1 part of the normal 3% commercial product with 2 parts water). Baking soda is also recommended.

Aphids, spider mites, and scale continue to be the most prevalent insects. The foliar feeding of fish emulsion, liquid kelp, molasses, and apple cider vinegar (1 tablespoon of each per gallon of water) is all the control I use for them. Scale is the most difficult because it is covered with a waxy coating (hence the name scale). You may need to use a horticultural oil, mixed as directed on the label. Be sure that the direction you read is for summer use, as some have two dosages given, one for dormancy - usually the first and strongest - and one for summer. Don’t use oil on buttonwood or any other plant not included on the label. A systemic applied to the root zone according to the label may be used. Don’t stick a stem in your mouth if you use systemic or other chemicals.

If you see damage to the foliage or the plant is not doing well, look for other problems. If you don’t recognize the culprit, ask you favorite nurseryman for help. A lot of root problems (insects or fungi) look like undernourished trees.

Start checking your pots to see if the sun is heating them up. Our summer sun shining on dark pots can make the soil temperature soar and kill the roots. Try putting your hand on the pot. Roots are living organisms and cannot take high temperatures any more than you can. Heating also dries out the soil, so you need to water more often. Any number of ways of keeping the pots cool will work, as long as they prevent the sun from scorching them. I don’t recommend the aluminum foil method because I don’t care to have the reflected sunlight blinding my eyes. A simple cloth with a slit to go around the trunk works fine. A shade cloth should be used on the western side to protect the bonsai from late afternoon (2 - 5pm) sun.

Remember all the work that you did in the spring? Keep the new growth trimmed so that you haven’t wasted your time. While trimming or watering, check the wiring periodically and remove it before it damages the branch. If the branch springs back some, rewire it.

If you are not on a regular organic foliar/drench feed schedule, be sure to use fertilizer cakes with supplemental feeding with a good liquid fertilizer, one that includes the minor elements, such as the Hollytone type made by Espoma. Most bonsai I see are malnourished. The liquid water soluble fertilizer gets washed out with the next watering and the tree starves until the next infrequent feeding.

Time to consider becoming more proficient at your hobby. You can learn all the rules but without practice, the performance is not so desirable. You need to learn how to recognize the bonsai within the raw material you are starting with. This experience can only be learned from beginners’ classes, workshops and the clubs study groups. If you are not a beginner, try teaching some beginners, as the teacher learns as much as the students when repeating his lessons. Visit conventions, especially the local state conventions, and discuss trees with others who share your passion for a particular style or species.

John Miller John Miller, who writes a monthly column for the Bonsai Society of Dallas and Fort Worth Bonsai Society, has agreed to share his column with us. We need to make adjustments for our warmer and damper climate, with earlier springs, longer summers, late fall and erratic winters.

Mr. John Miller, a long time contributor to our Texas Bonsai Care column. Here is his latest portrait at the LSBF 2017 Convention in Dallas (Photo: Joey McCoy)

President’s Letter

As we expected, the LSBF convention in Dallas was a great success. We had over 20 attendees from Houston and provided all of the entries in the Texas Talent contest.

I thoroughly enjoyed the two workshops I took and I came home with some great workshop trees. The three artists were all very talented and taught us a lot about the material that we were working on. As always, the highlight of the convention (with the possible exception of the Pub Committee meetings) was the exhibit of top quality trees from across the state.

Hoe Chuah won Best Broadleafed Evergreen award

Houston was well represented in the exhibit. Dr. Hoe won the award for Best Broad Leafed Evergreen for his Wakaebisu azalea, and

Vern Maddox won the Best Display award for his suiseki display.

Vern Maddox won Best Display award.

Howard and Sylvia Smith from Dallas displayed their Ash juniper, “King of the Hill”, (shown below) for the first time at a state convention. This is a collected tree that has been styled over many years to the point where I believe it is the finest Texas native bonsai ever developed. If you ever get a chance to see it, it will be time and effort well spent on your part.

Once again this year, the HBS Spring Show Saturday May 6 from 10AM to 7PM and on Sunday May 7, from 10AM to 5PM. I hope each of us will bring a tree or two, and come join in the fun talking to the many visitors about bonsai. Bring your family to enjoy the cultural events, Taiko drum shows, fashion shows, songs and dances, many martial art competitions and musical symphony throughout the two days. There will also be a lot of games for the young and old, and delicious foods and drinks to relish too. The Japanese Garden, where our exhibit will be held, is quite beautiful at this time of year, with fresh maple foliage in all colors and a

sea of irises in bloom. There will be a tea ceremony at the tea house, in front of the big pond and waterfall. Right in front of our exhibit, there will be a tent dedicated to an Ikebana exhibit, the traditional Japanese Art of flower arrangement. See Dr. Hoe at the May meeting to sign up for this fun event.

Last month Hurley gave a great lecture on managing pests and diseases in our bonsai. With a program like this one, I would challenge each of us to spend some time thinking about the lessons presented and taking his advices to heart.

A question for you: “What have you changed about your approach to managing the health of your bonsai based on what Hurley presented to us?” Have you committed to dormant season spraying? Do you know how to protect your bald cypresses from sudden death via root mealy bugs? Are you practicing the principles of Integrated Pest Management? What is your overall strategy for controlling insects and fungi? Hurley addressed all of these questions for us and would be happy to advise you on how to implement those practices to improve the health of your trees.

Pete Parker

Howard and Sylvia Smith’s Ash Juniper yamadori, a Texas Native – Best of Show Award and the People’s Award. All photos pictured above are shared by Joey McCoy from Austin Bonsai club and The Texas State Bonsai Exhibit.

hosted by Bonsai Society of Dallas

April 6-9, 2017

The best bonsai trees in the LSBF in 2017 were

displayed at the Exhibit in Dallas. All members

of the LSBF had the opportunity to share their

best bonsai trees, accent plants and viewing

stones.

For the “Excellence in Bonsai” Recognition

Awards, the trees were judged by the guest

artists Bjorn Bjorholm, Daisaku Nomoto and

Juan Andrade in the following categories:

Conifer,

Tropical or Semi-Tropical,

Deciduous,

Broadleaf Evergreen,

Texas Native and

Best of Show.

For this exhibit only, the hosting Dallas Club

has chosen a special recognition category, Best

Display.

Joey McCoy

received Best

Deciduous

award for a

Cedar Elm

(above) and

Best Tropical

award for a

Podocarpus

yamadori

(below)

Mark Bynum of

Fort Worth won

Best Conifer for his

romantic display

(below)

There are many more wonderful photographs of

the LSBF 2017 exhibit to be shared in the next

issues.

My deepest appreciation to Ken Cousino of

HBS and Joey Mc Coy for sharing their very

professional photographs of the convention

exhibit with the all bonsai lovers.

Shawn Nguyen

HBS Spring Show at Japan Fest

For many decades, HBS held a Spring Show at

the old facility in Hermann Park, but when the

conference room was no longer available, we

started a new tradition: A display tent inside the

Japanese Garden, in Hermann Park, in

conjunction with Japan Fest. This year, we will

be provided storage for the bonsai in the

evening, so the volunteers won’t have to bring

the trees for display and take them home in the

evening.

This year, Dr. Hoe Chuah will be in charge of

coordinating the volunteers and setting up the

exhibit. Hope many of HBS members can

participate in this fun cultural event and have a

chance to spread Bonsai joy to the public.

Please sign up with Hoe at this coming May

meeting and start getting your trees, stands and

accent plants ready for show.

Here is a photo of Dean, Scott and Anthony

chatting with bonsai aficionados in the previous

Spring Show.

Come out and have a lot of fun with us!

Calendar of Events

2017

MAY 3 HBS Monthly Meeting - Tool Care and Sharpening with Bill Boytim

MAY 6 Saturday Study Group at Quality Feed & Garden. Free, refreshments.

MAY 6-7 HBS Spring Bonsai show at Japan Fest in the Japanese Garden, Hermann Park. Dr. Hoe will be in charge so meet with him about displaying your bonsai and parking. Bring the family to enjoy Japan Fest Taiko drum and fashion shows, talent competitions, international games, and foods and drinks. Hours: Saturday: 10AM - 7PM and Sunday 10AM – 5PM.

MAY 13 Basic Bonsai #1 Class, Timeless Trees, 9AM – 1PM. Focus will be on repotting. $60 per person including a tree, pot, soil, wire, hand-out, and a pair of scissors. We will repot the trees into a ceramic pot, and make initial branch selection.

MAY 20 Let’s Get Serious about Wiring Class, Timeless Trees, 9AM – 1PM. Focus on effective and “clean” wiring to achieve the desired style and appearance of tree. $25 per person includes wire and hand-outs. We will work on practice trees and branches. Bring your own wire cutters and pliers.

MAY 25– 28 Brussel’s Annual Rendez-vous, Brussel’s Bonsai Nursery, Olive Branch, MS - 800-582-2593. Featuring Marc Noelanders, Kathy Shaner, Rodney Clemons, Suthin Sukosolvisit, Mauro Stemberger, Mark Fields, Pedro Morales, and John Powell. Registration is $200, or after 30 April $250. Special $92 at the Fairfield Inn by Marriott.

MAY 25 – 29 Moving American Bonsai Forward Convention at Florida Hotel in Orlando, Florida - Presented jointly by the American Bonsai Society and the Bonsai Societies of Florida. Anniversary exhibition.:Enter your tree into the exhibit to compete for the Hô Yoku Award ($250) for Innovative Bonsai Design! Hotel reservations: 800-588-4656 at $106/night; use code ABS/BSF2017.Details: 'Moving American Bonsai Forward'

MAY 27 - June 5: 46th Kanuma Satsuki Festival. Details at 2086-1 Moro Kanuma-shi Tochigi 322-0026, Japan.

MAY 27-28 French National Congress in Montpellier., France. Details from pgradt@numericable.fr

JUN 7 HBS Monthly Meeting - Developing Broadleaf Bonsai with Scott Barboza

JUN 9 –10 Tropical Bonsai School Reunion with Pedro Morales, Timeless Trees, open to students who have taken at least one of the Tropical Bonsai Schools sessions. $85 per person/ day, Friday, Saturday and Sunday for full 8AM- 5PM day, with a quick break for lunch. You are welcome to attend 1 day, or 2 or all 3. Maximum 10 students per day, so make reservation early.

JUN 10 Saturday Study Group at Maas Nursery. Free

Make sure you go to Timeless Trees’ website and add your name to the mailing list for weekly Current Events. Never miss another class, workshop with the masters, a pot or bonsai shipment, especially Special Event sales.

Quality Feed & Garden and Ken stand ready to help you with bonsai selection, bonsai care, pots and supplies. He will also personally have free classes for HBS every 3-month to help you start with your first bonsai. Check the Calendar of Events for dates. Ask for 10% HBS discount.

Come stock up on bonsai soils, pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers and other supplies. The plant doctor is always on duty, so bring your unhappy or unhealthy bonsai for a free check-up. Don’t forget to ask for a 10% HBS discount.

With the growing season is well on its way, JRN II is now stocked with colorful flowers, citrus trees, innumerable house or landscape plants, and rare tropical bonsai of all sizes for beginners and the most serious bonsai lovers.

Visit artist Andrew Sankowski at the Mossrock Studio & Fine Art Gallery for the finest gifts and most uniquely beautiful bonsai pots in every shape, form and color. Personalized pots or gifts can be commissioned year round. Weekly pottery classes are also available.

Andrew Sankowski 26002 Oak Ridge Drive Direct (281) 684-4411

The Woodlands, TX 77380 Fax (281) 363-9032

andy@mossrockstudio.com

Houston Bonsai Society, Inc. P. O. Box 540727, Houston, Texas 77254-0727

www.houstonbonsai.com

HBS Board Members

President Pete Parker peteparkerbonsai@yahoo.com

1st Vice President Scott Barboza markyscott@me.com in charge of Education 2nd Vice President Hoe Chuah hoe.chuah@gmaill.com Secretary Barbara Adams BarbAdams222@gmail.com Publicity Ken Cousino krcousino@yahoo.com

Treasurer Eldon Branham elmo4635@aol.com

in charge of Membership Webmaster Anthony Cutola acutola@gmail.com

Member at Large - O Nandita D’ Souza ndas27@gmail.com

Member at Large - O Vern Maddox vmaddox1@comcast.net

Member at Large - O Clyde Holt cmholt11@comcast.net

Member at Large – E Sharon Barker barkersharonr48@gmail.com Member at Large - E Ray Gonzalez raygonzalez47@yahoo.com Member at Large – E Brian Gurrola bgurrola@gurrolareprographics.com

Delegates Past President Hurley Johnson hurley@all-tex.net

LSBF Delegate Terry Dubois tdubois1@comcast.net

LSBF Alternate Pete Parker peteparkerbonsai@yahoo.com

BCI Ambassador

TTSBE Representative Alan Raymond amraymond@suddenlink.net

Refreshments

Website/email Gary Teeter houstonbonsai@gmail.com

Newsletter editor Shawn Nguyen hbs.news@yahoo.com

The Bonsai News of Houston is a monthly publication of the Houston Bonsai Society, Inc. Copyright © 2011. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the editor or a member of the Board of Directors. Exceptions exist, however, for certain not-for-profit and non-profit bonsai organizations or associated bonsai and bonsai nursery newsletters, including without limitation the American Bonsai Society. HBS participates fully with reciprocation of contents and material between other LSBF member organizations and others. Authors who submit articles for this newsletter thereby give permission to such organizations to reprint, unless they expressly state otherwise.

Space for advertising in The Bonsai News of Houston can be requested by contacting the newsletter editor or a member of the HBS Board. The rates for a business-card-size ad (approximately 3 1/2" x 2") are $6 per month, $30 for 6 months and $50 per year (12 issues). A full-page ad is $25 per month. Rates are subject to change without notice. 3½" x 2" classified ads are run free of charge for one month once per 12-month period for non-commercial members. For special requests or questions related to The Bonsai News of Houston, contact the newsletter editor or a member of the HBS Board.