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February 2012
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The President's Corner
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Is it me, or has the weather been exceptionally weird? The other day, I
googled "long term weather forecast", and it was like reading a
horoscope. A lot of vague generalities with specifics slightly off
date. They had Feb. 1-7: periods of rain and wet snow, cold, etc.
No snow and rather warm, with rain at night. was the reality. One thing I
do know is that this month is going to be VERY busy!
Ted Matson is coming to town! February 25 and
26. I think the first time I went to one of his workshops was about 4
years ago, and I haven't missed one since. He is a terrific
instructor. Lots of knowledge and technique, and one of the best at
conveying that knowledge in a way that even I can understand. Novices and
old timers shouldn't miss this event. So bring your tools (freshly sharpened),
your trees and pots, and have a good time.
There will be a board meeting Sunday the 26th at
12:30.
Regards,
Wally
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The Next Club Event
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Ted Matson
Date: February 25 1:00PM & February 26 1:00PM
Location: Atlanta Botanical
Gardens
1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Ted Matson Bio.
Ted began studying bonsai in 1979 in San Francisco, where he learned the basics under John Boyce. He moved to Los Angeles in 1980, where he became involved in a number of clubs and began a serious pursuit of the art, taking classes from leading masters in Southern California, including Ben Suzuki, Shig and Roy Nagatoshi, Melba Tucker, Warren Hill and John Naka.
Ted was urged to get into teaching by Melba Tucker and he started offering classes at his home in Pasadena in 1988. Today, in addition to his own classes, he maintains a busy teaching schedule, traveling to nurseries, clubs and study groups throughout the state of California and across the U.S. for workshops and critiques. Also an in-demand demonstrator, Ted has conducted numerous programs (as well as workshops) at several bonsai conventions and conferences, and has been appearing more as a headliner/featured artist for major bonsai events. Along with Jim Barrett, he was the co-chair of the GSBF Convention XVIII in 1995 and, in February of 2000, chaired the California Shohin Society Seminar 2000. In addition, he has served as committee chairs for several GSBF and CBS conventions.
Current memberships include Descanso Bonsai Society (a past president), Shohin Bonsai Society (a past president), the California Bonsai Society and Nampu Kai, a group comprised of John Naka's students. He also is a co-founder of the California Shohin Society (a statewide organization devoted to the study of the smallest category of bonsai). He has served as an elected trustee of the Golden State Bonsai Federation, a statewide organization of clubs, for several years and was the Editor of Golden Statements for three years. (His articles have appeared in various bonsai publications and newspapers.) From 1998 to 2004, Ted served as the Chair of the GSBF Collection at the Huntington Committee, serving the needs of the permanent masterpiece bonsai collection at the Huntington Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California. He currently serves as 1st Vice President of the Golden State Bonsai Federation, and will assume the 2-year presidency of that organization beginning in January, 2008.
Although Ted is a lover of shohin bonsai, his collection includes trees of all sizes, styles and a range of species. They are known for their proportion, refinement and detail. Perhaps most notable of his bonsai is a 7-tree Foemina juniper grove on a granite slab that was selected for photographic display in the 1999 JAL World Bonsai Contest. In February 2000, the tree was featured in an article in the Bonsai Shunju, the official publication of the Nippon Bonsai Association.
Ted says one of his strengths is having a good eye for selecting material. A primary goal in his lectures and demonstrations is to help others improve their own abilities to recognize potential bonsai stock. And, he works to help people understand how to realize that potential through creative design and proper styling techniques.
Awards
1999 JAL 100 Best Bonsai
Various Best in Show awards
Various lifetime service awards from GSBF and local clubs
2 John Naka awards from Descanso Bonsai Society. I started teaching before most of the current competitions were started and haven't entered any.
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To see the entire club calendar click here
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Ted Groszkiewicz Bonsai Calendar for February (zones 7 & 8)
Brought to the ABS in memory of outstanding ABS member, Ted Groszkiewicz
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Transplant/Root Prune:
Almond - after flowering, Apple - as buds begin to appear, Apricot - after flowering, Bald Cypress - when leaf buds just begin to show color, Cherry - after flowering, Crabapple - as buds begin to appear, Plum, after flowering, Quince - Chinese when normal bud activity begins, Redbud - as flower buds appear, Zelkova - when leaf buds begin to show green color. During the last week of February you can re-pot and root prune early sprouting species of deciduous trees such as the Japanese maple "Kiyo Hime" and western maple "Amur."
Branch Prune:
Apple, Bald Cypress ONLY when actively in growth with new foliage out to the top of the branch or if dormant and the branch is at least 1/2" in diameter (pinkie size), Crape Myrtle, Juniper, Pine - red/white, Quince - Japanese after flowering, Spruce, Sweetgum.
Wire:
Bald Cypress, Cedar, Chamaecyparis - Hinoki, Cryptomeria, Cypress, Fir, Juniper, Pines - all Podocarpus, Spruce, Yew.
Notes:
Continue planning for the busy months ahead. If you haven't used dormant sprays last month, do so this month. Do not use dormant sprays if a freezing condition is anticipated within 24 hours. Plan and scout out areas for collecting native material in north Georgia. Collecting this month in middle and south Georgia is okay. Be certain to get owner's permission before collecting plant material.
Take special care in watering. Do not water when soil is frozen. Wait for warmer weather and then water thoroughly during morning hours before the next freeze sets in.
Wait to pot up flowering trees such as Apricot, Plum, etc. Enjoy the flowers. However, don't hold off until tiny leaves showing. That' too late to root prune.
You can start to prune fruiting trees this month. See above for re-potting and root pruning flowering trees. Much depends on local weather conditions.
If you want to try your skill at grafting pines and conifers, they can still be grafted this month. You can also start grafting deciduous trees late in the month.
If you haven't prepared a supply of bonsai soil mix for your trees, do so this month. Otherwise, you will be caught in the middle of your very busy re-potting activity playing "catch-up" or "catch as catch can" in providing soil mixes for your bonsai. Preparing soil mixes now will save you time and frustration in the months to follow. Don't delay. Mix up your soil now.
Keep an attentive eye on the weather. In late February it is possible to start re-potting, but check your trees closely. If buds begin to swell on deciduous trees and there is no danger of freezing for several days, you can transplant and root prune.
Caution: Watch the long-range weather forecasts and don't be too hasty to root prune or re-pot if forecasts call for continued freezes and below-normal conditions.
Take the time this month to clean and sharpen your bonsai tools. The months ahead will call for much use of scissors, pruners, knives, chisels or carving tools. A sharp tool can prevent injury by cutting wood cleanly instead of jamming or slipping and causing accidental injury. | Smith-Gilbert Gardens Bonsai Collection and Study Group
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You may not know it, but there is a wonderful bonsai collection taking shape in Kennesaw, Georgia. The Smith-Gilbert Garden, which was created by ABS member Bob Gilbert and Richard Smith over a 35-year period, is now a public facility operated by the City of Kennesaw.
The growing bonsai collection includes trees donated by Gilbert, Sid and Mary Pratt, Don Schuck, and other area enthusiasts. Garden volunteers and members of the Smith-Gilbert Bonsai Study Group are working under the direction of ABS member and internationally recognized bonsai master Rodney Clemons to care for the trees.
“It is a tremendous asset for the bonsai community,” says Clemons. “It has the potential to become one of the outstanding collections in the southeast.”
Study Group members meet on the second Saturday of each month to improve the collection and their own bonsai skills. Visitors are always welcome.
“Our members receive a tremendous amount of hands-on experience working with these bonsai,” says Group leader Rick Dawsey. “Being able to gain that knowledge while working under Rodney’s direction is an additional privilege.”
During the February meeting, 10 members, including collection donor Don Schuck, spent the day working on garden and personal trees. The highlight of the day was a three-hour session during which Dennis McHugh, Rodney, and other helpers rebuilt the top of a 50-year old black pine.
This grand old bonsai had lost its top a few years earlier, as sometimes happens with even well cared for trees. Using a trunk splitter, copper wire, raffia, and quite a bit of leverage, the members were able to bend a large, one-inch diameter upper branch 90º to form a new top.
The pine will look great is a few years as it is redeveloped! To learn more about the collection and how to visit the Garden, go to www.smithgilbertgardens.com.
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Club Bulletins
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Working Critique Format: We ask for tree owners to donate to the club accordingly to the work done on their tree. Members bringing trees should bring cash or check for prompt payment, to make it easier for the treasurer. Tree owner or teacher or both, will have the right to "call time" on any given tree, with a maximum 1 hr per tree, to save time for others.
Consignment on Bonsai related items or trees: The Board members want to remind you that the club offers consignment for the sale of bonsai related items or trees at the monthly meeting. The club is happy to announce that we will no longer charge a fee for consignment at the meetings but donations are always accepted and helpful. All we ask is that you are considerate about the volume of your conversations so that all the other members can hear the artist during the workshop and meeting.
Volunteers needed for workshops: The ABS would like experienced club members to assist in workhops and help manage the time as our visiting bonsai artists work with workshop participants. Please call 770-650-0446 or email crh@bellsouth.net to volunteer!
Members signing up for private sessions with our visitng bonsai artists are expected to assist the club with the expenses of bringing the artist to Atlanta. Members who book a full-day session must pay $25 or $15 when booking a half day session. Fees should be paid to the club Tresurer.
Special Note to New Members: All new members (including youth) will receive a workshop FREE! Please contact Dennis McHugh for availability at 404-545-5570 or email dennismchugh@charter.net for info and to reserve a space in the workshop.
BYOT: Note to all Members: Please bring trees and or suiseki (view stones) to the Sunday meeting for the Exhibit Table to share with other club members and more especially for new members and visitors to see. This is also a good opportunity to show off your "Workshop Tree" that you did last month or last year. Remember: Bring your own tree BYOT.
Do you have something that you would like to donate to the club to be given away FREE at any of our meetings? We usually have members that provide small items for a drawing at the meetings but it would be appreciated if any of our other members would like to bring something for the drawing. Remember someone's trash could be another's treasure, especially where bonsai-related items are concerned; however, the item does not have to be bonsai-related.
Re: Workshop reservations... Please remember when you reserve a workshop that you are responsible for letting Dennis know if you are unable to make it. If you are not able to cancel a full 72 hours before the workshop, you will be expected to pay for the spot. Letting Dennis know ahead of time will allow him to fill the spot with someone else. Many times there is a waiting list.
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New Club Members
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The Atlanta Bonsai Society is pleased to welcome the following new members this year:
| Aaron
Holley |
| Kenneth Fahey |
| Tom Victor |
| George Pennington |
| James Burke & Delany(dtr) |
| Debbie Folds |
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In case you missed it...
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Roy Nagatoshi was our guest in April. |
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Join or Renew membership
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To join the Atlanta Bonsai Society or renew your membership, click here.
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