Atlanta Bonsai Society

February 2010

The President's Corner

The cold winds of February are blowing outside my window. My new pots from last months auction are calling for transplants! For anyone who didn't make it, this was one of the wildest meetings we have had in a long time. We had 5 speakers covering wiring, soil types, soil mixes by tree type, repotting and pot selection. Dan, John, Brad, Wally and I had a great time. Dennis managed the pot auction for us and the club brought in a couple hundred extra dollars. We must have had 4 new members sign up that day, and at least a dozen members came to listen. THANKS to everyone. Now, I can't wait for Ted Matson to arrive and give the club another experience! Robert publishes the Bonsai Calendar for our area every month, I remind you this can be a busy time in late February and early March, so get those hands dirty!

The first board meeting of the year was held 12:30 January 30th, and only 3 board members were there. The annual schedule is below:

Sunday - - Feb 21 12:30PM - Atlanta Botanical Gardens
Sunday - - Mar 28 12:30PM - Atlanta Botanical Gardens
Sunday - - Apr 25 12:30PM - Atlanta Botanical Gardens
Sunday - - May 16 2:30PM - Atlanta Botanical Gardens
Saturday - Jun 26 12:30PM - Atlanta Botanical Gardens
Sunday - - Jul 18 12:30PM - Atlanta Botanical Gardens
Tuesday- - Aug 24 7:00PM - Conference Call
Saturday - Sep 25 12:30PM - Monastery in Conyers
Sunday - - Oct 24 12:30PM - Atlanta Botanical Gardens
Sunday - - Nov 14 12:30PM - Atlanta Botanical Gardens
No meeting in December

Being a member of the board requires a small investment of time. However, as leaders for our club, we look to you to proactively seek out ways to be of service to our club. With 40-50 active members and a total roster of over 100 members, we have a deep pool of people who would serve if called upon. Should you have changes in status that no longer allow you to serve, contact your president and arrangements will be made.

Regards,

Denise
denise@DeniseBeckmann.com

The Next Club Event

TED MATSON LECTURE/DEMONSTRATION/CRITIQUE
Date: February 20, 2010 1:30PM & February 21, 2010 1:30PM (lecture/demonstration/critique)
Location: Atlanta Botanical Gardens
1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30309

Saturday, February 20: at 1:30 pm the Atlanta Bonsai Society will host Bonsai Master Mr. Ted Matson from California. Participants are to bring their own trees to helped be styled by Mr. Matson. The workshop is $50 for members; silent observers are now $5. (Note new members get one workshop FREE). The workshop will be held at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. Call Curt Howard at 770-650-0446 or email crh@bellsouth.net to reserve your space in the workshop. We are currently working on getting a second workshop and are very close to the number we need for the second workshop. Please call asap to reserve your spot so we can go ahead and schedule the second workshop.

Sunday, February 21: at 1:30 pm the Atlanta Bonsai Society will hold its regular monthly meeting with Mr. Ted Matson who will perform a lecture/demonstration followed by a critique. Ted will critique everyone’s first tree and if time permits a second tree for FREE. The meeting is FREE, please bring refreshments for all to enjoy. Call Curt Howard for any additional information.

Ted Matson

BIOGRAPHY
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

To see the entire club calendar click here

Ted Groszkiewicz Bonsai Calendar for February (zones 7 & 8)
Brought to the ABS in memory of outstanding ABS member, Ted Groszkiewicz

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.

Club Bulletins

Special Note to New Members: All new members (including youth) will receive a workshop FREE! Please contact Curt Howard for availability at 770-650-0446 or email crh@bellsouth.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.

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 Sunday monthly meeting. The club asks for 25% of the exchange for facilitating the sale.

Re: Workshop reservations... Please remember when you reserve a workshop that you are responsible for letting Curt 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 Curt know ahead of time will allow him to fill the spot with someone else. Many times there is a waiting list.

New Club Members

The Atlanta Bonsai Society is pleased to welcome the following new members this year:
Tyler Allen
Dan Hall
Andrea Holley
David Murphy
Allice & Bob Attaway
Divicino
Christopher J. Grossman
Keith Funk
John Fleming
David Osborne
Kristen Stackfleth
Tom Eddins
Barbara Stevenson

In case you missed it...

Our own Rodney Clemons discussing Maples (and some Kingville Boxwoods and Azaleas too).

Join or Renew membership

To join the Atlanta Bonsai Society or renew your membership, click here.

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