April Workshop

Hi Everyone

On the 29^th Of April W-B-S 2012 held it’s Last Sunday of the Month Workshop at the One and Only Gordales Garden Center Britain's Best Garden Retailer, Independent Retail Outlet of the Year and Garden Centre of the Year!here in the Wirral and what a day it was as the Rain seem to stay on forever but it did NOT stop some of the Bonsai Diehards from attending the workshop to work on their own trees along with assisting any members of the public with questions and answers to any of the problems they had with their own or bought Bonsai Trees

On call were Dave,Tom,Bill T,Andy,Doug,Bill G,Sean,Brian and Ian along with the Bonsai Trees to be worked on we had a Large Olive Tree,Twin Large, Deshojo Maple,Two Potentilla,Korean Hornbeam,Pieris Forest Flame,Yew ,Spruce and Two Privets’

It was a quiet day but we did have our regular couple who brought in images of their Bonsai Tree to seek advice on so Doug, Andy, Ian, were available to assist them another couple brought a Chinese Elm to the workshop table and Ian worked on the Elm for them and they both were grateful and pleased with the result Dave, Sean, Bill T, Bill G and Tom help many members of the public with any question and some who just stop to say Hello and a chat

Later in the afternoon we had a nice visit from Former Newsletter Editor of the Japan Society North West, A sweet charming young Lady Yuko Howes, who recorded some footage for her new blog, Japan Outpost (www.japanoutpost.org.uk). In this blog, she reports various Japanese culture-related activities by British people in and around Greater Manchester.

It was a pleasant day and we all enjoyed each other’s company with Sean stealing the limelight with HIS TRUE STORY of an Escaped Stag explaining that on Friday 27^thApril at 07:am Sean and Paddy had the First sighting then later in the afternoon at 3:30 pm another sighting with Paddy in pursuit at a Place in Huyton (The exact location is being withheld to prevent poachers) Police, Motorway Police and Knowsley Safari Park Rangers where monitoring the situation as the animal may have escaped from the park!!!!!!!

But a Spokesperson has reported that “PADDY has refused to talk or say anything”

Once again we all like to Thank Mr and Mrs Nicholson and all the Staff and the Award Winning Garden Centre for supporting W-B-S Sunday Workshop

Sorry to say there will be No Sunday Workshop on the Last Sunday 27th MayMore images of the Sunday Workshop can be found @

http://www.facebook.com/theweelad

Many thanks for reading our Blog and we welcome any comments from you

Take care look after each other and all your Bonsai Trees

Jim thelad

 Interesting approach to tree styling

 Ian's eye sight isn't what it used to be......... a bit more to the right, Ian

 A puzzled look.......what do you do with these??

 An unusual position,.... for the tree and Ian!

A good array of trees (and an odd array of people)

May Meeting -Bonsai Pest and Diseases

 A happy bunch

-

 thats one really tall bug!

 part of the slide show

 and a really long one!

Is that an aphid or mite?

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to our Monthly Meeting that was on the 9th of May In the absence of Ian W and Arthur R because of work commitments Bill G opened the evenings session.however before things got under way Bill asked members if they would like to make an offer for some Bonsai Trees that a Member of the The Royal Air Forces Association and Roundell Club had passed onto the RAFA Club in a bid to raise money for a worthwhile cause. Bill also mentioned the forthcoming Event The 3rd Welsh National Bonsai Show this August at Newport Gwen and now is the time to looking for selected items and preparing them.Bill then introduced Mr Richard Lewis who was our Guest Speaker on the evenings Topic of

Bonsai Pest and Diseases

It was a very extremely valuable and informative for the Two Dozen who were in the room and they seemed captivated by what Mr Lewis had to say and show via a slideshow presentation and explanations

The Variety of Topics That He Covered Were,

Problems such as Pests, Diseases, Disorders.

Control Methods (A) Chemical,(B) Biologial), (C)Organic.

Pests Why and How's.

Theory of Trophobiosis.

Aphids including the Aphids Life Cycle,

Scale.

Red Mite Spider and RSM Life CycleSpingtails.

Whitefly.Mr Lewis brought in a few of his own Bonsai Trees for members to inspect for Little Beasty using a Magnifying Glass as it's extremely difficult to see them if they are not moving .At Break Some members ventured outside to go and check out the Bonsai Trees and so far as I know at least one has been snapped up by Stan so here's hoping other members may follow suit and purchase some of the Bonsai TreesThe evening went extremely well and the time seemed to fly past with members having a Q and A with our Guest speaker and the end of his presentation then all members thanked Mr Lewis for such an inspiring,well presented and knowledgeable evening.

Mr. Richard Lewis

is the Program Leader for the FdScs (Foundation Degree in Science) in Horticulture. Trained at the Distinguished Writtle College, with more than Twenty years of experience, Teaching horticulture at all levels, Also Consultancy work and lecturing regularly in Uganda to villagers in Horticultural Techniques and the sustainable use of water.His research interests include the development of sustainable organic horticultural production in Third World Countries and the relationship between the environment and the control of pests and diseases in organic production.

This and more information about Mr Richard Lewis can be found at

Glyndŵr University, Wrexham, UK - Staff profiles. ... Richard Lewis
We had a excellent turn-out with almost Two Dozen including Two new Faces,Mike whom we know from the Sunday Workshops a big welcome to him and trust he will take an Active part in our Society and the other gentleman I believe from a Reliable Sources, he is a

Shaddy individual named Chris R. - Show Manager and a committee member of the National Bonsai Society Steve H and Sean D invited Chris to the meeting and we ALL hope he will be joining W-B-S

As already been pointed out by our Webmaster Iain Q THERE IS NO LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH WORKSHOP ON THE 27th of MAY

Looking ahead our Friends and Neighbours At The V-O-C-B-S ARE putting on a display at Woodfest on 2^nd/3^rdand 4^th June

http://www.woodfestwales.co.uk/north/

Its near Bodelwyddan just off the A55, the signs will be out on the day


So all that is left for me to say is Thanks for reading our W-B-S Blog and we Welcome any Comments that you may have to do with Bonsai Related Subjects

Take care look after each other and all your Bonsai Trees

Jim thelad

April ToTM

April's Tree of the Month as chosen by Peter Warren

April Meeting -Peter Warren -Shohin/Accent display

 Ian opens the meeting with a warm up routine......... which seems to include big fish, little fish, cardboard box!!!

-

 Peter Warren starts appreciating small pots.

--

 A good turn out for a guest, as usual

-

Peter appreciating both tree and pot?

Hi Everyone

Mr Peter Warren, is a shy quiet spoken gentleman and one of U.K Finest  Extremely Talented Bonsai Artist with a Long List of Credits to his name He grew up in the North Yorkshire Countryside, Attended Leicester University where he read Physics with Astrophysics before moving to Japan.That when he found his True Calling and he began to study under Master Kunio Kobayashi  at his garden, Shunkaen, in Tokyo. During this time he asked if he could become his full time apprentice, a position he held for over Seven or more years .Peter returns regularly to help out and to have the opportunity to learn more and to use Peter’s words “ as  an  apprentice  it was an incredible learning experience and was able to learn and acquire many techniques, ideas and aesthetic principles and adapt them for his own style" and has been passing on his passion and techniques Since 2007. He has been traveling the World, Teaching Bonsai and working with some of the Best Bonsai Trees in the USA, Europe and Japan 


Ian W our Chairman got the meeting underway and welcomed everyone and introduced Mr Peter Warren who introduced his Presentation  of Shohin Bonsai Display + Evolution Display and the Appreciation of Pots and why Shohin and Mame Trees came about and spoke of  Count Malsudaira and Mr Nakamura Zeko as the fore-runners for Displaying and showing of Shohin Bonsai

It was very interesting and educational to see how Shohin and Mame Bonsai have progressed from those early days and the whole audience were once again enthralled and captivated by what Peter was saying  During a short break Peter was chatting with members and advising a few on their Bonsai Trees also another this gave members time to look at the Large Number on Bonsai Pots and Bonsai Books so a Grateful THANK-YOU brought into one of our Last Sunday of the month workshop at the GGC many thanks for thinking of us that was Extremely kind indeed

There were  a  good gathering with around 24 and another well know face amongst us as Mr Simon Temblett  Another of UK Finest Bonsai Artists also a Potter and Sculpture, producing some of his own bespoke Bonsai Pots, also  attended Peter’s presentation and more about  Mr Simon Temblett can be found at 

http://simontemblettbonsai.co.uk/

Bonsai can be classified into different groups by size. The size of Bonsai is generally measured as the distance between the top of the soil and the apex of the bonsai tree. Below is the classification of Bonsai of different sizes.

Keishi Bonsai (thumb size)    Up to 1 inch (2.5 cm) in height
Shito Bonsai (very small)       Up to 3 inch (7.5 cm) in height
Mame Bonsai (mini)               To 6 inch (15 cm) in height
Shohin Bonsai (small)             Up to 8 inch (20 cm) in height
Kifu Sho Bonsai (medium)      Up to 16 inch (40.5 cm) in height
Chu Bonsai (medium large)     Up to 24 (61 cm) inch in height
Dai Bonsai (large)                    Up to 40 (101.5 cm) inch in height

These Standard Rules that become important and are helpful in shows and competitions Sometimes measures are not sharply outlined, and the exact height of the Bonsai tree does not hold very strictly. For example, the majority of  Shohin Bonsai at most Bonsai Shows are Approximately 8 inches (20 cm) or less in height, .but an Elegant, Slim Bonsai Tree may easily override the limit in height and still be considered as a Shohin., This is same for Mame Bonsai.

Basically, the main “rule” is that we must be able to hold our Shohin Bonsai and Mame Bonsai  on the Palm. of one Hand Expressing the beauty of a Large aged tree in Miniature.

Info from                 http://www.happybonsai.com/classification-bonsai-based-size/

Once again it was a Privilege and Honour to have  Peter’s  Presentation  of Shohin Bonsai Display + Evolution Display and the Appreciation of Pots for us all at Wirral Bonsai  Society and to read more about Mr Peter Warren please go to

http://www.saruyama.co.uk/info-who.php   

also at

http://www.bonsaibasho.com/micromarket/#/library/library/a112

It was an evening well spent and made a lot Members think that its not all about the Medium to Large Bonsai Trees that are Appealing and Beautiful being  SMALL IS Definitely Beautiful 

At the End of the evening Ian W thanked Peter for a most Interesting and Inspired presentation and asked Peter to do the honors and chose a Tree Of The Month which he obliged and Peter chose an Crab Apple Tree owned by Sean D  

On the Last Sunday of the Month the 29^th of April we all back at our Favourite Venue Gordales Award Winning Garden Center (GGC)  so we hope to see you there Bring in any on your Bonsai Trees were we will do our utmost to advise and help in anyway our members can or just join us all for a chat about anything Bonsai Related

Take care look after each other and all your Bonsai Trees

Jim thelad

May workshop

Doug has let me know that there will NOT be a workshop at Gordale on the 27th May.
All others dates are confirmed.
Cheers

Iain

March Workshop-Steve Tolley

 Steve does his usual highly visual tree evaluation!

 Bill seems lost.......

 .....then a little concerned.

All hands to the pump.....or branch bender to you and me.

Hi Everyone 

It was a bright warm sunny day at the GGC on Sunday the 25th of March and great to see lots of smiling faces and some very inquisitive members of the Public

This was a Workshop we were all looking forward to as Mr Steve Tolley an English Bonsai Artist.His Curriculum Vitae (C.V )Includes Many Prestigious Awards Uk and Overseas,Many Articles and Photographs published in International Bonsai Magazines He was Awarded the Bonsai Club International (BCI) ARTIST, WRITER PHOTOGRAPHER AWARD at the 5th World Bonsai Convention in Washington DC where he was also a Demonstrator and Workshop Leader. Steve also Set Up His Four Dimensional Art and Established The Steve Tolley Bonsai School with the aim of helping to raise the Standards of UK Bonsai.A Bonsai Supremo In My Opinion

Anyway Much More Information about Mr Steven Tolley can be found
                                AT
http://www.stevetolleybonsai.com/

or Google Search  ++  Steve Tolley Bonsai Artist

On with the workshop it was well attended with a dozen or so members current and a few new members Colin and Dave.and of course Mr Steve Tolley who wasted no time in getting into action and was soon demonstrating and interacting with everyone including members of the Public
There were a large number of Trees brought into the workshop such as Various Pines including Two Large Pines + Larches + Privets + Chinese Elm + Damson + Hawthorns + Maples.

While Mr T. was busy with members Trees, members were also helping,advising or given assistance the General Public with all types of question of Bonsai and even horticulture questions and answers so Sean + Doug + Andy + Steve + Ian + Dena + Ron+ Arthur+ Bill + Colin + Dave + and of-course      Mr Tolley ALL were extremely happy to oblige with thier opinions and advice

There Were many interesting aspects of the Steve's Workshop, Many Branches Wired ,Trees Trimmed  Branches Relocated and in one instance given Bill G's Black Pine a Different and Superior New Look. Also we had Arthur our illustrious Vice Chair was hard at busy Carving, Hollowing Out a branch on his Escallonia Tree and filling the hollowed out segment to hold many Thin Pieces of Straight Wire, Wrapping the Branch in Raffia to prevent Damage to the Branch. Many members had never seen this method performed before (including your's truly) so many eager eyes and helpers were on scene willing to assist and learn from Steve.
This Technique was introduced by Mr Masahiko Kimura and popularized the technique in Kindai Bonsai and later in the English Language. Unfortunately we did not have a Bonsai Aesthetics Heavy Duty Branch Jack but all is not Lost as Arthur is confident he can make his own type of Heavy Duty Branch Jack to bend the branch of his tree successfully with the help of club members

The day was a day to remember and a great Privilege to have Mr Steve Tolley demonstrating, working on everyone's Trees and passing on extremely valuable, knowledgeable, useful information and know-how he has used many times around Europe and USA plus any New Technique's on his Travels

We would all like to thank Mr Nicholson who stopped and chatted plus ALL Gordales Garden Center Staff here in the Wirral for making W-B-S most welcomed and look forward to being there again on the last Sunday of The Month 29th of April 2012

Additional images of the The W-B-S Workshop with Steve Tolley Last Sunday of The Month of March   can be found at

http://www.facebook.com/theweelad

That's it for now Look After Each Other and all your Bonsai Trees

Take care

Jim thelad

Message from Peter Snart

Peter SnartI think that a special word of thanks is due to the Wirral guys from the BSA . As a society they have consistently supported the show from the very start with both exhibits and visitors, long may it continue, thanks to everyone at the club !

11 hours ago· Like

Take care

Jim