Kevin Willson @ Burrs

This weekend saw a number of lucky members enjoy a Burrs weekender.

(Tony & Ian came up with a particularly lame excuse not to be there!!)
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Kevin and his ‘right hand man’ Richard Chambers provided the expert advice (along with a considerable arsenal of power tools!!)

He ably proved why he has made a name for himself as an exquisite carver of deadwood but also showed that this talent is only a small part of his many skills- drinking not being the least of them!!

Saturday nights post pub highlights included a side splitting critique of some of the trees exhibited at the Noleanders trophy. Along with looking at Les's wiring (........revenge is a dish best served cold!! ) I would count it as one of my funniest moments in Bonsai, Lee being particularly on top form -

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"I don't care what f**ing country he's from... that tree's S**T!!"

Everybody seemed to leave happy if a little tired, personally I had a wonderful time and two of my trees took a large leap forward in their development through Kevin's perceptive insight and skilled hand. (Pictures to hopefully go on my blog shortly.)

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Thanks to Tony for organising a very productive weekend, Carolyn for some tasty scran and Terry for the introduction to Japanese whisky!

Doug's workshop -Saturday 7th

Over the bank holiday weekend a number of members (you know who you are!) descended on Doug's house to soak up the sun and generally abuse his hospitality!! According to all who survived the experience they had a 'lovely' time -despite the fact you can only see cups of tea in the pictures.- It's my guess the real party was held in the tea house!!

Caption competition -

'Anybody care for a Hernia?.............Don't mind if I do, Sir...!!!'

Remember ....... benz zee neeeezz

Thanks to Brian for forwarding the pictures.

April Meeting- Workshop

Last night the club members gathered to enjoy each others company, manipulate some trees, poke fun at others wiring efforts whilst trying to convince other tree owners that 'it would look much better if that branch was removed!!'
As can be seen below the turn out was good and there were plenty of trees to critique*/praise*/envy* (delete as appropriate.)

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Les also brought in a number of trees that had been given the 'Kevin Willson treatment' during a personal workshop enjoyed by Doug and him over the bank holiday, all of which wetted the appetite for the Burr's weekend coming up. I believe there are still places available-Tony's even selling them on ebay!!

The next club workshop is in June, so be sure to bring your trees along to work on, get advice or even just another opinion on that troublesome branch that people keep saying should go!

Tree of the Month- April

Andy Hardman does it again (as does yours truly, unfortunately!!)
Congratulations to Andy as he wins for the second month running with one of his Maples.
This beautiful Shohin maple caught Tony Franklin's eye and was rightly awarded the silverware.....oops. (sorry Andy, please cut out and keep a picture of what you should have won.)



Pressure's on to go for the hat-trick now Andy!!

Did you Know.....?

The Tree Council (who???) has just launched its 2007 Tree Care Campaign and is urging the public to check their trees during March & April, in order to help alleviate the possible effects of another hot summer.

http://www.treecouncil.org.uk/

The slogan they are using this year is-
TREES MATTER – MULCH THEM
Good idea

(but I hope they didn't pay anybody to come up with that punchy little strapline!!)

Bonsai Site of the Month -April

This months site is actually two sites both dedicated to the art of Penjing!

http://www.manlungpenjing.org/eng-main2.html
http://www.venuscomm.com/index.html

A definition borrowed from wikipedia, describes it as-

Penjing (盆景 pinyin: pén jǐng, literally tray scenery) is the ancient Chinese art of growing trees and plants, kept small by skilled pruning and formed to create an aesthetic shape and the illusion of age.
Penjing is very similar to (and a precursor of) the Japanese art of bonsai.

I found them interesting, hope you do too.