Monday 30 September 2013

Club show 2013 pt3

 Wile E coyote and road runner ?
 

 You haven't seen me .....right!
 
 Tolster, Hardman (Portugal bound...lucky b*****d) & Tickle.....
... sounds like a firm of solicitors!
 
Bonsai must take its toll on the eyes-
3 people 4 sets of glasses.......
 
 Self portrait?
 
tweedle dum & ........

Friday 27 September 2013

Club show 2013 prt2

Bry and Family  From the V-o-C-B-S.... enjoying the show

 close inspection
 
 Start them young ... my daughter and I, trying to select a tree for the public competition 
....not easy
 
 views of the show
(again....thanks to Jim for the pictures)
 

Club Show 2013


Hi Everyone

Last week-end we held our Annual Members Bonsai and Accent Plants Show at Gordales, the Award Winning Retailer of the year 2012 Garden Center here in the Wirral and by ALL accounts and the feedback we have had, it seemed to even better than the response in 2012.
It all started with the preparations on the Thursday on the 19th of September and once the vehicle arrived from storage with all the equipment on it . A little discussion was had as to what was going where and the starting crew, Doug, Dave Y., Bill D,.Steve H.,Tom, Bill G., Sean and Arthur got to grips with task in hand  and got going in assembling the benches and stands shortly later more helping hands arrived to assist in the preparation with almost the whole set-up completed before we had to call it a day on day 1

Day Two was much of the same and all was going well and around mid-day the Exhibits starting to arrive to be place into position followed by a few swops here and there to have everything perfect for the Show. Even tho I say it myself it was really looking great and ready for Showtime at the end of on Friday

Saturday the final touches,cleaning,hoovering, brushing ,polishing adding those little things that makes it all perfect for the Two day show

As always it was a quiet start but as time went on more and more of the public arrived and they were many oooooo's and aaaaaa's look at this one look at that one is it REAL, DON'T TOUCH , Daddy I want one and many more nice and wonderful comments

Around 10:30 am Mr Steve Tolley head Judge for the Event and a MASTER Of the  Bonsai Four Dimensional Art Supremo, arrived  with a Bandaged Finger ( I am sure he must get fed-up being asked what happened)which did not stop him form being his usual self when carrying out his judging duties and in TRUE TOLLSTER Fashion a man of Action he was extremely full of enthusiasm and used his Dedicated Skills and Superb Bonsai Knowledge to choose which Bonsai Tree deserved an award

As time went past With plenty of enthusiasm Steve with his trusted place cards placing them on the bench next to a Tree then walking round stopping,looking near and more than a few feet away trying to decide, he started removing a few cards making notes then another look and his decisions were made (A true master at work )

Then tension for some members and in the end we all had our minds settled when MrTolley took center stage with his results and Reminder what he said last year in 2013 after judging the show then he spoke about the members and,the society as a whole and "praised us all for outstanding achievement"

This time it was even better than last year as Mr. Tolley was more than pleased with all our efforts and we all should BE PROUD as a Society for being one of the Best Bonsai Societies in the country and will always be willing to return to support Wirral Bonsai Society if we will have him

 

 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

The Honours were shared this year between Dave Y, Bill G, Rod and Simon


Best Shohin
     ==  No. 24 = Juniper = belonging to Rod      


Best Chuhin       ==  No. 18 =  Hinoki Cypress = belonging to Bill G

Best BroadLeaf  ==  No. 1  =  Azalea  = belonging to Rod

Best Conifer      ==  No. 16 = Juniper = belonging to
  Dave Y.

 Best in Show   
= =  No 16 = Juniper. = belonging to  Dave Y.

The Chairman's Award's ==  No.14 = Shohin  Black Pine = belonging to Simon

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Voted Best Tree By the Public and Awarded The Dave Mitchell Trophy

 to Steve H on behalf of Pete who could not make it

No. 2  Cryptomeria  belong to Pete


And presented By Lindsay Beautiful Daughter of Dave M.

A Special presentation was made by Steve T on behalf of Wirral Bonsai Society to Andy H who has been the in My opinion the Backbone of our Successful Sunday Workshops both at Gordales and at Portsunlight Garden Centre. Andy is moving to a Warmer climate as he task up a position at a Bonsai Nursery later in the year in Portugal and we ALL wish him every success and he will be a HARD ACT to follow.

Best Wishes from us all Andy I know I will miss you not only for your wit, honesty, Bonsai Knowledge, your sense of Humour ( where to stick the camera ) and reminding me that the Sunday Workshops are about the BONSAI TREES and not the Members ( why can't it be Both)



Over the Two days of the show we of the show we made some new friends and it was great to see some friendly  face  amongst them some Distinguished  Bonsai people, Mr M Hughes,Mr Andy Dolman from Walsall, Tony Tickle, Dave B and wife Cathy, Ken, Bryan and his Family, Bren, Lee K. Roy and a Lovely Senior Couple who were members of W-B-S in the early years in the 1990,s some of the nicest Ladies Gentlemen you will  meet

A Tremendous Exciting Bonsai and accent Plant Show and we all would like to thank the owners of the GGC Mr and Mrs Nicholson for their kind hospitality welcoming W-B-S into their Award Winning Center Retailer of the Year 2012 and also a young Ladies Karen and Becky,Jonathon and Nick for the Transport PLUS ALL MEMBERS of Staff at Gordales for making our day so successful AND A MASSIVE THANK-YOU TO YOU ALL

We hope everyone who attended our show enjoyed what they had seen and spread the word and good news about Wirral Bonsai Society and Gordale's Garden Center for we will be BACK in 2014 and if all goes well with a big and better display of Bonsai Trees and Accent plants

Just a Reminder NOT TO FORGET the Sunday workshops on the 29th of September AT  Gordale Garden Centre 

Take care look after each other and your Bonsai Trees

From ALL OF US AT W-B-S a Large Thank you to each and everyone of you who took time to visit us

Jim thelad

for more pictures please see IBC forum via link below

http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t14323-wirral-bonsai-society-members-annual-show-results-and-complete-show-2013
 good layout and turn out

 putting 'skippy' (named because it was found in a skip) into position
 
 Steve starts his judging....


....and then leads a discussion in the merits (and possible issues) with the trees 

Thursday 19 September 2013

September meeting -show tree selection


Hi Everyone

It's that time of the year when all the hard work should be almost done as it was Show Tree Selection night and what a great abundance of Bonsai Trees that were brought into the Society meeting place

Ian got the ball rolling and mentioned a few items Such as The Swindon Winter Image Show an event we all feel we would like to keep attending plus Ian give us ALL some food for thought and will be contacting the Organisers of the Winter Image show

We all heard about the GREAT  NEWS and Opportunity that Andy H landed in a Bonsai Dream Land as he heads for a more warmer climate than the UK  hopefully to hear more details to follow from Andy

It seemed a difficult task for the judging panel as they were taken their time checking each exhibit carefully sometimes going back to have another look, then discussing their opinions together before agreeing on the final items for the show

Around Two dozen members attended the evening, chatting amongst themselves whilst the judging was going on, voicing their own opinion between themselves hoping their Tree would be up to the required standard for the show

All in all was a great night with plenty of happy faces once they knew what the panel had decided 

Just to remind you about 2 day event it is held at Gordales Garden Center a Prize Winning Award  2012 Garden Center here in the Wirral

hope to see you there

Take care

Jimthelad
 

 is it in.......or out?
-
 every detail is scrutinised...
 
even via hi tec means
-

Thursday 12 September 2013

Looking for something new?


Hi Everyone,

This is just to let you all know that the final consignment of trees for this year will be available for viewing from this weekend by appointment. But please call/email to arrange times as Kathy and I are busy with our Mothers.

 I have some really exceptional material including some spectacular Sabina Junipers that have been established 4 years and are ready for styling.

 Please let your friends and club members know.

Kindest regards

Steve (Tolley)

Welcome

Hello and welcome to the Wirral Bonsai Society Blog - an ongoing diary & newsletter highlighting the adventures of the society & its members

Society Diary-We meet at 8pm every 2nd Wednesday of the month at the RAFA club in Oxton (CH43 1UU).

  • 13th January
  • 10th February
  • 14th February Workshop - Port Sunlight GC
  • 28th February Workshop - Gordale
  • 9th March - Monthly meeting - Topic TBC
  • 13th March Workshop - Port Sunlight GC
  • 27th March Workshop - Gordale
  • 13th April - Demonstration - Andy H
  • 17th April Workshop - Port Sunlight GC
  • 24th April Workshop - Gordale
  • 8th May Workshop - Port Sunlight GC
  • 11th May- Monthly meeting - Topic TBC
  • 29th May Workshop - Gordale
  • 4-5th June WBS Flowering Bonsai Show - Port Sunlight GC
  • 8th June - WBS Member trees critique
  • 12th June Workshop - Port Sunlight GC
  • 26th June Workshop - Gordale
  • 10th July Workshop - Port Sunlight GC
  • 13th July- Monthly meeting - Topic TBC
  • 31st July Workshop - Gordale
  • 10th August- WBS Show tree selection
  • 13-14th August - Wirral Flower Show
  • 20th August - Japan Day, Liverpool
  • 27-29th August WBS Annual Show - Gordale
  • 14th September- Monthly meeting - Topic TBC
  • 11th September Workshop - Port Sunlight GC
  • 25th September Workshop - Gordale
  • 9th October Workshop - Port Sunlight GC
  • 12th October- Monthly meeting - Topic TBC
  • 30th October Workshop - Gordale
  • 9th November- Monthly meeting - Topic TBC
  • 13th November Workshop - Port Sunlight GC
  • 26-27th November - Potter Workshop with David Jones (Walsall Studio Ceramics)
  • 27th November Workshop - Gordale
  • 14th December - Club Party

Membership

New members are always welcome, just come along to one of our monthly meetings at the RAFA club. You can even 'try us out' for a few months before you decide on joining as an official member. The meetings are informal (there's a bar!) and the club members are (mostly) friendly, approachable and happy to pass on guidance and information to anybody interested in bonsai- whatever your level of experience.