Warminster Bonsai Club

We have been holding Saturday workshops for some years as we find you get more out of a day session than an evening with an expert.

Chris has been coming to the club for some years and we always look forward to his workshops, we were a bit down on numbers but made up for it by bringing in more trees.

Fair play to Chris he was especially challenged on this one with Derek bringing in some challenging species, Chris simply took the bonsai basics and used these to critique on these.

I am like an old record but I cannot recommend these workshops too highly you see many different trees brought in and with advice from Chris worked on and with a more expert eye alternatives to styling we go away reinvigorated to work on our trees at home.

I have always said if you just come as an observer you will gain so much it’s far better than anything you see on YouTube.

Busy as usual and this months meeting was a chance for a member to try air layering.

This is best done when the leaves are out and just hardened on the tree, it shows that sap is flowing and the tree is starting to photosynthesise.

This technique is used to produce more trees off the donor plant or selecting a better tree from a larger tree that will not make a good tree if left as it is.

TOTM

We put on a club display over Saturday and Sunday at Lakeside promoting both the hobby and the club.

Quite a bit of interest including some people who picked up the club on Facebook and an opportunity to dispel the myths that the general public have with bonsai.

You will see that because Sally and Derek could only cover Saturday ( Sally had one of her trees in the Bonsai Expo show on Sunday. ).

We changed the trees on Sunday and Clive H had more room to bring in bigger trees have included photos of both days, always enjoyable to talk to the public and many thanks to Steve the Centre manager for allowing us to put on a display and moving his plants round to give us an undercover area.

Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th April we will be putting on a club display at Lakeside Garden Centre Crockerton to promote the hobby and the club all welcome to call in for a chat with us.

Have attached a photo of last years display.

With the almost relentless days of rain we all seemed to have the same issue, trees not undercover in constant sodden compost but now pushing bud.

So this meeting would be the last one to do any repotting so a case of press on. Those of us that still had the Yews from the club project brought them in to be photographed to record their progress or not see pics below.

Only few thanks to Sally,I must take more pics of the evening.

In last months post I posted photos of our trip to Lodder Bonsai, while we were there we met Corrin of Greenwood Bonsai who had been invited over to give a demonstration on the Sunday.

He has posted a video on YouTube showing more detail of Lodders open weekend also his demonstration, if you look up Greenwood Bonsai it will come up Lodder Open day.

TOTM

A small group of us have been visiting Lodder Bonsai for over fifteen years, the last few years we have timed our visit with their open week.

It is an experience just to see the shear variety, size and quality under one roof, it also gives you the opportunity if you buy to search out a pot if you are looking to the future.

This open week end is not only an opportunity to see their new stock but the owner invites other Bonsai related dealers to have a stall inside their loading area.

I have taken just a few photos of the main display greenhouse to try to give people some idea of the scale that Lodders operate on, I have left out his other greenhouses one has some stunning indoor bonsai.

Hope you enjoy the photos we certainly enjoyed the weekend.

Below are some pictures of the display tables as you walk into the main greenhouse, now start looking for a tree.

These are the high end trees stunning we can only dream, I have included the tape measure to give all some idea of size. These are just a few more were dotted round on the tables.

Busy evening with repotting the main focus, talking to members we all seem to be facing similar challenges trees coming into bud much earlier and not only trees kept in greenhouses but outside as well.

This is not only shortening the traditional repotting season but with the weeks of heavy rain the trees kept outdoors are that more awkward to work on as they have not had a chance to dry out, strange times in our seasons.

TOTM

Another cracking show put on by Swindon Bonsai Society, amongst us bonsai nuts the show heralds the start of our bonsai year.

As we exhibited we can stand back and watch the people coming in, first stop are the dealers this is where you can stock up on soils, wire pots etc as well as adding to your collection of trees.

Then a walk round the trees.

An excellent selection of trees on display and an ideal way to see how other people have worked on trees it all adds to your library of ideas for the future.

Have added pics of our display and more of the trees in the show, congratulations to Sally who got an award of merit for her Shohin display on our stand.

First meeting of the new year, some trees being worked on but also it was the selection of trees and setting out our display for the forthcoming Swindon Winter Image Show on Sunday 11th February.

We have three six by two tables for display which is quite a large area, Clive H our show manager had an idea to try to present a selection of trees held by members to that end it would comprise three separate Tokonoma,s one with a Shohin and the other two with larger trees with accompanying smaller trees to give some perspective.

This involved lots of shuffling round trying to find trees that have the right angle of direction, do not overpower are harmonious and are of varied species to avoid repeating.

This involved in the region of twenty four trees just to find the final display, on the day there will be accent plants to add for a bit more impact and colour, thanks to Clive H who had final say.

Show display

TOTM

Only two entrants this month

The December meeting is our AGM, Best Decorated tree and social get together.

The AGM was concluded in not too much time with the committee being re-elected and with annual subs and monthly entrance fees remaining the same as this year.
I will email to all members more details of the meeting as well as the calendar for 2024.

The best Decorated Tree was quite well attended I think some members might have been put off by the high/questionable? artistic talents shown in last year’s competition do not be put off for next year please take your time to view this years entrants and wonder what members were on when they designed ? their tree.