1MLBC Newsletter April 2020 www.MotherLodeBonsai.org

Next Meeting: Saturday, May 2, 2020, - 9:30 AM to 12:30 PMPlace: San Andreas Public Library, 1299 Gold Hunter Road, San Andreas, CA 95249

Visitors Welcome - For more information call: Richard McKinstry at 209 288 2330

ClippingsVolume VI No 4

Bonsai facebook.com/motherlodebonsai

- President’s Message -

Mother Lode Bonsai Club Monthly Newsletter April 2020

The Mother Lode Bonsai Club In Review - - Photo images

Left to right - Top to bottom -

The first meeting of the new Calaveras

Bonsai Club Nov. 2012.

Dan Balsley, President &

founder of the new Calaveras Bonsai Club.

David Anderson, Club Sensei.

Susan Anderson and Marie Balsley.

The weather seems to play the "Tanuki" (trickster) in regards to a Springtime for our plant friends. I have found new growth in my trees and new weed growth as well. We bonsai students have an advantage over many others on lockdown in that our collections afford us a rejuvenating walk through our forests. We can share breathing with our leafy friends as we breathe out carbon dioxide and breathe in the oxygen that our plants have converted us. We need no masks between us just shared energies and deep regard. Help our woody wonders by eliminating weeds that would steal nutrients and dead leaves that may harbor insects and/ or mold. Water and feed your woodland pals and convey your love to them, as they most certainly recognize that blessed energy and will return it to you by their beautiful growth and vitality. Remember working on your bonsai buddies is a working meditation that heals us and them both. Be safe and look forward to when we can again gather and share our passion. President Richard

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The Calaveras Bonsai Club’s first show at Utica Park in Angels Camp, CA, June 2013. Aside from the show and demo, the Club offered a hands-on beginners class in the styling of bonsai. ~

June of 2014, ... Eighteen months after their first meeting, a new club was formed from the Calaveras Bonsai Club to the now established Mother Lode Bonsai Club. Above is the same group with a few new members. At right Joan Scroggs presents the new Club’s first demo. ~

MLBC Newsletter April 2020 www.MotherLodeBonsai.org

If you are perhaps interested in seeing more of our Bonsai Club’s days past, then drop me a line at JScroggsKTVU@aol.com, I’d be happy to hear from you, and IF you have any photos you’d like to share, please include them as well. ~ JKS

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Don’t be left out! All members of the MLBC are invited to participate in this very informal Q & A

“Bonsai Chat”. Send your correspondence to -

Joan Scroggs at: JScroggsKTVU@aol.com

Deadline for publication is the Third Monday of the Month.

MLBC Newsletter April 2020 www.MotherLodeBonsai.org

What’s going on in your bonsai garden?Any subject you’d like to have discussed?

See what other Club members have sent in to our newsletter, pages 4 & 5.

Properly watering you bonsai is perhaps the MOST important feature in bonsai care. It comes before styling, repotting, applying fertilizer, or just about anything else you can bring to mind. Attentive watering is very necessary to the survival and health of your bonsai, and is so important to bonsai care that apprentices learning the art of bonsai in Japan are given pruning shears long before they’re given watering cans. However, don’t let that be a daunting factor; the crucial thing to ask everyday, without fail, is the question: Does this plant need water? The number one cause of most bonsai tree deaths is under-watering. Because the soil layer is so shallow, it is prone to drying out very quickly. Bonsai trees should be watered right when the top layer of soil appears dry. The symptoms of under-watering are rapid, ... the leaves wilt, go dry and crispy then drop off. If you think your bonsai has been under-watered and allowed to become too dry, submerse the bonsai in a tub of water so that the water covers the entire pot and allow it to soak for an hour or so. Remove the bonsai to a cool shaded area to drain and recover. Brown or black tips on the leaves, ... or leaves that are turning brown to yellow on your bonsai usually are an indications of over-watering. Frequently this is also associated with the bonsai becoming loser or wobbly within the pot. Over-watering is not something which happens quickly; it is a slow degenerative issue which slowly rots the roots and the bonsai can even exhibit symptoms of wilting leaves (usually associated with lack of water). This is because the roots become weak and do not function properly. If you observe these symptoms place the bonsai in a cool area with good morning sunlight and out of the direct hot afternoon sun. Check the bonsai daily for water, and only water the soil when it is barely damp to the touch. It will take a a bit of time to see new buds or leaves, and in this time space it is hoped that your bonsai will re-grow a new root system. It is important not to feed a bonsai during recovery. ~

- MLBC Bonsai Chat - Questions, Answers, Comments,

Items of Interest

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It’s Spring in the Greenhouse!Doug Lau

One of my favorite bonsai is a crabapple that I have owned for 26 years and brought it from the valley when we moved to Sonora. The t ree now l i ves in my backya rd g reenhouse and produces beautiful pink blossoms every spring. This year is no different with the result being abundant miniature fruit that last for months. See photos.

MLBC Newsletter April 2020 www.MotherLodeBonsai.org

seed propagation - In-that spring is now somewhat upon us, it certainly can be a time of increased activity in our gardens, weather permitting, … and whether one lives on several acers or in a mobile home park, even the smallest garden plot of perhaps only a few square feet can be a fun filled project. Now would be a good time to get started with that spring garden. For starting seeds in containers, choose a potting  soil  that is made specifically for growing seedlings. Before filling your containers, moisten the planting mix slightly. Plant your seeds in individual starter plugs or

small 4” pots until they form new seedlings and are ready to set out into your garden. ~

Another of my greenhouse residents is a small staghorn fern, which Bob Dean gave me three years ago. He received it originally from Kendra North (former club recording secretary), who has since moved out of state. I used some leftover wood and created a hanging plant frame for the fern with drip irrigation line from the back side. Its photo shows that the fern also seems to be welcoming spring this year!

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Joan, I was totally surprised to s e e m y b e a u t i f u l flowering Azalea Bonsai in full bloom.  It's a welcome sight to see such beauty in the midst of all the negativity in the air.  Feel free to display the pictures in your newsletter. ~Shirley Ulm

- Satsuki Azalea Bonsai in Full Bloom -

MLBC Newsletter April 2020 www.MotherLodeBonsai.org

"INDIAN MAGIC" APPLE BONSAI Shirley Ulm, MLBC Corresponding Secretary

I acquired my first Crabapple Bonsai on May 24, 2014 from a bonsai nursery. It was approximately 20 years old. A few years later, the main trunk died, but the Crabapple tree survived. Around springtime every year, I anxiously awaited the appearance of fruit, but to my disappointment, it never happened. That all changed on February of 2017. In a class taught by Joan Scroggs, I was guided in grafting three "Indian Magic" apple stock branches to my fruitless Crabapple tree's rootstock. As of March 2017, to my amazement, all three grafts "took."

Joan mentioned that rarely is a "first timer" successful. Each

year this bonsai produces beautiful blossoms followed by very tiny red Indian Magic apples. In addition, each year its fruit is increasingly abundant.

On September of 2017, Joan gave me an "Indian Magic" Shohin Bonsai, which she had grafted onto Crabapple rootstock. Joan shared the fact that grafts are on the fragile side (forever) so handle with care. The winter of 2018, I was not prepared for a ferocious rainstorm. It caused my special little tree to fall over. Thank goodness nothing was damaged except the bonsai pot, so I immediately repotted the tree. I feel very lucky that it survived and is so healthy now. I keep both apple trees near each other on my rack. I think they like each other.

The 3

grafts

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6 - Propagating: Cuttings & Seeds -Now is the time for rooting someof your favorite cuttings for new Spring growth, and, if you have access to a nice warm garden ‘hot house’, now would be agood time to plant those tomato seeds and alike........ Prepare now for your high Sierra collecting.

8 - The Sun - Rotate all trees at least once a month to insure even growth from all viewable angles of the tree, and too, so that they do not grow in just one direction, that is toward the sun’s rays only.

This Month’s Bonsai Calendar....

5 - Insect, disease, and, ... critter control - Maintain defensive treatmentsfor fungus. Watch for and treat insect and scale infestations. Cage all fruit bearing trees to protect them from night raiding raccoons, deer,rabbits,possums,and alike.

7 - Air Layering - The month of May would be the time to create a new bonsai tree through air layering.

MLBC Newsletter April 2020 www.MotherLodeBonsai.org

1 - Watering - Now is the time to take the time to look over your garden on a daily basis and adjust your watering to a Springtime schedule. Do not be led into a false sense of security by our recent little rain showers and feel that your bonsai have been sufficiently watered. Close attention to a proper watering schedule is most certainly necessary to keep your plants alive. Be careful to not over-water,2 - Fertilizing - It’s still just a bit too early to consider applying any fertilizers to your still somewhat dormant bonsai. Wait until all possibility of cold weather has pasted. Mid May is a good time to start your first of three fertilizer applications for the growing season. An early spring all purpose fertilizer, (excluding azaleas and rhododendrons), would be a fertilizer with a relatively high nitrogen content, ... something like NPK 12-6-6, to boost the tree’s growth. During mid summer use a more balanced fertilizer such as NPK 10-10-10, while during the autumn use a fertilizer to harden off the tree for the coming winter like NPK 3-10-10. For the azaleas, rhododendrons and acid loving plants use your favorite low nitrogen fertilizer or an NPK 0-10-10. Do not apply fertilizers to recently repotted trees until at least one month after repotting.3 - Repotting - Now is the time to bring your serious repotting and root pruning projects to a close for this season. Our next repotting season will start with the very first frost of fall weather in November or December.4 - Pruning/Styling - As with most all trees, avoid very drastic pruning until January through mid March, however, you may lightly prune excessive growth as necessary most anytime.... Styling is better accomplished during our cold winter months, however most any time will work. Be very sure to remove all old wire that may be starting to cut into tender bark and limbs. All the trees I wire in the spring I flag so that I don’t forget one, only to come across the one I missed late in the year, and by that time it is generally too late, as the damage has most likely gone beyond repair.

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May 2 - 3 2020 Sacramento, CASacramento Bonsai Club: 74th Annual Bonsai and Suiseki Show at the Sacramento Buddhist Church, 2401 Riverside Blvd. Show hours Saturday 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Sunday 12:00 Noon to 4:00 PM. Demonstration both days at at 1:30 PM by Sam Adina. Refreshments, benefit drawings and sales of plants and bonsai related items. For more information, contact Lucy Sakaishi-Judd at (916) 300-8103 or email juddbonsai@att.net. May 16 - 17, 2020 Sacramento, CASatsuki Aikokai Association of Sacramento: Hosts our Annual show of flowering Satsuki azalea bonsai at the Shepard Garden Center, 3330 McKinley Blvd. Hours are Saturday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM, and Sunday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, with demonstrations at 1:00 PM on both days. Satsuki information booth, vendors, raffles, etc. For more information contact Ronn Pigram at 916-428-8505 or email satsukiaikokaisac@sbcglobal.net.

GSBF’s Bonsai and Suiseki Garden Museum - Lakeside Park, Oakland California - Open: Wed., Thurs., Fri. 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., Sat. 10:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m., Sun. 12:00 noon– 4:00 p.m. Enter at garden gate across from the Boat House. www.gsbf-lakemerritt.org/

MLBC Newsletter April 2020 www.MotherLodeBonsai.org

- Events By Others -

Schedule of MLBC Field Trips The Mother Lode Bonsai Club will continue with n e w s a s t o t h e r e s c h e d u l i n g o f a l l recently canceled field tr ips. Please contact Nikie Hobba for more information.

- Events By Others -May 30 - 31, 2020 Oakland, CABay Area Satsuki Aikokai: presents their annual Satsuki Azalea Bonsai Show at the Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave., Lake Merritt. Hours are on Saturday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and on Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Featuring bonsai Satsuki azaleas in full flower bloom. Expert demonstration and raffle on Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Educational forums all day. Member sales with beginner and Japan imported material. Vendor sales. Free admission. For more information, contact George Haas at gwhaas@comcast.net. Visit our website at satsukiazaleabonsai.org.

June 6 - 7, 2020 San Mateo, CASei Boku Bonsai Kai: 37th Anniversary Bonsai Show located at the San Mateo Garden Center, 605 Parkside Way (at Beresford Park). Hours are 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, both days. Saturday demonstration performed by Gordon Deeg from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Sunday demonstration performed by Valerie Monroe from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Demo trees for raffles! Also, there will be door prizes, tree clinic, vendor sales, plant sales. Free Admission. Contact Marsha Mekisich for more information at Springhill.2@outlook.com. V i s i t o u r w e b s i t e a t h t t p : / /www.seibokubonsai.org/?sec=show.

June 13 - 14, 2020 Oakland, CASuiseki Societies of Northern California, Bay Area Shohin Society and the California Shohin Society: present an Exhibit of San Francisco Bay Area Suiseki and Shohin Bonsai at the Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Avenue. Members of all Bay Area Bonsai and Suiseki Clubs are invited to exhibit. Vendors welcome. For further information, contact Lisa Harper at 510-220-3339 or lisaharper@me.com. June 20 - 21, 2020 Livermore, CAValley Bonsai Society: 12th Annual Show at Alden Lane Nursery, 981 Alden Lane. Show hours are 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM with a demonstration at 1:00 PM on both days. The finished tree will be raffled off at the end of the demonstrations. Bonsai pots, soil, etc., available for purchase. Admission is free.

April 25 - 26, 2020 Palo Alto, CAKusamura Bonsai Club: 60th Annual Show, Lucie Stern Community Center, 1305 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto. Show hours are Saturday, Noon – 4 PM, Sunday 11 AM – 4 PM. Free admission.For more information contact Charlene Fischer at charlenerae@mac.com or visit www.kusamurabonsai.org.

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Featuring headliner Yasuo Mitsuya of Japan. A full slate of workshops, seminars and critiques. There will be two banquet dinners, Friday and Saturday evenings with live auction and raffle. Vendors from northern and southern California in one huge location. Online Registration Date: July 1, 2020. Reduced convention price of $199.00 (watch for early bird and club bundle registration discounts). For further information, contact Bob Hilvers at bonsaigui@comcast.net.

Mother Lode

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August 22 - 23, 2020 Santa Rosa, CA Redwood Empire Bonsai Society: 37th Annual Bonsai Show at the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building, 1351 Maple Ave. Hours are Saturday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Featuring Kathy Shaner bonsai demonstration, both days from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Demo trees to be raffled. See largest bonsai exhibit, San Francisco Suiseki Kai stone exhibit, large vendor area, large member sales, and exciting silent auctions. Free admission and parking. Free refreshments. Contact Bob Shimon for additional information shimon@mcn.org or visit our website www.rebsbonsai.org.

September 19, 2020 Modesto, CA Modesto Bonsai Club: 38th Annual Spring Show at the Stanislaus County Harvest Hall, 3800 Cornucopia Way. Show hours are Saturday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, with a demonstration at 1:00 PM by Sam Adina. Exhibits, sales, plants, pots, tools and more, multiple raffles. Free admission and parking. Benefit drawing Saturday, will include demonstration tree and many bonsai and bonsai related items. For additional information visit our Club Facebook Page Modesto Bonsai Club, or contact our Club President Peter Camarena, 2 0 9 - 5 2 9 - 1 7 5 9 o r e m a i l pete.camarena@sbcglobal.net.

September 19-20, 2020 San Andreas, CAMother Lode Bonsai Club: Sixth Annual Bonsai Show at the San Andreas Public Library, 1299 Gold Hunter Road (off Mt. Ranch Rd.), San Andreas. Show hours on both days are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Demonstrations at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. with prize drawings immediately following. Vendor and member bonsai-related items will be available for sale. Open to the public with free admission and free parking. For more info, contact Richard M c K i n s t r y ( 2 0 9 ) 2 8 8 - 2 3 3 0 o r e m a i l richardwandr@aol.com. Visit club website at www.motherlodebonsai.org.

Oct 30 - Nov 1, 2020 Santa Nella, CAGolden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF): 2020 Convention 43 "MISSION: BONSAI" to be held at the Hotel Mission De Oro, 13070 S. Highway 33. Hotel rooms $121 + tax (two night minimum).

Mother Lode Bonsai Club Officers: President - Richard McKinstry richardwandr@aol.com 209 288 2330 Vice President - Joan Scroggs JScroggsKTVU@aol.com Corresponding Secretary - Shirley Ulm sulmsafari@gmail.com Recording Secretary - None Treasurer - Bob Dean goldrushdean@yahoo.com President Ex-Officio: Bob Dean

The Mother Lode Bonsai Club Newsletter is a monthly publication intended for the enjoyment and educational use for all those persons interested in the living art of bonsai. Editor/Publisher - Joan Scroggs JScroggsKTVU@aol.com

MLBC Newsletter Contributors: Doug Lau, Shirley Ulm

Copyright © 2020

MLBC Newsletter April 2020 Made on a Mac www.MotherLodeBonsai.org