Fog City Bonsai April 2018

Newsletter of the Bonsai Society of San FranciscoSan Francisco County Fair Building, Lincoln Way between 9th and 10th Avenues

Spring brings daffodils

Events at-a-glance ...

Apr 3 - 8: Cow Palace Show

Apr 12: General Meeting – Shohin Oaks with JohnThompson

Apr 19: Free Third Thursday Member Workshop7 PM to 9 PM

Apr 21-22: Cherry Blossom Festival

April 29: Bonsai Basics I Class

May 10: General Meeting – Deciduous Defoliationwith Jonas Dupuich

May 17: Free Third Thursday Member Workshop

In this issue ...

Bonsai Show, Final notes, p. 1

March Meeting Notes on Deciduous Trees, p. 2

Deciding the Front of the Bonsai Tree, p. 3

BSSF at the SF Botanical Garden, p. 4

BSSF Meetings, Workshops, Other Activities, p. 4

BSSF Announcements, p. 5

Other Upcoming Bonsai Events, p. 6

Officers and Directors, p. 7

Bonsai Show: Final notesApril 4 to 8, 2018

We’re in the home stretch preparing for our spring

show at the SF Flower and Garden. Location of our

show is in the South Hall of the Cow Palace.

Move-in is on Tuesday, April 3, early afternoon.

More than 30 members have volunteered to help

out. As has been previously communicated, the club

will reimburse parking expenses for car pooling to

the show. Remember the morning shift is

10AM-2:30PM and the afternoon shift is

2:30PM-7PM Wednesday through Saturday, and

10AM-2PM and 2-6PM on Sunday. We will set up

on Tuesday afternoon and will tear down the show

at 6PM on Sunday. WE CANNOT REMOVE OUR

TREES BEFORE 6PM. For a move-in pass, you’ll

find the form at the following link

https://www.sfgardenshow.com/exhibitors/exhibitor-kit.

On the form, write "BSSF" under "Exhibitor”, print it

and bring it with you when dropping off trees and/or

other materials.

Wrist bands for scheduled volunteers will be

distributed during Tuesday afternoon setup; the rest

will be placed at Will Call.

Reminder: Bring trees (including your Practicum

tree if applicable) to display, bring bonsai items you

wish to sell, volunteer to do a demonstration, be a

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BSSF ambassador. Also, wear BSSF t-shirt or

happi coat if have one. There will be light snacks

and beverages. You may also bring something to

share. Hope to see you there!

March Meeting Notes..Mature Deciduous Trees

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Jonas Dupuich was our Jonas Dupuich

speaker at the March general

meeting. He began by

describing his workshops,

then addressed the question

of which tree is easier –

deciduous or evergreen.

Deciduous trees can be more

rewarding because they grow

fast and you can prune and

wire them without leaves, but

they get pests more easily. You can bend

branches on deciduous trees to put them at

different angle or even cut the branch off. But they

take 30 to 50 years to get ready for show and are

much more affected by climate. For flowers and

fruit, you need to have enough cool evenings to set

the blooms and fruit.

Evergreens are easier because they are more

forgiving, the branches bend very easily, and we

can find and collect trees more readily. Conifers

take a much shorter time to reach exhibit stage.

Remember deciduous tree branches grow upward,

conifers grow downward.

Slides of trees from World Bonsai Convention

and Kokufu Exhibit

1. Jonas opened with

examples of Japanese

maples with outstanding

color and form. Each slide

illustrated an example of fine

branching, ramification,

nebari. Trees were dense,

showing technical expertise.

We saw different styles and examples of branch

treatment.

2. A spectacular

Korean hornbeam

informal upright

demonstrating fine

balance, proportion and

movement. Slide

showed a trunk with a

brilliant white trunk

which is unusual and

hard to find on most trees.

3. Quince in informal upright, styled like a pine

bonsai, an example of an unusual treatment and

technical mastery. When

there's lots of old bark on

a deciduous, we tend to

see a tree in an unglazed

pot.

4. A Kokofu price-

winning Crabapple, a

compelling example of

breaking every

convention rule of bonsai.

5. Eric Schrader's favorite tree featured a stump of a

collected Ume. Eric analyzed this tree and its

amazing deadwood with a

fascinating hypothesis of

how the effect was

achieved. Ume are fast to

bloom in the new year

and are popular because

of their fragrance. They

are often shown in

unglazed pots to accent

the rugged deadwood.

To accent blooms, use a glazed pot.

6. A broom-style Zelkova showed a fine example

of technical prowess and dedication which involved

an incredible investment of time.

Continues

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Notes were taken by Jain Haggerstone and edited byDave Gomberg. Original photos by Jonas Dupuich.

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Jonas then raised and answered a series of

culture issues.

Jonas asked “Why do we pinch Japanese

maples”? Whenever we see brand new leaves

come out, we cut out the center bud. This slows

the tree down, making short internode lengths.

This is true for maples and beech as well. This

technique is for mature trees. Don't do this if you

are still trying to thicken the trunk. Your goal is to

have as many branches as possible. The more

branches, the easier it is to make short internode

length.

Jonas showed examples of trees in various stages

of growth refinement, and explained how to pluck

leaves for optimum refinement on Japanese

maples and beeches. Let deciduous trees grow

out and cut back to two leaves.

His hand-out compared deciduous & conifer

bonsai. For Japanese maples, to achieve short

internodes, only feed twice a year - once at

beginning of the growing season and once more in

May. For Trident maples, feed moderately all

season, then defoliate completely. Healthy

Japanese maples can be defoliated a number of

times. The most vigorous Japanese maple is Acer

palmatum.

The genius of partial defoliation is that it balances

the growth between the interior and exterior. Make

sure to remove all the exterior leaves to ensure that

the interior of tree gets plenty of light.

Jonas brought trees from his collection. He noted

hornbeams bud back better than any other tree.

Every shoot growing from interior of tree or trunk

and base of branches should be cut off as it grows

from scar tissue which is dark and it is best to have

bright white on trunk. He observed that May is the

best time to air layer deciduous

Japanese plums need fertilizer within a week of the

leaves budding out. Fruit & blooms are seldom

produced if it isn't cold enough at night.

Yellowing is a sign that fertilization may be needed.

Flowering Quince technique: to grow & develop as

fast as possible, pick off all the buds. This lets the

energy go towards growing more branches. Quince

should be repotted in summer. Prune in autumn.

Many trees go dormant in hot summers. Quince

can be grown from root cuttings, as opposed to

branch cuttings.

Trident Maples should be cut back in the fall, then

repotted before leaves open out. Once leaves are

out, tree growth slows down. Maples may be

grafted twice a year: winter or when they are

defoliated.

Use shallow boxes to plant

deciduous trees to

encourage growth of surface

roots. Deciduous trees like a

lot of moisture, and wood

holds moisture. The purpose

of a long sacrifice branch is

to thicken the trunk.

For ramification, cut

branches back.

Ume and Chinese Quince

are the most difficult to wire.

They require fine wire

technique. When you cut

back branches, you can

never tell where and when it will bud back. Wire

them in May. When branches break on a fruiting

tree, they tend to heal themselves.

Thoughts on

Deciding the Front of the Bonsai Tree

Is there any clearly best view that maximizes basal

trunk flare and reveals an attractive trunk line while

displaying a pleasing -- reasonably orderly but not

monotonous -- branch arrangement? If you find

perfection, great! If not, what's the "best" of the less-

than-perfect views? That "best" view will usually

serve very well as the "front" of your tree – until you

discover a front that excites you even more. Think of

the front as the tree's face in the sense of being its

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most expressive and most interesting view.

Training a bonsai with a front in mind is simply

doing everything possible to reveal and maximize

its best visual qualities. The classic quip of the

famous Japanese American bonsai artist John

Naka is, "If you can't find a front, find the back. The

other side is the front." Some bonsai actually have

two fronts, two almost equally pleasing views of

that tree. This can be very nice and, when it is

possible, make the most of the opportunity.

Deciding on the front of the bonsai is no mystery.

Most time the plant has selected it already, you just

need to known how to tell it.

!The front should be the best view to maximize the

basal of the trunk, with the largest trunk wide.

! If the plant does not have a clear side that shows

the front, look down from the top of the tree and

see which direction the apex is leaning toward.

!The front always has the apex leaning to the

front.

!The front should be relatively open and airy.

!The front should never have large roots

protruding forward.

!The first consideration of the tree should be the

beauty of the tree.

! The front should have no major branches

protruding directly towards the viewer.

To summarize, learn from your material, being

open to insight that just bubbles up unexpectedly,

and don't let yourself be handcuffed by someone

else’s "rules" or guidelines. After all, how are you

going to sharpen your instincts if you don't follow

them sometimes

-- Bill Daniels

BSSF at the SF Botanical Garden

We got so much done in March that we will not have

another formal workday until Saturday, May 12. At

that point we should be able to pot up some cuttings

from last year and continue to style our bonsai. We

will work in the nursery from 10:30 AM to about

1:30 PM.

If anyone can help out at the big Botanical Garden

plant sale on May 5, Saturday, let me know. We will

put a number of our trees up for sale and I could

use help at the table.

I will keep our trees fertilized for spring and summer

growth and watch the wires. If anyone wants to help

out in the Botanical Garden on a Friday, contact me.

I am there most Fridays working on native plants.

Thank you so much Andrea, Brian, Gary and John

for your hard work and bonsai lessons.

-- MaryLou Heslet, mheslet@sbcglobal.net

BSSF Meetings, Workshops

And Other Activities

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings take place in

the Garden Club Room, SF County Fair Building at

the corner of 9th Avenue and Lincoln Way just

inside Golden Gate Park. To secure a spot in any

workshop or class, please reach out to Andrea

Burhoe, aburhoe[at sign]msn.com

Apr 3 - 8: Cow Palace Show

Review final notes on page 1.

Apr 12: General Meeting – Shohin Oaks with

John Thompson

(Last names C-D Bring refreshments)

Apr 19: Free Third Thursday Member Workshop.

7 PM to 9 PM.

Apr 21-22: Cherry Blossom Festival

with BSSF showing. Japanese Cultural Center,

1840 Sutter Street, 11:00 AM both days.

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April 29: Bonsai Basics I Class

9 AM to 1 PM.

May 10: General Meeting – Deciduous

Defoliation with Jonas Dupuich

(Last names E-F Bring refreshments).

.

May 17: Free Third Thursday Member

Workshop. 7 PM to 9 PM

Jun 14: General Meeting – Black Pine

Decandling

(Last names G-K Bring refreshments).

Jun 21, 2018: Free Third Thursday Member

Workshop. 7 PM to 9 PM

Proposed dates of other BSSF meetings and

workshops:

Jul 14, 2018 (Saturday): Soil Workshop

9 AM to 3 PM

This is instead of a general meeting on July 12.

Aug 9: General Meeting with Ivan Hernandez

Sep 9: BSSF Basics I Class

Sep 13: Annual Auction

Oct 11: General Meeting

Nov 9 (Friday): General Meeting with

Bjorn Bjorholm

Dec 9: BSSF Basics II Class

Dec 13: Holiday Party

BSSF Announcements

Docenting at the Bonsal Garden. Join John Dale

to docent at the Bonsai Garden in Oakland on

April 21 or any other third Saturday at 1PM. No

matter your skill level, you can help care for these

wonderful trees and educate the public about the art

of bonsai. Sign up with John Dale at a general

meeting. To volunteer at other times, contact John

McKisich, BGLM Docent Coordinator, at

mityglo@aol.com, 650-477-8540

BSSF Club Membership. If you haven’t renewed

your membership yet for 2018, you can do so by

sending your dues payment to

Bonsai Society of San Francisco

c/o Lucky Fung, BSSF Treasurer

1917 17th Avenue

San Francisco CA 94116-1243

Dues are $30 for individuals, $50 for families, and

$20 for seniors. Checks are payable to BSSF.

Bonsai Sales at Monthly Meetings. Remember

that any time during the year you wish to sell bonsai

trees, the BSSF invites you to bring the trees to our

monthly meetings (except September and

December) or workshops. The club receives 20%

of the purchase price. Additionally, feel free to bring

your trees for Show and Tell at the monthly

meetings to inspire other members

BSSF Bonsai Library. The BSSF has on hand a

large assortment of books, magazines, and other

literature about our favorite hobby. To access the

library, arrive early at either the monthly meeting or

the monthly workshop and speak to Bernard

Marque. Checking out materials requires a $5

deposit per item.

BSSF Care Guide. The BSSF guide to seasonal

bonsai care in the San Francisco Bay Area is

available on the BSSF webpage,

https://tinyurl.com/BSSFycc

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Other Upcoming Bonsai Events

April 6 - 7, 2018 Fresno

GSBF Clark Bonsai Collection at Shinzen:

Köen-Nai No Bonsai, Bonsai in the Park, 7775

North Friant Road. We have planned a new event

style this year. Join us for an afternoon BBQ on

Friday and a full day of bonsai on Saturday.

April 14 - 15, 2018 Sacramento

American Bonsai Association, Sacramento:

Annual Spring Show at the Shepard Garden and

Arts Center in McKinley Park, 3330 McKinley Blvd.

Show hours are 10 AM - 4 PM with demonstrations

by Peter Tea at 1:30 PM both days and a hands-on

beginner workshop Sunday morning from 10 AM –

12 PM. There is a large member and vendor sales

area, plenty of free parking and admission. A

benefit drawing follows the demonstration each day

and will include that day’s demonstration tree and

many bonsai and bonsai related items. For

additional information call Renee Seely (916)

929-2106 or email breadcrust@comcast.net , or

visit our website http://abasbonsai.org.

April 14 - 15, 2018 San Jose

San Jose Betsuin Bonsai Club: 47th Annual

Spring Exhibit at the San Jose Buddhist Church

Betsuin, 640 North Fifth Street. Hours are Noon –

5 PM Saturday and 11 AM – 4 PM Sunday with

demonstration at 1PM both days. Sales of plants

and pots by the club and sales by vendors. For

information call Jim Urhausen (408) 275-8059.

April 14 - 15, 2019 Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai: 30th Annual Bonsai

Show at the Museum of Art & History, 705 Front

Street. Show hours are from 10 AM - 5 PM with

demonstration at 2 PM both days. Saturday’s

demonstrator is Jonas Dupuich and Sunday’s is to

be determined. Demonstration tree and trees

prepared by club members will be part of the raffle

after each day's demonstration. Sales area will

include quality vendor and member trees, pots, and

other related bonsai items. In addition, enjoy the

Watsonville Taiko Drummers, a Martial Arts

demonstration, and other Japanese cultural events

in the recently revitalized Abbott Square next to the

Museum. Admission is $5.00 for both the Museum

and the Bonsai Show. For more information, contact

Ed Lambing at edinbonnydoon@comcast.net.

April 21, 2018 Modesto

Modesto Bonsai Club: 36th Annual Show at the

Clarion Inn, 1612 Sisk Rd. Show hours are 10 AM –

4 PM with demonstration by Bonsai artist Sam

Adina at 1 PM. Free admission, open to the public.

Exhibit, multiple raffles, and sales of trees, pots and

other related items.

April 21 – 22, 2018 Palo Alto

Kusamura Bonsai Club: 58th Annual Show, Lucie

Stern Community Center, 1305 Middlefield Road.

Show hours are Noon – 5 PM Saturday, and 11 AM

- 5 PM Sunday with demonstrations at 1:30 PM

each day. Saturday's demonstration by Darren and

Laura Wong (Soh-Ju-En Satsuki Bonsai) and

Sunday's demonstration by club members. Free

admission and kids corner. Bonsai trees, pots, and

other bonsai-related items will be for sale. For more

information contact Charlene Fischer at

charlenerae@mac.com or visit

www.kusamurabonsai.org.

April 29, 2018 Watsonville

Watsonville Bonsai Club: 45th Annual Bonsai

Exhibit held at the Watsonville Buddhist Temple,

423 Bridge St. Show hours are 10 AM - 4 PM, with a

demonstration by award winning Bonsai Master

Katsumi Kinoshita at 1:30 PM. Over 50 outstanding

bonsai, large and small, young and old, will be on

display. A raffle of bonsai items, plants and the

demo tree will follow. Tea & cookies will be served.

Plenty of parking for vehicles of all sizes; even for

group outings. A vendor will be available to sate

your plant appetite for bonsai or otherwise. For

more information contact Michael Anderson at

(831) 247 - 9028 or margiesmemories@aol.com

May 4 - 5, 2018 Sacramento

Sacramento Bonsai Club: 72nd Annual Show

Buddhist Church of Sacramento, 2401 Riverside

Blvd. Show hours are Noon - 5 pm , Saturday and

10 am - 4 pm Sunday with demonstrations at 2 pm

by Bonsai artist Sam Adina both days, followed by

benefit drawings. Free Admission, open to the

public. Club member sales of bonsai-related items.

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May 19 - 20, 2018 Oakland

Bay Area Satsuki Aikokai (BASA): 23rd Annual

Satsuki Azalea Bonsai Show, Lakeside Park

Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave. Show hours are

10 AM – 5 PM Saturday and 10 AM – 4 PM Sunday

with demonstration by Johnny Uchida Saturday

1 – 3 PM (demonstration tree to be raffled).

Beginning bonsai workshop Sunday 1 – 3 PM

limited space available, $20 fee and sign-up

required. Participating vendors – North American

Satsuki Bonsai Center – Rick Garcia and Shojuen

– Darren and Laura Wong. Free admission. Public

parking available. For more information contact

George Haas at gwhaas@comcast.net or visit

BASA website http://satsukiazaleabonsai.org.

May 19 – 20, 2018 Sacramento

Satsuki Aikokai Association: Annual show held

at Shepard Garden Center 3330 McKinley Blvd.

Show hours are 10 AM - 5 PM Saturday and

10 AM – 4 PM Sunday with demonstrations at

1:30 PM both days by botanist and bonsai

nurseryman Yuzo Maruyama. Create your own

azalea bonsai class at 11 AM both days. Raffles,

vendors and Satsuki information booth. Free

entrance and parking. For more information

contact: Ronn Pigram (916) 428 8505 or email -

satsukiaikokaisac@sbcglobal.net

May 19 - 20, 2018 Palo Alto

Akebono Bonsai Club and Kashu Suiseki Kai:

Annual Show held at the Palo Alto Buddhist

Temple, 2751 Louis Road. Show hours are Noon -

5 PM with a demonstration at 2 PM both days. Free

Admission. Raffle drawing for door prizes and

demonstration tree immediately following each

demonstration. Must be present to win. There will

be bonsai trees available for sale by the club. For

additional information, contact Carl Yanari at

(408)781-5937.

BSSF Website:

www.bssf.org

BSSF Officers and Directors

President – Andrea Burhoe 415-824-9315

aburhoe@msn.com

Vice President – vacant

Treasurer – Lucky Fung

Secretary – Jain Haggerstone

Past President – Eric Schrader

Board Members-at-Large –

Debra Bleemer, Ryan Iwata,

Oscar Patzan, Brian Schindler

Additional Staff:

Newsletters– Diana Lum and Dave Gomberg

Raffle – Bill Daniels

2018 Show – Eric Schrader and Brian Schindler

Librarian – Bernard Marque

Web Site & Collateral Design – Eric Schrader

About the Club

The Bonsai Society of San Francisco exists to

encourage the enjoyment of the art of bonsai.

Whether defined simply as a tree in a tray or taken

to the heights of a living fine art form, we come

together to share our joy and curiosity for growing

living trees and our enthusiasm for keeping them

healthy and beautiful. We invite new members who

share these interests.

BSSF General Meetings are on the 2nd Thursday of

the month at 7:15PM. The Members Workshop is

the following Thursday (3rd Thursday of the month)

at 7:00PM. All meetings occur in the County Fair

Building at the corner of 9th Avenue and Lincoln

Way. Enter through the parking lot at 10th Avenue

and Lincoln Way and walk along the path behind the

building to the doorway to the Garden Club Room

Map to the County Fair Building,Golden Gate Park

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