Bonsai The Review - Federation of British Bonsai Societies

Newsletter of the Northamptonshire Bonsai Society linking all enthusiasts of bonsai related topics
Bonsai
The
Review
issue 49 July 2011
Many readers of The Bonsai Review contacted us with tons of congratulations for the
high quality of the images taken at The Best of British Bonsai 2011. Because all the
artists and exhibitors had raised their game to bring you a superb selection of highly
refined magnificent bonsai, it was only fitting that Bonsai Presentations also raised the
bar for the photography. Naturally we couldn’t wait to get our hands on a copy of Bonsai
Focus magazine where images had been published, and yes you were right….
….the images can reproduce at the highest level.
To ensure you are not kept waiting, Malcolm
Hughes stepped right up to the mark to
produce artwork and get another book
off to the printers, but meanwhile
just enjoy this small
selection of what
was on show.
Best of British Bonsai 2011
Photography by Paul Goff
BR49/1

Greenwood Bonsai Studio, Nottingham brings you- Bonsai Bash 2011
For the third year running, Greenwood Bonsai Studio will be
holding the highly successful Bonsai Bash on the weekend
3 rd -4 th September and it’s totally FREE of charge.
On Saturday you can watch Corin Tomlinson perform the first
wiring and styling exercise on this amazing Juniper tanuki
project (pictured right) which was initially started 3 years ago.
On Sunday Corin will be conducting an in-depth demo on a
large yamadori Hawthorn (picture coming in next Bonsai
Review) and, to confirm that Corin’s work leads to superb
stable results, you can check out the progress of last year’s
mountain pine demo too (see BR 39/2).
1500 NEW TREES THIS YEAR
Not only can you select from the widest range of bonsai in
the UK, special offers this year include 10% OFF all bonsai
purchased during the weekend. Opening times are
10am-5pm so there’s plenty of time to hunt the bargains.
Plus part trained bonsai projects at very reasonable prices,
together with all the advice you need from one of Britain’s
most knowledgeable bonsai artists, to ensure your bonsai
thrive and develop into superb specimens of living art.
GREENWOOD BONSAI STUDIO
Ollerton Road (A614), Arnold, Nottingham, NG5 8PR
Phone: 0115 9205757
Visit: www.bonsai.co.uk
The next Bonsai Traders event-
Bonsai Expo North 2011
Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield
Sunday 25 th September 10am-3pm
Trees, Wire, Pots, Compost, Tools and all your
bonsai requirements all for sale under one roof.
Bonsai Displays by 7 Northern Bonsai Societies.
North East Lincs, Humberside, Tees Valley, Ashfield,
North Notts, South Yorkshire, East Midlands
British Shohin Society, The Northern Suiseki Group
Demonstrations by-
Rob Atkinson, Alex Evelyn, Corin Tomlinson
The Annual ‘Don Valley’ Competition
A chance to show off your talents at this major event
Categories: Evergreen, Deciduous, Group
(entry- one tree per category is allowed)
Competition entries £4 at door, book your trees in on arrival.
Certificates given for Gold, Silver, Bronze, Highly Recommended
Trophy presented for best tree in competition
Don Valley Stadium from South M1 exit J34 A6176 follow brown
signs. From North M1 exit J34 A6109 follow brown signs.
Admission £5 children under 16 free
More info- John Farrow 01751 432773
Alan Harriman 01427 890434
At Gardeners World Live
Ambion
Bonsai Club
were awarded Gold Medal in
the RHS Floral Award and
Gold with Best in Show in the
National Plant Societies
section, which was presented
after due consideration to the
stand presentation, tidiness
and interaction between club
members and the viewing
public.
Text and pictures- David Hunter
BR49/2

Peter Liess from The Sussex Bonsai Group
brings you this comprehensive update on
BONSAI WORLD 2011
The Sussex Bonsai Group is delighted to share the progress of our forthcoming
event, Bonsai World 2011 at the K2 Crawley on 3 rd and 4 th September. We are
pleased to announce the sponsorship for the show by Kaizen Bonsai and the
support from The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation and The Federation of
British Bonsai Societies. We are confident that this will bring together the bonsai
community across the UK in an exceptional show.
Currently there are more than 14 traders and 36 exhibitors confirmed including
some of the best trees from societies and individuals. There will be
demonstrations by Marc Noelanders, John Armitage, Ken Norman and Ramon
Hammers. The demonstrations are included in the £5 per day entrance fee.
Exciting WORKSHOP opportunities to work on your own trees under the
guidance of Marc Noelanders or John Armitage are still available on Saturday or
Sunday each half day (3 hrs) session at the amazing price of only £30. Places
are limited to 8 students per workshop. For your chance to get guidance and help
on how to refine your trees by one of these leading bonsai artists, early booking
is essential to avoid disappointment.
For more information or to book your place
Contact- http://www.bonsaiworld2011.co.uk
Or phone Peter on 01737 241406
The show will also include a number of Japanese and cultural activities. We are
delighted to welcome various Japanese Clubs and Societies, who are putting on
several displays during the weekend, which include a traditional Japanese Tea
Ceremony, an illustrated talk on The History of Japanese Gardens, Ikebana-
Japanese flower arranging and Chinese Brush Painting by Jane Dwight.
Displays from Seishin-Iaido, the art of drawing and using a Japanese Samurai
sword, will take place on both days, together with Aikido demonstrations from
Mushin Juku Dojo.
We look forward to welcoming you to this event.
Manchester Bonsai Society
Anna Dodds was the winner of the Ted Fuller
Trophy for 2011 at our recent annual show as part
of the Lymm Festival, with this Japanese Larch
named ‘The Phoenix’.
Text and pictures- Gerard Clarkin
Those Dead Bonsai
Here at The Bonsai Review we had an
enormous response with sympathy for all those
who lost trees last winter. I wouldn’t wish the BR
become a vehicle for doom and gloom, but after
distilling all your varying theories and points of
view, a common denominator emerges pointing
toward keeping bonsai far too wet in freezing
temperatures. Some say that moisture retaining
akadama and cat litter type products may be a
culprit whilst others suggest on this occasion
temperatures were far too low to expect survival. I
tend to agree with all those who identified the
sudden and prolonged freezing temperature drop
in autumn causing root damage at that time, so
be prepared this November.
BR49/3

CLUB ACTIVITIES
CLUB ACTIVITIES
MANCHESTER BONSAI SOCIETY
….are displaying at the RHS Show
Tatton Park (near Knutsford), Cheshire
20 th -24 th July. No main meeting for
August. Day trip to Wyndcote Bonsai
Nursery, Lytham St Annes on 6 th August.
Monthly meetings on 3 rd Tuesdays 8-
10pm general bonsai workshops at
Heaton Chapel Community Centre,
Broadstone Hall Road South, Heaton
Chapel, Stockport SK4 5JD. All skill levels
beginners, intermediate and experienced.
BLACKMORE VALE BONSAI GROUP
Monthly workshop meetings on 2 nd
Fridays 7.30pm at the United Church Hall,
Bell Street, Shaftsbury, Dorset. New
members welcome. More info contact
Geoff- 01373 823820 or 01747 853475
Email: m5eay.geoff@btinternet.com visit
www.blackmorevalebonsaigroup.co.uk
WARMINSTER BONSAI CLUB
Monthly meetings on 3 rd Thursdays
7.45pm at Christ Church Hall, Upper Marsh
Road, Warminster Wilts BA12 9PJ. August
meeting- Amelia Williams talk on 4 trees.
More info email: clive.knight@talktalk.net
MIDDLESEX BONSAI SOCIETY
Welcomes new members. Monthly
meetings on 3 rd Tuesdays 7.30pm at South
Harrow Methodist Church, Walton Avenue,
Middlesex HA2 8QU. Heathrow Bonsai
Show 6 th November 10am-4pm The Barn,
High Street, Harlington, Middlesex UB3 5ER
All day demonstrations and trade. More info-
Roger Gibbs email: roger.gibbs@talktalk.net
http://www.middlesexbonsaisociety.co.uk
VALE OF CLWYD BONSAI SOCIETY
Next meetings, 6th August- Workshop at
Green Dragon, 14 th August- Working on pines.
More info phone Dave 07719126559
Email: dave@moelgron.fsnet.co.uk
These columns are FREE for clubs to
announce regular monthly calendar
agendas.
If you need higher levels of promotion,
please contact The Bonsai Review-
Email: paul@bonpres.freeserve.co.uk
AMBION BONSAI CLUB
Next meeting 28 th July Guest Speaker-
Steve Tolley. Monthly meetings at Hatters
Space Community Centre, Upper Abbey
Street, Nuneaton CV11 5DN
NORTH DEVON BONSAI SOCIETY
Next meeting 8 th August- Open Meeting
and Display of Accent Plants. Meetings at
Methodist Church Hall, Rhododendron
Avenue, Sticklepath, Barnstaple, North
Devon EX31 2DJ. More info- Roy 01398
341440 or Email:
hutchison415@btinternet.com
www.bonsai-northdevon.co.uk/index.htm
SWINDON AND DISTRICT
BONSAI SOCIETY
Next meeting 9 th August- Talk by Mark
and Ritta Cooper. Meetings 7.30pm at the
Coleview Community Centre, Towcester
Road, Stratton St Margaret, Swindon.
Advance notice that next year as part of our
10 th Anniversary year celebrations, The
Swindon and District Bonsai Society are
pleased to announce that our Winter Image
Show on 19 th February will feature an
exciting new exhibit section. More info- Paul
Bowerbank 07982 401103
ASHFIELD BONSAI CLUB
Next meetings 21 st July, 4 th and 18th August-
Workshops. Meetings at the Church Hall,
Rectory Gardens, South Normanton. More
info- Peter Tombs 01283 733210
FENLAND BONSAI CLUB
Next meeting Friday 19 th August- Late
Summer Pruning, Scots pine needle
adjustment. Monthly club meetings on 3 rd
Fridays 7.30pm at the Horticultural College,
Wisbech. More info- Alan 01945 474595
Visit www.fenland-bonsai.co.uk
THE BONSAI GROUP
We always welcome new members. We
meet at Capel Manor, Enfield 7.30pm on the
second Tuesday monthly except August and
December. More info- Joy Savage
020 8367 3196
Email: joyliz.savage@virgin.net
WIRRAL BONSAI SOCIETY
Monthly meetings 8-10pm on second
Wednesdays at the RAFA Club 17
Shrewsbury Road, Prenton CH43 1UU Next
meeting 10 th August- Tree selection for
Goredale Show (bring trees along). August
13 th -14 th Wirral Bonsai Show at Goredale
Garden Centre. More info- Ian Warhurst
07903 123317
SHROPSHIRE BONSAI SOCIETY
Monthly meetings 7.30pm on 4 th
Tuesdays at St Giles Church Hall, Sutton
Way, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY2 6EH
Visitors are always welcome. More info-
Karen Scurry 01743 236737 or Email:
kscurry9@aol.com
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
BONSAI SOCIETY
Next meeting August 4 th - Dave Horner
with discussion on how NBS members
display their trees in garden placement.
Monthly meetings on 1 st Thursdays 7.30pm
at the Weston Favell Parish Hall, Booth
Lane South, Northampton. More info-
Martin Gregory 01604 407265
HARLOW CARR BONSAI GROUP
The meeting on Sunday 21 st August will
be held at 2.30pm in the Bramall Learning
Centre at Harlow Carr Garden, Crag Lane,
Harrowgate and will be tokonoma displays
by group members. More information phone
Susan on 01845 523026
SUSSEX BONSAI GROUP
We welcome new members and
encourage anyone interested in bonsai to
come along to our meetings held at
Wivelsfield Green Village Hall RH17 7QH on
4 th Wednesdays monthly from 8pm. Our
upcoming meetings include 27 th Julypreparation
of trees for showing and 24 th
August- Members Displays. Forthcoming
show- Bonsai World 2011 3 rd -4 th September,
for details please check our websitewww.bonsaiworld2011.co.uk
for further
information on any of these please contact
Peter- 01737241406 or emailsussexbonsai@btopenworld.com
DON’T
MISS
Grand Sale of Bonsai Pots at Dai-Ichi Bonsai
Now extended until end of August
To make way for new container arriving soon.
Pots over 12 inches BUY ONE GET ONE FREE
Over 3000 pots on display at Redditch
(only 3 miles from Junction 3 on M42)
New mame and shohin pots now in stock
Phone- (Newbury shop) 01635 200667, (Redditch shop) 01527 850202
BR49/4

Whilst we wait for Malcolm Hughes to
release his new book of the Best of British
Bonsai 2011, here Les Storey (right)
explains to other envious exhibitors at the
exhibition, just how he managed to time the
flowering on this Prunus mume so perfectly.
This superb bonsai so carefully prepared,
quite understandably attracted much
attention with its primitive charm.
Images from Best of British Bonsai 2011
Photography by Paul Goff
Summer cooling at the bottom of a waterfall
It is not unusual to feature scrolls depicting
a waterfall with summer bonsai display, and
usually we see water racing over the edge of a
rocky precipice.
With this semi cascade Larch (75cm wide),
we experience just the bottom of the fall where
you can stand on the rocks and listen to a
symphony of crashing water or just enjoy cool
plumes of mist and spray. You may even be
tempted to strip off and take an invigorating
shower under a plunging curtain of ultimate
cooling pleasure…...…yea real cool!
Bonsai and scrolls
by Paul Goff
Bonsai Presentations
BR49/5