LATEST NEWS:

The BIG NEWS this month is that on Saturday 30th November we will be holding a BONSAI SALE DAY and DISPLAY at the Chirnside Park Community Hub. This is located at 33 Kimberley Drive Chirnside Park. Turn off Maroondah Highway at the Reading Cinema Complex, Chirnside Park Shopping Centre, The Hub is about half a kilometre down in the Reserve. There will be a variety of Bonsai and Bonsai related items on sale. This will include bonsai trees at various stages of development, many grown by our own members. pots & tools, bonsai soil and orchid pots. Entry is $2.00 per person, doors open 10:00am until 1:00pm. This will be an excellent opportunity to pick up some great and rare bargains, ideal for beginners or those looking to expand their collection. We invite purchasers to stay on after the Sale for our free workshop to get some tips on what to do next with the trees they have just bought. In addition to the Sale we will have a small Display of advanced trees (not for sale) to show what can be achieved with care and the right tuition.

November is here already! It may be the last month of Spring, but what a fantastic last couple of months we have enjoyed. And there is still plenty of new growth, flowers and colours around to be appreciated. The commencement of Daylight Savings time has also helped by making available precious extra daylight hours to get out and about, not only to see what’s happening in the garden, but to check up on our “little treasures” as well.  Sun and wind are generally good for your trees however some varieties will benefit from protection (Beeches, Hornbeams, Maples and Azaleas) as the leaves will easily scorch if left in strong sunlight. Avoid using shade directly beneath overhanging trees as animal droppings and leaf debris can create further problems. Most potting should be completed by now, however varieties such as Chinese Elms, Azaleas and Junipers can still be potted with care.

Our October meeting featured a presentation by a trio of our own Club members on the art of Air Layering. Led by Lindsay H they showed a number of ways of using this method to effectively make two trees out of one. This principle is particularly useful if restyling an existing tree is required, or more advanced stock for bonsaiing is desired Our members found this session most educational and left wanting to “have a go” at it themselves. We are expecting to see some great examples in the future.

At our November Monthly Meeting on Tuesday the 12th, we will welcome Trevor McComb as our Guest Speaker and Demonstrator. Trevor is from Bonsai Art Nursery, the premier supplier of Satsuki and Kurume azaleas to the local bonsai community. He is an expert in growing and developing them. This will be a great night to learn more about these wonderful flowering bonsais. A branch of the Satsuki (azalea) Interest Group meets at his Nursery in Heatherton, and in fact they have a Show there on the 16th& 17th of November. Well worth the trip to see a fabulous range of these colourful and delightful trees.

Our next Saturday afternoon Workshop will be held on 30th November 2019 at our usual venue. The workshops operate from 1:00pm until 4:00pm. They continue to provide great introductory times for people wanting to take up the art of bonsai. This month we expect to welcome some guests that stayed on after the Sale Day.