LATEST NEWS: With the arrival of some cooler days and the colder nights that we are currently experiencing, it appears that the trees have finally got the message that it’s Autumn. Deciduous trees have begun to put on their fiery red or golden yellow “coats”, and the foliage on the other species has freshened up after the warm summer dried some of them out. It’s great to see our bonsai’s are doing the same as their bigger relatives. What a joy to see all this action being duplicated in miniature amongst our very own bonsai collections. Trees that have been kept in sheltered positions over summer can now be brought out into the open for a little sunshine, but watch the weather forecast for the odd unexpected hot day or warm wind. Other tasks we’ve employed over summer can be relaxed a little now too, but enthusiasts still need to continue the constant maintenance of their collection if they are to keep it at its best.

One of the tasks our members are working on now, is the preparation for our Bonsai Show. This will be held over the weekend of June 23rd & 24th. The venue will be the Wandin North  Public Hall opposite the roundabout at the junction of the Warburton Highway and Clegg Road, Wandin. As well as a  great range of expertly styled trees on display, there will be beginners and children’s classes, Ikebana and expert bonsai demonstrations and sales tables. Refreshments will also be available.. This will not only be an excellent opportunity to view some beautifully presented trees, but it will also be a great introduction to bonsai for those contemplating it as a hobby. We will be showing trees at various stages of development so that you will be able to see what can be achieved with the right guidance. More details will be published over the next couple of months, so make a note in your diary now and plan to attend.

Howard’s presentation and demonstration on Semi Cascade & Cascade styles, at our March Monthly Meeting, was very well received by all those present. He commenced by explaining and illustrating the various styling features that make up a cascade, and then proceeded to create one from a tree that he had brought along. Time did not permit the job to be completed in the evening, but a great deal of progress was made. Members were able to see the general concept, and are now eagerly awaiting follow-up sessions to keep in touch with the rest of the development.

Our April Monthly Meeting will be on Tuesday 10th 2018. It will commence with a Bonsai Basics Session on the various Bonsai Styles presented by Rudi J. These sessions, as the name implies, are designed to educate those new to bonsai, but have also proven to be a timely reminder to many of our more experienced members.
This will be followed by a ”Team Challenge Cup”. Teams made up of our members that are present on the night, will compete against each other to create a bonsai from scratch in under two hours. Previous Challenges have proven to be a great fun and learning experience for members at all levels of expertise.

The April Saturday afternoon Workshop this month will be on April 28th at our usual Venue from 1:00 – 4:30pm.

Remember, if you are interested in finding out more about our Club, feel free to come along to one of our Monthly Meetings or a Saturday Workshop and check us out for yourself. Just give us a call beforehand, so that we can give you further details on where to find us. You’ll be made most welcome.

And remember we look forward to catching up with you somewhere in the “world of bonsai” in 2018