LATEST NEWS:December is here.  It may be quieter on the bonsai events scene now after a busy and exciting year, but things are hotting up elsewhere on our Social Calendars. With Christmas Break-up Parties, Family Do’s, frantic gift buying, meal planning, and for some, just getting ready for the visit from “the man in the red suit”, there is still plenty to do. In all of this excitement it’s easy to forget that lots of things are also still happening in your garden. Plants and trees continue to grow and develop, especially if you have bonsai’s. To keep them performing well they will need constant care and attention especially during the “hottest” season which is now on our doorstep. Summer is here, even if it’s not evident in the mild days and cooler nights we are enjoying at present. But, this can all change overnight, so keep a close eye on the weather and be ready to react to any variations.

At our November Monthly Meeting, Rudi J, our Club’s Vice President, brought a presentation on azaleas as bonsai’s. Members had brought along their own plants/trees for him to appraise and advise. He also shared from his vast experience with this species. He has been growing and cultivating azaleas for a number of years, and is an active member of the  Satsuki (azalea) Interest Group. All those present went away with increased knowledge and a greater appreciation of these wonderful plants.

Our Bonsai Sale Day and Display on Sunday November 18th was appreciated by all those that attended. There were bonsai trees at various stages of development, pots, tools, bonsai soil, orchid pots and accessories available for sale. Many took advantage of this excellent opportunity to pick up some great and rare bargains.

Saturday afternoon Workshops continue to be well attended. They are an opportunity for Club members to spend more time on their hobby, especially those unable to attend the Tuesday meetings. They are also an ideal avenue for those interested in taking up bonsai to get acquainted with what our Club can offer, whilst getting an introduction to bonsai in a friendly welcoming atmosphere. This month we welcomed another two new members via the workshop.

The Club’s next Monthly Meeting will be held on Tuesday 12th December 2017 at 7:30pm at CIRE Services – Old Hereford Road – Mt Evelyn. This will be our Christmas Break-up, and will include an Informal Discussion on Members bonsai’s. Those attending are asked to bring along one of their trees and to give a short presentation on how and why they went about creating this bonsai the way they did. They can then ask the meeting for comment, advice or assistance with its future development. This will be a very informative and learning experience for all, and is not intended to be a critique, but rather a valuable discussion and sharing of ideas. During the latter part of the meeting we will enjoy some fellowship and party food whilst reflecting on the very successful 10th Year for our Club.

There will be no Saturday afternoon Workshop in December as the scheduled date falls during the Christmas/New Year holiday break.

Not all bonsai enthusiasts take holidays in January. To cater for these, and newcomers to the Art, we have scheduled a Meeting for the 8th January 2019. It will take the form of a Workshop and will be held at our usual Venue. Regular Monthly Saturday afternoon Workshops recommence on January the 26th (Australia Day)

All at Yarra Valley Bonsai Society would like to thank you for your interest in our Club, and wish you and your families a Very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.

There is always plenty of action in the World of Bonsai for you to enjoy - don’t miss an opportunity to become acquainted with a “little tree”. We look forward to catching up with you again in 2019.