BOBB 2013.... is a go!

As some may already be aware the BOBB 2013 has now been confirmed to take place as part of Gardeners World Live @ the NEC. Despite rumours to the contrary the RHS need it to happen.

Hope to see you there!

April meeting-Peter Warren

 Peter starts his talk....

 

 ...winging it along the way.

 'pay respect to the mighty Maple'

 

 I like this one.......

....but this one I love!

(an Aldi Homage)

Welcome Everyone

Bill G had the Honour of opening the meeting mentioned a few events and things members who are involved NEED to do ASAP such as getting Recent images of to Steve Tolley  for the Best of British Bonsai show later this year and the Japan Society North West Japan Day being held on Saturday 1st June 2013 between 10:30 am to 5:00 pm at: Liverpool Hope University, Cornerstone Building, Creative Campus, Shaw Street, Liverpool  L6 1HP.
Besides W-B-S being invited to this Fantastic Event.Here is a SMALL taster of what to expect Traditional Taiko Drumming,Sushi and Bento,Various Societies,Martial Art Demonstrations,Vintage and Antique Kimono, Display of traditional Japanese Dolls, Kimekomi Doll- making, Try dressing in a Traditional Japanese style, Cosplay Competition, Have your Name Written by Junko Kuramoto- Heady

Embroidery, Display and demonstration by Silkworm Plus lots more
This and Much more of information can be found at 

http://www.jsnw.org.uk/JapanDay/

After all the news views and gossip from Bill G. it was Time for our guest Peter to get into action which he did and introduced his topic for the night which was Pot,Table Selection For Display, Making The Most Of Your Trees and starting with the INTRODUCTION.   (1) Looking at your Tree, Figuring out what is going on. (2) Pot Selection to Suit  The Character Of The Tree (3) A Suitable Table or Stand For The Bonsai. Peter then asked the Questions starting with  

1) Have you LOOKED at your tree, Honestly LOOKED at it Properly such as

a) Standing back, looking hard to find the Characteristics of the tree                                                     b)Checking Direction is it going up,down, Left or Right
c) Space
d) Strength / Visual Mass
e) Sex
f) Character  Re-fined or Rough

Once you have understood the characteristics of the tree, Peter explained we need to Match the Pots to Accentuate and Amplify it as Pots also have a character,Visual Mass, sometimes Direction, Refinement and Balance is the Key. and like before we have Masculine Pots which has Strong Lines, and Angles. Feminine Pots with Oval and Round Pots being the obvious.

Next Peter spoke and showed some Tables or Stands and explained that as for the Trees and Pots we also need to Consider and look at the Strength,The Space and Masculinity of the Stands or Tables and went through what to look for when looking for a Masculine,Feminine and one with Graceful Curves and one of the biggest Concern for Bonsai Tables is The Height. For most this is the only chance we get to Display is at a Show or Exhibitions where Trees will be viewed Standing up or on a Bench plus the SPACE

TheTable   Must be considered as  

 

(a) Too Small and the Image becomes Confined

(b) Too Large and the Image becomes Too Expansive and the Tree appears To Small.

and as Peter pointed out "it's a Very Difficult Balance To Achieve"

It was an Extremeley entertaining session with Peter and the 20 or so members applauded him at the end and we all left well informed on how to achieve a Pot,Table Selection For Display, and Making The Most Of Our Trees

There is a Last Sunday of the Month Workshop at Gordales Garden Centre the Award Winning Garden Centre  on the26th of May and if all goes well we hope to see you there so any Questions on Bonsai or youn have a Bonsai tree and seek FREE advice  or opinions just pop along  to Chester High Road Wirral

 Till next time once again

Take care  look after Each Other and All your Bonsai Trees

Jim thelad

What came 1st -the wall or the tree?

Do you have too many bonsai?

Love it!
(borrowed from Mr Tickle)

April Meeting Tony Tickle

hi Everyone and Welcome to our Blog 

On the 10th April Mr.Tony Tickle and Mr.Terry Foster were schedule to present a Fine Wiring and Ramification session and yours truly was looking forward to meeting another Bonsai Artist Mr Terry Foster as he been spoken well of and highly rated at Wirral Bonsai Society.
Mr Tickle I have met before and chatted with both in person and on the World Wide Web so I was a little disappointed that Mr Foster could not make it on the night  

In the absence of our Chairman and Vice-chairman due to work comments, Andy H. opened the precedence with the Successful news about about a few members latest  Adventure to The FANTASTIC Shohin UK Exhibition 2013  where our Society gained a These Awards
 

1)British Shohin Association Best Mame Award

Bill G. (Lonicera nitida)

 

2) Shohin UK Display, Award of Merit

Wirral Bonsai Society

3) BCI Award of Excellence

Wirral Bonsai Society's display

and not forgetting 

Best Accent Planting (Dan and Ci Barton)

Simon Jones

 

With  who got what and what is on in the coming weeks out of the way, Andy then introduced Mr.T. Tickle and it was down to the business for the evening with a change to the schedule and Tony Introduced his topic for the Evening which was a very interesting, subject such as Extraordinary Bonsai Techniques and a list of the things that were in store for members were Bending Branches, Coniferous Trees, Difficult Potting, Creating an Aged Appearance, Bending Roots (Yew Tree), Rooting Giant Cuttings, Polystyrene Chips in Pots, The Raft (18 years in the Making) and a Technique Called SWEATING to be able to Establish Roots

To save me trying to confuse you all as to what this is all about  check out Mr. Tony Tickle's Site  @

http://yamadoriforsale.com/

The Evening was very interesting and Tony did a great job with his Slide show presentation it was full of information and passed on some new and interesting facts, techniques and suggestions and the time just seem to fly past and before new it the session had finished

Andy thanked Tony for his Excellent presentation and I am sure everyone in the room learnt more than a few things and will be trying out a lots of what Tony  said on their own Bonsai trees I know I will be.

That's it for now I will be back soon with the news from Portsunlight Garden  Centre

Take care  look after each other  and all your bonsai Trees

Jim thelad

 

 

 Tony's explains some 'extraordinary techniques'

 

..... including how to guess the weight!

 An enthralled audience looks on.

 Tony's Blackthorn (complete with RAF flyby)

and Tony's well known Yew complete with pot [& table :) ]

Shohin Uk Exhibition 2013

 

 

Great News and Congratulations to you all who partcipated or helped.

For all those who missed it a link to Utube video of show is below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfO1thKH74c

March Meeting -Tree critique

Hi Everyone

Wednesday the the 13th of March we held our monthly meeting once again at the Rafa Club in Oxton Wirral ( how to find us go to  Finding the RAFA club  on the right of the page of our Blog )

Ian W our Chairman opened the meeting welcoming everyone and thanked members for thier support at  Swindon and District Winter Image Show and look forward to going back next year if all goes well.

With all the preparations done and dusted for our next adventure the  

 

Shohin UK Exhibition 2013  

This exciting national event dedicated to Smaller Bonsai,sizes ranging from  Mame Size is approximately 10cm from soil surface, Shohin Size  is approximately 20cm from soil surface, Chuhin Size is approximately 45cm maximum from soil surface, will be held on Sunday, March 24th 2013 at Failand Village Hall, near Bristol, UK.

his new event is being organised by Mark & Ritta Cooper and Bob Bailey, with the support of the Bristol Bonsai Society, the British Shohin Association, and the Federation of British Bonsai Societies.      

This will be the only UK National Exhibition Dedicated to Shohin Bonsai in 2013 and will be a “must visit event for all Shohin Bonsai enthusiast where on show will be Some Amazing, Fantastic,Impressive,Marvelous,Stunning Wonderful SMALL BONSAI TREES Displayed to a Extremeley High Standard.

Rather than me go on about how Wonderful this Event will be and NOT to be overlooked Go There

This and more information can be found at http://www.shohin.org.uk/?page_id=1483

After the announcements its was down to the evening's Topic which was  -A Tree Critique  The Panel conducted by Ian W,Tony F with Andy and Audience participation and First to the Table was Brian with his Scots Pine ,Steve H a tall European Larch,next Iain Q  with a Crab Apple Tree, followed by Phil and his Small Azalea (which could be a Contender to be the a  STUNNING Shohin Tree if managed the right way), then Andy with a Mugo Pine and Last but not Least  Iain Q. (I have heard that name before somewhere!! )

With his Buxus Sempervirens/Common Box (I hope) or was it Buxus Microphylla/Japanese Box. This was discussed at great length by Everyone mainly because of what presentation could be added to compliment the arrangement between Pot, Tree and  Accent support .Many suggestions very voiced and interesting  concepts .

Lots of Excellent, Useful Advice and Constructive Criticism was suggested by the panel with lots of Members participation in questions suggestion and not always agreeing but that what Bonsai is All about ( in my opinion)as each of us has thier own opinion and in a way we could be All correct in our assumption 

The evening was well attended enjoyable with over Two Dozen members and visitors  Sadly to say There is NO Last Sunday of the Month the 31st and  the /Garden Centre is Closed BUT for all the Die-hard's who like thier Sunday Bonsai Workshop Fix. Fear not for Wirral Bonsai Society will be at Portsunlight Garden Centre, The Causeway, Port Sunlight Village, Wirral, Telephone: 0151 645 6244-- Post Code CH62 5DY on the 2nd Sunday of April 2013

Until next time  Take care  look after each other and all your Bonsai Trees and many thanks for reading our Blog

Jim thelad

 Ian & Tony 'relax' during the critique..

 

 ...still 'relaxing'!

 

.. and fully concentrating on the nice Azalea.

 

 Group discussion on the raft Buxus

 

 Nice stocky cotoneaster on show....

 

...plus some nice seasonal accents.