Hi All,
we had a good attendance at the meeting considering the heat and thanks to all for bearing with the slightly warm meeting hall despite the windows being open.
We had apologies sent from Roy, Berice and also from Mick and Jean who were unable to attend.
Alan craddock mentioned that the church hall governors were concerned about the tables being left in a dirty state. Not necessarily aimed at us specifically but generally to all the hall users and they would be obliged if we continued to keep the tables nice and clean after our use at meetings.
We were also pleased to have a visit from Nigel our local FOBBS rep who helped along with myself to explain some ideas of a “Tanuki” project that Tasha a potential new member enquired about as she had some how managed to let an old Ficus trunk die which was a shame as Im sure it was a splendid tree when it was purchased, but hopefully she can repurpose it.
We also welcomed Johnathan another new joiner who had brought along a Fukien tea tree that was in need of an urgent trim so I helped him with that during the evening.
A nice selection of trees were brought along to view and work on and I think it was a very successful evening.
Alan craddock came with a tall Rowan with interesting trunk damage detailing and also an old air layered Blackthorn styled in a semi cascade form in an interesting container made from an old cast iron pipe. incidentally Alan would like to sell on this tree if anyone is interested as he needs a clear out.
Alan Chappell came with a tall Scots pine with a trunk showing great age and scaly bark and a very interesting acute bend at its apex. this tree was shooting well and Alan was busy neatening it up and reducing the extending growth. This Scots seems to have a slight blue hint to its needles that to me makes it extra appealing.
David brought a small collected Cotoneaster not quite small enough to be Mame and may grow to become a Shohin but on its way to be a nice small tree. I would also like to thank him for going solo on the beverage making in Berices absence and also the loverly scones he cooked for us along with running the raffle he was a busy chap this meeting.
Shaun came with his Chinese elm that I had helped him with last meeting and I’m pleased to say it was doing well after the drastic cut back I gave it last time but will definitely need a repot in the spring. He also had a tidy little variegated cotoneaster which was coming along nicely.
Oisin brought along a cascade form Oak that he wanted advice on so Alan Craddock spent a good while with him showing some trimming techniques and wiring advice and after a good trim and clean out it was looking far more respectful.
Nigel had a big Beech that needed a sort out and also a cascade Hawthorn that I helped him with, giving some advice on how to continue its cascade style and also trim some over full branches and twigs going in the wrong directions.
Richard came with a nicely forming Rowan forest group and also a Myrtle that needed a trim.
Rob had an interesting Hazel whip which he had a mind to turn into a Literati style. Considering the size of its leaves and growth habit I advised him this may be quite a challenge so I think he may be reconcidering the project.
Matt came with a Silver birch that was in need of some re shaping as it had suffered some die back in places and had also become a little overgrown but by the end of the evening he had timed back the overgrowth and removed a lot of dead branches. The form of the tree currently had a Y shape fork of equal thickness at the mid section of the tree that spoilt the overall taper and image so I suggested he might consider removing one branch and reposition the tree at the next repot. There was also an ugly inverse tapered lower branch that was also candidate for removal so he has a few routes to consider for its refinement.
I came along with a Cork bark elm that I purchased from Neil at Springfield nursery three years ago in a pond basket, after managing to form a decent root ball on it I managed to get it into a Training pot this year and have been working on the branch pads over the last couple of years and glad to say its coming on nicely, but seems to drink like a fish which has kept me very busy during the dry hot period we are having. I also had a small Acer palmatum which is ten years old from seed. I got it a few years ago from John Trott and although it’s a challenge for me to keep watered and trimmed its great fun. My growing space is quite small now so I have had to relearn how to Bonsai on a smaller scale with Shohin and medium size trees that’s not to say I haven’t got rather a lot crammed into a small space but hey “ Ive got too many bonsai trees, said no one ever”
Don’t forget the Staverton Group Bonsai boot fayre this weekend 26 July Long River Farm Westbury BA13 3ED if you need some stock, you might be able to find a bargain.
Well that’s it from me, have fun
Kev Denney