Hi all, 15 members attended this month and brought a good selection of trees to discuss. We also had the pleasure to welcome a new member, Shaun who came with a recently acquired Chinese elm which he needed lots of advice on. I was able to give him a good amount of time and help him restyle and set him on the road to improving his tree.
Chairman Roy kicked off the meeting with a discussion on the forthcoming “Bonsai by the sea show” at Exmouth Sunday 14th June and he now feels we have enough exhibits to offer a good display table at the show. The Exmouth show is well worth a visit as it showcases the Southwest regions clubs trees and often includes South Wales club exhibits to add to the mix. There will also be a selection of traders there with the usual sundries, pots and trees for sale.
Roy brought along a miniature rose (Chinese rose) in what I might call clump style that was growing well but had not flowered this year I believe one of the club members had experience with these and was able to advise Roy further on its care. just goes to show that even the more experienced growers never stop learning. He had also a small juniper to show us.
Alan Craddock came with a newly acquired Blackthorn that he had stripped it of all is original branching and restyled it using many of its fresh buds to let them establish and form a new style. I think Alan might have the biggest collection of Blackthorn in the Southwest, he is obsessed by them but does them well.
Allan Chappell had brought along an old looking Cork bark elm which had very neat small leaves and indeed a very gnarly looking bark. He also had a European larch which he spent some time giving it a good trim.
Darren had a small Acer Palmatum and a Hemlock, I’m not experienced on Hemlock at all but Darren explained how he trims it to me, he had created a convincing little tree from it and it looked like it was very healthy and had good future potential.
Dave came with a small Picea or spruce like tree which he described as a “Canadian Pine” but Its not like a Canadian pine as I know it, which is more like a Strobus pine so not sure of the species he has but I suspect its a Spruce variant.
Berice had a tall Beech which needs a bit of refining but well on its way to be a fine tree.
Richard came with a cascade Mugo Pumilio pine which he had to de-wire quickly as it had begun to bight in and mark the branches. He also had a collected box tree in a tub that he was working on.
Bob brought along some colour in the form of three old Satsuki Azaleas one of which he surprised me by informing me it was one I sold to him way back in 2012. I had originally purchased it from Alexandra Kennedy at a workshop probably in the early 90’s some time.
Terry had a nice little Cottoneaster microphyllus with white flowers and bright red berries on it. Also on his table was a nicely forming Ginko biloba which I personally have a fondness for as they are an ancient form of tree and not easy to shape. I have one grown from seed that I originally purchased from David Cheshire about 3 years ago, making it 6 years old now.
If I have missed anyone out I apologise but think I got most of it.
Hope to see some of you at Exmouth next weekend.
See you next time
Kev