CVBS’s Annual Exhibition Goes Virtual
September 2022 Bonsai Newsletter
Download the September 2022 Newsletter HERE
The Conejo Valley Bonsai Society has canceled its 19th Annual Exhibition at the Gardens of the World. Originally scheduled for October 7 – 8, 2022, we are replacing it with a virtual show in the November 2022 issue of our newsletter. We invite all members to photograph up to three of their bonsai and send the pictures to Newsletter Edi-tor David Whiteside (at cvbs.editor@earthlink.net) by November 1, 2022.
In keeping with this change, we also are postponing the pre-show peer critique of exhibition trees to our October 20 meeting. Please bring in trees you plan to photograph for the virtual show. This will allow members to fine-tune their exhibition bonsai prior to the November 1 deadline for submitting photo-graphs for the virtual show.
During our August meeting, we dis-cussed a Korean hornbeam bonsai that Mike Blumenberg submitted for the second John Y. Naka Memorial Bonsai Exhibition (formerly known as Nampu Kai), which was during Nisei Week later in the month. I gave a short talk about how to prepare a tree for showing, and we demonstrated and discussed the preparation of Mike’s tree.
Mike did a light trimming of the tree removing so-called “hanger downers” and “straight uppers.” That’s removing leaves that hang straight down or point straight up and obscure the movement of the tree.
We removed a light layer of soil around the inside of the pot. We also took off any calcium built up from the water around the edge of the inside of the pot. I used a fine pumice scouring stick to remove the calcium. I then used camelia oil to hide any residue.
The hornbeam’s soil had a beautiful moss covering. We removed loose de-bris from the moss and covered bare areas with black lava rock.
We also cleaned calcium deposits off the outside of the unglazed brown pot with the pumice stick. Mike and I then cleaned the sides of the pot with camelia oil.
The oil layer should not leave the pot with a watery finish—it should look burnished rather than wet. This gives the brown finish of the pot a clean look.
Also, the annual August swap meet was a big success—for members providing bonsai items, the buyers, and the club. Thank you all for your participation.
David Whiteside will lead our September meeting discussion. His topic will be Bonsai v. Penjing.
Remember that the Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF) will hold its annual Bonsai Rendezvous in Santa Nella on October 8 and 9. See page 8 of this newsletter for the details and for other upcoming shows.
The GSBF has redone their website—please check it out at www.gsbfbonsi.org. They also are launching a new quarterly education program for GSBF member clubs called the Golden Zoom Series. Their inaugural program featuring Bjorn Bjorholm will be on Monday, September 19, at 6:30 PM PST. The CVBS is a member club, so all our members can participate in this educational program. I will send out a separate email to club members in good standing with instructions to join the zoom.
It is almost time to elect officers and appoint committee chairs for 2023. Election of officers will be at our November meeting. The new officers will appoint the chairs. If you would like to become more involved in the running of the club, please see or email me—or speak to the new officers at the November meeting.
See you Thursday, September 15.
