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CBS Newsletter February 2008: Full Image Version

"A Pinch of this...."

New Features and Club Benefits

Term of the month: MINIATURIZATION

All bonsai conform to this characteristic. As a result, expect then to see a
bonsai in its smallest form, enough for it to grow in a pot or container. However, what
is truly interesting about the trees is that although they stay small, they feature an
appearance and look, that is mature.

Pots and Tools will be available at the February Meeting

Along with the social and workshop opportunities that the club provides, we
also provide you with discounted prices on tools, pots, and other supplies by being
able to buy in larger quantities. However, like any good retail store holding onto these
inventory items does not provide us with money to get new items for you to see. So....

As we head towards repotting season, which begins in March, you might need
a few new pots for your trees. I hope that you have your list so that we can assist you
in selecting the ideal pot for your tree. Perhaps this can be one of your goals for
Jose's BYOT Styling Workshop in March.

Rich Uhrick

Symptom:
mushy bark.
Root cause: a
tiny carved heart.
Valentine Bonsai
0101010Haiku

==Page 2==

This month"s program

2:00 General Club Announcements - Mark Passerrello

2:10 pm Dan Binder and Tom Holcomb will lead a panel discussion on soil mixtures

5-minute break

Remainder: Rich Uhrick and Denny Sackett will discuss the building of grow boxes including the
construction of a new, slightly smaller one for the club Taxus which received its first major restyling last
month with Ken Schoenfeld.

Upcoming Programs

March: Jose Cueto will be with us to discuss styling your bonsai and then be available to assist
you with styling your own tree. So bring a tree to work on, even if it is dormant.

April: Kelly Adkins will be doing a workshop on Elms. Kelly reports that he will be able to provide
Smooth Leaf Elms in two sizes for our workshop. The larger size will be $85 (including workshop fees)
and will have a trunk caliper of about ¾". Cut back several times they have not been refined in any way.
The smaller size will be $65. While smaller, they also have been cut back. Some of each will be single
trunk, some will be multiple trunked.
Please remember that workshop by payment of your fees your space is reserved. A sign up sheet
will be available at the February 17 meeting. If all slots fill up, standby names with phone numbers will be
taken, just in case someone needs to bow out, we will let them sell their spot to the standby list
individuals.

President's Message- Mark Passerrello

See you at the meeting

Tree of the Month

"Bonsai"s top ten...."

Over the years, I have written a number of the articles that have appeared in our newsletter under Tree
of the Month. Dan Binder mentioned one time that I had listed 10 species most commonly used for bonsai. I
wondered had I written about them all. What are the "Top Ten" trees used for bonsai" So, I did what anyone
sitting at a computer would do; I Googled "top ten trees used for bonsai" and "most popular trees used for
bonsai". The results were an interesting mix because while the
web is world wide, it is after all primarily a sales tool. As a
result, I am quite sure that some of the trees I have listed are
on the list because they can be ordered from a website. The
example that jumps to mind was the listing of "Grape -
California Variety."
From my search for "Top Ten" I found: redwood, jade,
Japanese white pine, Japanese maple and trident maple,
juniper (didn't say what kind but the photo was Procumbens "nana", bougainvillea, "Japanese" wisteria (they're
from China); winter jasmine, gold thread cypress, scheffalera (listed as Hawaiian Umbrella); Buttonwood and
Ficus. The search for "Most Popular" yielded: Black, Mugho scotch, western white and pinion pine; boxwood,
grape (yep California); Chinese elm, apricot, Fir trees, Korean, alpine and silver, oaks, and repeated
scheffalera, jade, juniper and Japanese maple. I also tried "Easiest" and that search yielded junipers, cypress,
azaleas, camellias and black pine, as well as scheffalera, jade and Japanese maples.
I was stunned. Easy" Top Ten" Most Popular" Clearly, the web has no filters for credibility. Also
being worldwide, perhaps I should have added Ohio to the search criteria. Oaks were one surprise, our
varieties are big leaved, but that is not the case down south or along the coasts. I would love to try a
Chinkapin Oak; I would be thrilled if I had the humidity in winter to stop from killing a Camellia.
What is the point of this you are asking" I am trying to show that there are a great many choices of the
type of trees you can try to bonsai. It takes trial and error to determine what will work for you and just because
you fail once does not mean you should never try that kind of tree in the future.
Remember, there are two parts to bonsai, horticulture and art. The first step is taking the time to learn
the horticulture, so you can keep your trees alive. Horticulture is more important than the art, because you can
restyle a tree when it grows out, but if it does not grow, your beautiful creation will only exist in a photograph.
This is why we spend time learning about watering, light requirements, fertilizing, repotting, and cold or heat
tolerance. I have read in several books that when the writer was first studying bonsai they let him wire, then
prune, but watering was the true sign of trust.
So do not get discouraged. We will see you at our next meeting

Ken Schultz

Book of the Month

BONSAI with Japanese Maples by Peter Adams

I saw this book in the flier from Stone lantern and Linda got it for me for Christmas this year, so its not
one of my usual half price finds. I have not had much luck with Japanese Maples and I find their growth
pattern of two buds opposite each other more difficult than the alternate budding of elm or other deciduous
trees. However, as you may note in the Tree of the Month column this month, Japanese Maples are among
the most popular types of trees to use for bonsai. Therefore, I thought, a book about Bonsai with Japanese
Maples would help me fill in an area that I consider a weakness in my
education. Besides, I have other Peter Adams books and find him to
be an informative bonsai author. Peter Adams is an English bonsai
artist so remember that his climate is a Zone 6 or 7, more forgiving
than our Ohio winters and springs. According to the book jacket, he
now lives in the state of Washington.
As to the popularity of maples for bonsai, I note that I have an
azalea bonsai book and a book on pines; the others are all a mix of
trees. This book is a mix of illustrations and photographs. The credit
for most of the photographs goes to Kate Adams, Peter's wife. While
this book does not have the big full-page color photos as some do, it
makes up for that by being educational. The illustrations show techniques that are essential if you are going to
learn how to develop specimen maple bonsai.
This book has 153 pages organized into five chapters. The first four chapters are the meat and
potatoes that cover much of the horticulture and techniques needed for developing maples into specimen
bonsai. Chapter 5 has 23 case studies of actual trees. For me chapter two, Bonsai Development Methods
was the most important. It shows the development of the trunk line by selecting one of the two buds after
cutting out the leader and then alternating the side selected, using one bud for the branch and the other for the
trunk. This technique makes a tree with a zigzag trunk that reduces in diameter at each cut.
Chapter Four: Developing Small Specimen Maples shows how to drastically reduce the size of a maple
and then develop branches and roots where you want them. One of the techniques shown used an over
turned plate and shows how to train the roots to spread evenly.
Chapter 5 Case Studies devotes the first 10 case studies to Trident maples. Deshojo, Seigen,
Kashima, and Kiyohime are the other varieties specifically featured as case studies. While Deshojo is my
favorite because of its bright red new leaf growth, I had to remind myself, they are not hardy here in Ohio.

Ken Schultz

From the Circulation Desk of the C.B.S. Library

When the Columbus Bonsai Society library reopens for business at our next meeting on January
20th, the following rules for checking out books, magazines and videos will apply:

1. Only current dues paying members of the Columbus Bonsai Society may check out
books, magazines and videos from our library.

2. Either fill out the card that is inside the book or magazine or fill out a check-out form if
there is no card inside the book or magazine and for all videos. Include your name and the
date you are checking out this item and give the card or form to the Librarian on duty.

3. No more than two books, magazines or videos may be checked out by any member at
any one time.

4. Books, magazines and videos may be checked out for only one month.

5. Any books that are designated as REFERENCE ONLY may not be checked out.

Please contact John Young if you have any questions or comments about any of these rules. You
may either send him an E-Mail at jyoungjfy@sbcglobal.net or give him a call at (614) 267-4168.

As a reminder, if you checked out any books, magazines or videos from the C.B.S. library last year,
please return them as soon as possible. They are now OVERDUE!

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

John Young, Librarian

Bonsai world mourns the loss of a master

Saburo Kato passes away

He held many positions during his long life of growing bonsai
and helping to promote bonsai around the world. Mr. Kato was the
Chairman of the World Bonsai Friendship Federation for many years
as well as the Chairman of the Nippon Bonsai Association. He kept a
busy schedule presenting demonstrations all around the world.
Mr. Kato authored many books in both Japanese and English
and I was honored to have edited his book on Forest Plantings, Rock
Plantings and Ezo Spruce bonsai published by the National Bonsai
Foundation. In late 2006, Mr. Kato held a special exhibition to
commemorate his 90th birthday at the Ueno Green Club where he
displayed many new bonsai creations.
His son Hatsuji and grandson Haruhiko will continue Saburo
Kato's legendary work of creating and promoting bonsai. In fact, on
Wednesday my bonsai tour visited Mansei-en only to find that one-half
of the garden was flattened during the construction of a new building.
When completed the other half of the garden will be flattened and
another building will be constructed, so the Kato Legacy will continue.
I feel very honored to have known Saburo Kato for over 38
years and have watched and learned from this master every time I
was in his presence.
It is very odd that he has passed this morning, the day before
the 82nd Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition opens in a few hours. Today was
the judging for the National Prizes (Kokufu Sho) and I suspect two of the bonsai he was displaying for clients
will win this prestigious award. Also, I believe that Sabur" Kato is the only person who has attended every one
of the 81 Kokufu Bonsai Exhibitions, according to a discussion I had with his son Hatsuji last February.
The bonsai world is greater for the numerous contributions of Saburo Kato and he will be greatly
missed. However, his bonsai creations and books will remain with us to remind us of him and will perhaps;
stimulate others to walk in his path.

A complete biography of Saburo Kato can be located at:
http://www.phoenixbonsai.com/JYNBioSK.html

Bill's post and photos, as well as other commentary and commiseration can be found at
http://internetbonsaiclub.org/index.php"option=com_smf&Itemid=132&topic=22915.0;prev_next=prev

Sadly yours,

Alan Walker

http://bonsai-bci.com http://LCBSBonsai.org

Bonsai Here and Beyond the Outerbelt

Unless otherwise noted, The Columbus Bonsai Society meets the third Sunday of every month at
1:45 pm at the Franklin Park Conservatory. Board Meetings are the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm
in the Franklin Park Conservatory. The meetings are open to members.

February 17, 2008 The Ins and Outs of Soils"Dan Binder, Tom Holcomb
March 16, 2008

Bring Your Own Tree Workshop José on styling

March 29,2008

Delaware County- Green Thumb Gardener's Fair, Olentangy Liberty High

School, 3584 Home Road 8:30am -4pm $7 admission
CBS Session at 2:45pm
April 2008 Slippery Elm workshop"Kelly Adkins
May 2-4, 2008 Staselwood Bonsai www.staselwoodbonsai.com Spring Open House with
Guest Marco Invernizzi www.marcoinvernizzi.com/index_uk.html
May 18, 2008 Azaleas"Tom McCormick, Greater Cincinnati Bonsai Society
June 22, 2008 Tropicals workshop-- New
June 14-15, 2008 Dawes Arboretum Annual Bonsai Show www.dawesarb.org
June 12-18, 2008 MABA Conference, Indianapolis, IN www.MABA2008.org
June 19-22, 2008 American Bonsai Society Learning Seminar 2008"San Antonio, TX
http://absbonsai.org/seminars/ABS2008/main2008.html
July 20, 2008 Martha Meehan"s Miniatures www.meehansminiatures.com
August 17, 2008 Bring Your Own Tropicals workshop
September 14, 2008 Picnic and workshop
October 11-12, 2008 National Bonsai Exhibition, Rochester, NY
www.internationalbonsai.com/nbe08
October 11-12, 2008 Carolina Bonsai Expo, Ashville, NC www.ncarboretum.org
October 25-6, 2008 Annual CBS bonsai show at Franklin Park Conservatory" New Date
November 16, 2008 TBA
December, 2008 Holiday Dinner