NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2003
TIME: Every third Wednesday of the month, 7:30pm (except July, Aug., Dec.)
PLACE: Adult Recreation Centre - Corner of King and Allen Sts., Waterloo
SUBJECT: Over-wintering and Fall Pruning
Thanks go out to all who participated in and attended the Guelph bonsai show. I met lots of interesting people. There was a group from the North Bay club as well as the Brantford club. One chap told me about the discovery of the Wollemi Pines found in Australia. These pines are the rarest trees on earth; originally only 28 existed, but these are now being propagated to sell to the public. These trees were found in two small pockets and have survived for over 50 million years. They say it is the equivalent of finding a live dinosaur! There is a great website where you can sign up for obtaining seeds, I think they would make a great tropical bonsai. The website is: http://www.wollemipine.com/home.php
This month’s meeting was to be a pine workshop, however due to a shortage of pines we will have to change the focus. Instead we will talk about over-wintering your hardy trees and fall pruning of both deciduous trees and coniferous trees. For the meeting bring a tree or two to work on, and learn how and why it is important to prune them before putting them away for winter. Last month we talked about over wintering tropical trees, if you missed the hand out, I will bring some more to this meeting.
I think everyone has a tree or two on their bench that they just can’t decide how to style. This would be a great time to bring your trees and get others opinions on how to tackle a difficult subject.
If anyone has some trees with fall colours, or a tree that is just looking good, bring it in for this month’s meeting. Remember to bring plastic for your table if you will be working on your tree.
It’s a good time to look around for young native tree saplings to train as bonsai. The leaves are still on the trees, which make them much easier to identify, and you can get an idea of what the fall colours will look like. Some maples have spectacular fall colours, while others just go from green to faded green! If you find some growing in your garden or hedge and don’t want them, bring them in and exchange them with other members. My thanks go out to the Guelph Bonsai club, who did all the hard work of putting on a great show this year, and made it easy for us to just show up and display our trees.
Nigel Saunders
1.Thanks to George and Joanne Vanner for the lovely afternoon they hosted at their home in Palmerston. They have a terrific bonsai collection that is well displayed in their gorgeous garden. They generously shared some of their many perennials with those of us who attended.
2. The bonsai show at Conestoga mall was well received. Don’t forget to thank Eldon and Jean for organizing it, and Jimi, Nigel and Edna for helping out. Eldon said they had many interested visitors. Thanks folks.
1. Toronto Bonsai Society Annual Show and Sale. October 18 -12:00-6:00 pm., October 19 -10:00-5:00 pm. Exhibits, demos, sales. Civic Garden Centre (now known as the Toronto Botanical Garden), Floral Hall, 777 Lawrence Avenue east, Toronto. Admission: $4.00, seniors-$3.00, Children under 12 free. Take 401 east to Leslie Street. Go south on Leslie to Lawrence Avenue. The gardens are on the southwest corner of Lawrence Ave. and Leslie Street. Proceed through the intersection and turn right into the gardens from Leslie. Website addresses: www.civicgardencentre.org
www.torontobonsai.org
2. November meeting- Silent Auction and Christmas get- together. Don’t forget to bring ‘stuff ‘ for the silent auction. Gardening items are very welcome, e.g. trees/plants, pots, tools, books and magazines. Look around your garage and see what is lurking in there that you might donate (no spiders please). Use your imagination and surprise us. As well, please bring a tasty snack (potluck finger foods) to share with your fellow bonsai enthusiasts.
Winterizing tip
Dress your trees in pantyhose. Let them strut into winter all dolled up in old stockings! Jean and Eldon bag all their trees in pantyhose (they tie the panty hose off just a few inches above the soil in the pot) and then bury them in leaves in their polyhouse. Eldon says this is an easier way to put your trees to bed for the winter and makes for quick set-up in the spring.
By the way, Eldon has trees out at Tillich’s Trees on the north side of Highway 7 between Breslau and Guelph. Now where is my Christmas wish list??
Our Thirtieth Birthday
The Society’s 30th birthday is coming up in November. If you have any memorabilia from the early years (or any years) that you think members would be interested in, please bring it along to the next meeting.