Not so many members attended after a stifling day weatherwise, and assume the heat had made people too tired to turn out or perhaps already enjoying holidays somewhere even hotter. However, 12 of us assembled and after dealing with an outstanding AGM matter, a number of notices were given and several handouts distributed for members information.
Joan was thanked for her efforts in getting a Club article published in the Thurmaston Times, a local community newspaper, and for poster displayed in a large supermarket. The additional publicity to attract further members was appreciated and copies of the newspaper were distributed at meeting. Mike also mentioned that he had been able to get several posters displayed in shops near him. More posters for display or handing out to interested parties are available from Carol, Trevor or Olly.
A new bonsai supplier in our area has been discovered by Carol. Discount for Club members is being negotiated. Located in Wigston, near where we used to meet, details can be found on http://www.premierbonsai.co.uk and additional pictures on Instagram. It is mainly a mail order set-up and which also uses Ebay but arrangements can be made to collect from supplier with prior notice.
Members were reminded about the next practical workshop on 26 June which will be held at Ben’s. This is for final preparation of show tree and accent planting for our Club display at the Market Bosworth Show on Sunday, 3rd July. Also, now is the time for members to order their juniper and pine supplies needed for the cascade practical workshop on 18th September.
The Club is pleased to announce that our guest speaker for meeting on 2 August will be Malcolm Hughes, Chairman of FOBBS, who will be discussing show trees, presentation and what the judges look for. Unfortunately we were unable to secure Malcolm in time for Market Bosworth Show but we will be able to put his advice to good use for our next show at Aylestone on 29 August. Plans are afoot for the Club to be able to up its game and participate in a larger bonsai specific show next year.
The topic for this eve’s meeting was changed due to programme rescheduling and we had a Tree Clinic. Members brought a selection of problem trees and these were viewed and discussed for remedial treatment. Examples ranged from a salix that had green and yellow leaves; an Acer Palmatum with a trunk that won’t thicken; a Chinese holly where apex branch and leaves had died but showing healthy growth elsewhere; another acer with ‘no direction’; and an Acer ‘deshojo’ with front view needing reversal to obscure a prominent knuckle left after a branch had been removed.
An in depth discussion took place on Ben’s unhappiness with a seeded Acer Palmatum and its large leaves. The tree cost about £28 from the last trade show at Sheffield. Although branches had been removed, and defoliation undertaken to encourage smaller leaves, the tree remains odd and unbalanced in appearance. Members gave their opinions/suggestions and then Mike gave his advice for solving several problems he could see with this tree, pictured here.
Sometimes in reports, attention is overlooked on trees ‘in training’- those being developed and their journey towards a style being created. Beginners in particular like to see how specimens evolve, even though a tree may go through many processes before an end result is achieved. Here are two examples that were on the informal display table at the meeting:
Both junipers, one showing branch wiring for informal upright, and the other root over rock on side.
And, for an example of an end result, we were inspired with Peter’s pine which he has been working on for 18 years. He added that it took him two days to remove candles from it recently.
Our next Club meeting is 5 July when we shall debrief on the Bosworth Show display and the meeting’s topic is Members’ Tree Talk – when 2 or 3 members will discuss the development of their selected trees.
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