Sensei: Kunitoshi Akabane (925) 736-7600

President: Scott Couture (925) 735-3535

Editor: Daryl Bunch (925) 830-8790

March Meetings:

All meetings held at Heather Farms Garden Center, 1540 March Banks Dr., Walnut Creek. 7:15 – 10:00 PM

March 4th  - Basic Class  Meeting.    7:15 pm to 7:30 pm - Business meeting and library open. 7:30 pm to 8:00 pm - Class instruction topic:  Fukinagashi (windswept style) by Sensei Akabane;  8:00 pm to 10:00 pm – Workshop.  Every member should bring material to work on during the Workshop.

         Refreshments: Lois Naye and Hilda Newell.

March 5th  -  Board of Directors Meeting at 7:30pm. CalFed Bank, San Ramon

March 11th – Intermediate Class Meeting.  7:15pm to 7:30pm  -  Business Meeting and Library  open.   7:30pm – 8:00pm – Class Instruction Topic:  Branch Development I by  Sensei Akabane.   8:00pm to 10:00pm - Workshop.  Every member should bring material to work on during the workshop.

                         Refreshments: Byron Nobriga

Notes:     - (1) If you are listed to bring refreshments and cannot attend, please call Scott Couture at (925) 735-3535

               -  (2) Don't forget to bring a piece of plastic to cover your table during the workshop.  After the workshop, clean-up around your table and help put away the tables and chairs. (two rows of tables and chairs at the south end of the room.)

              -  (3) Wear your name tags to class every month to make it easier for everyone to meet each other.  If you need a name tag, call Scott Couture at (925) 735-3535 to order one.  The cost is $2.00.  

Club News

From the Chair:

Today feels like Spring – humidity is up a bit and it’s edged over 70 degrees.  It’s the time of year when people (like me) get a lot more active and spend weekends and weeknights enjoying the California climate. Biking, working in the yard, weekend excursions – too many offerings in Northern California to allow unfocused souls to focus on just a few things. So, I realize that, for me, the winter is a much easier time of year to doing things that take a little more focus. Maybe the tedious things are easier to do when Mother Nature makes it just a little harder to be outside. I spend a lot more time in winter in the garage getting bonsai pots prepared, working on my trees, and reading books in front of the tube. Which brings me to my point (finally).

When was the last time you opened a bonsai book? I have a FANTASTIC bonsai library I collected my first few years in the club.  I just recently acquired the John Naka books – both volumes- after hearing great things about them. And, they really ARE good. But as I was looking at them, I picked up a few of my older books that have been collecting dust for a few years. There was a bunch of good stuff in them too. I even have some on Japanese gardens that have no instruction, just lots of photos of bonsai trees and trees in Japanese gardens. I have found the photos much more interesting to study now that I know a bit more about the bonsai art. I bet most of us would benefit from revisiting some of our instructional materials for a refresher course now and then. If you don’t have your own library, check out the Club library and borrow a book for a month –then bring it back so someone else can use it.

So, I encourage you to try to spend a few minutes or hours each month reading about bonsai. There is almost too much to remember, so it’s nearly impossible to run out of lessons, even if you pick one topic a week to review. I used to try to spend every Monday night doing something bonsai – potting, trimming, wiring or reading. It’s been hard to stick to that lately, but I’m going to try to move in that direction.

As the weather continues to warm, your trees will be enjoying the warmth and extra sunlight and getting more active, too. But as you are tempted to abandon them to the sprinkler system while you frolic in the warmer weather, remember that THEY need your help now to make the most out of the upcoming Spring.

Best Wishes Scott

Events Elsewhere

Golden State Bonsai Collection at Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Avenue, Lake Merritt, Oakland, CA.

Garden House Hours -  Wed, Thurs, Fri – 11:00AM to 3:00 PM  -  Sat – 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM  - Sun – 12 Noon to 4:00 PM.  Call ahead to be sure they are open, (510)-763-8409.

April 6 & 7 – San Jose.  San Jose Betsuin Bonsai Club 32^nd Annual Spring Bonsai Exhibition, San Jose Buddist Church Betsuin, 640 North Fifth Street, San Jose.  Saturday noon to 5pm.  Sunday 11am to 4pm.  Demonstrations both days by Harry Hirao from Huntington Beach.

April 20 – Sacramento.  Bonsai Sekiyu Kai of Sacramento, 25^th Annual Bonsai Show – “Vine of Stunning Beauty – the Wisteria”.  Saturday, April 20^th, 12:00 noon to 6:00pm and Sunday 10 am to 5 pm, at the Buddhist Church, 2401 Riverside Blvd., Sacramento.  Demonstration by John Uchida each day at 2:00pm. 

April 20 and 21 – San Francisco.  Cherry Blossom Festival.  Bonsai & Suiseki Exhibition, Radisson Miyako Hotel, Sakua Room, Japan Town, Post and Laguna Streets, 10am to 5pm.  Bonsai Demonstrations Saturday 1-2:30pm by Warren Clark, Seiboku Bonsai Club and Sunday 11am-1pm, by Dr. Seiji Shiba, Golden State Collection.  Suiseki demonstrations Saturday and Sunday 3:30-4:00pm by Ben Yoshikawa and Mike Iwasaki of the S. F. Suiseki Kai.   Note:  this is a schedule change- originally scheduled from April 27 & 28.

April 28 – Napa.  The Napa Valley Bonsai Club will present its 24^th annual bonsai show on Sunday April 28, 11am to 5pm at the Napa Senior Activity Center, 1500 Jefferson St., Napa.  Demonstration by John Uchida.

Note, only local events are listed here, other events around the state and in other states may be found by checking the Golden State Bonsai Federation and other websites. 

Diablo Bonsai Look Ahead Schedule

April 1 – Basic Class.  Topic – Kengai (cascade style).  Workshop. Refreshments:  Nick Nickelson and Nancy Norris

            April 2  -  Board Meeting

            April 8  -  Intermediate Class.  Topic – Branch Development II.  Workshop.

                Refreshments:  Norman Wanek

           April 20-21 Cherry Blossom Festival, San Francisco