September 2001 Newsletter

                        The September Meeting will be devoted to the October Show.  All show committee chairpersons and co-chairpersons should plan to attend.

   Notes:     - (1) If you are listed to bring refreshments and cannot attend, please call Bob Evans at (925)-820-0268.

      -  (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 Bob Evans (925)-820-0268 to order one.  The cost is $2.00.  

Club News

The Diablo Bonsai Club will again participate in the Danville Fine Arts Gallery Eugene O'Neill Exhibit, September 8th through October 6th.  The Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm.  There will be a reception at the gallery on Saturday September 8th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.  The gallery is located at 233 Front Street in Danville and each week we will have three different trees in the exhibit.

The October Show is now only six weeks away and we should all start making preparations for the show.  The following are some suggestions to follow:

    1.    Gather dry moss in flats and start watering the moss now so that you will have fresh green moss for your show trees and trees that are being donated to the plant sale.

    2.    Sign up for one or more committees to work on at the show.  Sign-up sheets will be at the September meetings.

    3.    Return the Hospitality food donation sheets to Billie Morenz at the September meetings.

    4.    Return the plant sale sheets to Bill Magee or Sybil Renee McGowan at the September meetings.

    5.    Sign-up for the tree or trees you plan to exhibit in the show, give their ages and how long you have been training them.  When you sign up the trees, be specific and don't just put juniper, pin or maple, etc.  Is it a San Jose Juniper, or Shimpaku Juniper, White pine, or Japanese Black Pine, Trident Maple, or Japanese Maple, etc.  Also indicate if you have a stand for your tree(s) or not.

    6.    If you did not bring your tree or trees to the August joint meeting, bring them to the September meetings so Sensei Akabane can see them and give suggestions.  Every member is encouraged to show at least one tree.

    7.    Read over the enclosed October show guidelines.

Club happi Coats will be available at the September and October meetings for purchase.  The cost is $45.00.  During the October Show we would like to have all the members wearing a happi Coat.

October Show Guidelines

The object of this October Show write-up is to provide guidelines to new members and to serve as a refresher to older members.  The October Show is the main event of the year for the Diablo Bonsai Club and it takes the participation of every member for the show to be a success.

There will be sign-up sheets at the monthly meetings for you to volunteer your services at the show.  Sign-up for more than one committee if you can and for both Saturday and Sunday.  The show is open for 7 hours on Saturday and 6 hours on Sunday.  Several members are needed at the show both days to help out especially during and after the demonstration to sell raffle tickets and to distribute door prizes.  If your non-member spouse is willing to help out, their services are most welcome.

Public attendance at the show is a major factor to our success in October.  Show flyers will be available at monthly meetings.  Take some and post them at your work, local businesses and other areas where people will read them.  Invite your friends and neighbors, in short get the word out to the public.

Every member of the club should try to exhibit at least one tree in the show.  We encourage new members to bring trees to class to work on for the show.  One of the unique features of the October Show is that we have trees on exhibit that have been in training for less than one year up to several years.  Keep in mind, a tree does not have to be very, very old to be a good bonsai.  The younger trees with proper training and styling are just as interesting and show the public what can be done with young material.  Having a mix of young to old trees also educates the public in the development of bonsai through training as the trees age.

Another key area of the show is the financial aspect.  The October Show is the major expense of the club for the year.  To offset the cost, the conducts plant sales and raffles during the show.  Each member is asked to donate at least two plant sale trees and if you can more than two.  The plant sale trees should be trained and well cared for so that they can be easily sold for a good price.  We also have a special raffle at the show of larger bonsai material and bonsai related items.  Donations to the special raffle are on a strictly voluntary basis and all donations to the plant sale and special raffle are tax deductible.

During the show we have a hospitality room where a buffet style lunch is served both days to club members, their immediate family and to visitors from other clubs.  This committee has a lot of work to do and needs quite a number of volunteers to help out.  For the hospitality room each member is asked to donate the food that is served.  Sign-up sheets will be at the monthly meetings and you will be contacted by the hospitality committee just before the show to confirm what you are bringing.  You are asked to bring enough food to serve 12 to 15 people.  If you can donate food for both days, it would be greatly appreciated.

Because the show is somewhat formal in nature, we ask that the members dress accordingly (shirt and tie, dresses and happi coats).  Putting our best foot forward adds to the overall appearance of the show.  While working at the show happi coats should be worn so the public can easily identify members.

Again there is a lot of work to be done between now and the October Show.  Get involved and enjoy making it a great success while having fun in the process.  Any questions about the show or suggestions should be directed to the co-chairs Scott Couture and Byron Nobriga

Events Elsewhere

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 at (510)-763-8409.

September 15, 16 - San Mateo Bonsai Club 38th Annual Exhibit at Central Park Recreation Center, 50 East Fifth Avenue at El Camino Real Road, San Mateo.  Saturday hours - 12 noon to 6:00 pm, Sunday hours - 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.  Demonstrations at 1:00 pm both days.

September 22, 23 - Sierra Bonsai Club display of bonsai at the Annual Place Buddhist Church Bazaar, 3192 Boyington Road, Penryn, CA.  Demonstration at 3:00 pm by Professor Ortiz on Saturday and John Uchida on Sunday.  For information contact Tadashi Yego (916)-652-7998.

September 29 - Fall Plant Sale at Heather  Farms Garden Center, 9:00 am to 12:00 noon.

October 6 - Midori Bonsai Club 40th Annual Bonsai Show at Yamagamii's Nursery, 1361 S. DeAnza Blvd, Cupertino, CA.  Hours are 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Demonstration at 1:00 pm by Chase Rosade.

October 6, 7 - Bay Area Shohin Society First Biennial Show at the San Mateo Garden Center, 605 Parkside Way, San Mateo, CA.  Hours are 11:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday and 11:00 am to 4:00 pm Sunday.  Demonstrations at 1:30 pm by Sandy Planting on Saturday and Boon Manakitivipart on Sunday.

October 7 - Santa Cruz Bonsai Kai 13th Annual Show at C.P.D.E S. Hall, 216 Evergreen Street, Santa Cruz, CA.   Hours are 10:00 am to 4:30 pm.  Demonstration at 2:0 pm by John Thompson.

October 13, 14 - East Bay Bonsai Society Annual Show at the Lakeside Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Dr. (Lake Merritt) Oakland, CA.  Hours are 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday and 11:00 am to 4:30 pm Sunday.  Demonstration on Saturday and workshop on Sunday by Roy Nagatoshi.

October 20, 21 - Yamoto Bonsai Club 30th Annual Bonsai Exhibition at the Centennial Hall ( Room 4), Foothill Blvd at City Center Drive, Hayward, CA.  Hours are 10:00 am to 5:00 pm both days.  Demonstrations by John Uchida at 2:00 pm  both days.

October 27, 28 - Capital City Bonsai Association 3rd Annual Fund Raiser for the Golden State Bonsai Collection North at the Sacramento Garden and Art Center, 3330 McKinley Blvd, Sacramento, CA.  Hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Saturday and 10:00 pm to 4:00 pm on Sunday.  Demonstrations Saturday at 10:30 am by Mas Imazumi and 1:30 pm by Harunobu Tokida an on  Sunday at 1:30 pm by John Uchida.

Diablo Bonsai Look Ahead Schedule

      October 1 - Basic - Ikadabuki (rafting) Style.  Workshop

                                Refreshments: John Dommes and Jack Ellis

October 2 - Board Meeting

     October 8 -     Intermediate - Bunjin Style.  Workshop

                                Refreshemnts: Daryl Bunch and Scott Couture

    October 13, 14 - Diablo Bonsai Club 19th Annual Bonsai Exhibition

         November - Basic - Preparing Bonsai for Winter. Workshop

                                Intermediate - Discussion on Winterizing and Trimming Bonsai.  Workshop.

        December - Joint Meeting.  Review this Year's Projects.