October 2001 Newsletter

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

We are sad to announce that Frank Fujitani, a long time friend and supporter of Diablo Bonsai Club passed away on September 6, 2001.  Frank and his wife Kay attended all of our October Shows from the very first show.  They were both founding members of Yamato Bonsai Club in Hayward.

If you did not do it in September, bring the trees you are donating to the October Show Plant Sale to the October class meetings for pricing.  Also, if you have not previously brought trees you are planning to exhibit in the October Show to class for Sensei Akabane to look at, please bring them to the October class meetings.  Be sure to list the trees you plan to show on the sign-up sheet circulating in the class meetings.  If you do not attend class and have not listed your trees please give Bob Evans a call at (925)-820-0268 with the information so an ID card can be made.

We will have our annual club dinner party after October Show on Saturday, November 3.  There will be a sign-up sheet at the October Show and you can pay Barbara Richards at that time.  The club has received a donation of eleven bonsai pots of various sizes, shapes and colors.  These will be given as door prizes at the club dinner party.

October Show Preparation

We are two weeks away from the show and the following are some tips for getting your trees ready:

    1.    Wash the pots with a mild soapy solution. Dry them with a towel.

    2.    Put a light coat of baby oil on the outside of the pots.  Wipe off the excess  oil with a towel.

    3.    Put fresh green moss on your show trees and if you can on your sale trees as well.  Dressing up the plant sale trees will make it easier to sell them.

    4.    Fertilize your show trees and plant sale trees now with grow power or fish emulsion.

    5.    On the day of the show set-up, October 12th, water your show and plant sale trees in the morning before you bring them to the show.  If you wait until the last minute to water them, the water will be draining out and soiling the table cloths at the show.

    6.    The set-up for the show will be Friday, October 12th.  You should bring your show trees and plant sale trees to the exhibit starting at 4:30 pm.  Please try to be no later than 5:00 pm, otherwise the exhibit will be all set-up and we have to be out of the building by 6:00 pm.

    7.    Before your leave on Friday night make sure you see Bob Evans and pick-up your show tree ID card and put it with your tree.

bring your food donations for the hospitality room  in on Saturday and Sunday mornings between 10:00 am and 11:00 am.  Food should be on a plate, platter, bowl or dish with the appropriate serving pieces.  Please no paper plates.  Put tape with your name on the bottom of your dishes.  Dishes may be picked up after the close of the show on Sunday when you pick up your trees.  If your dish is a hot dish please provide a hot plate to keep it warm in the hospitality room.  On Sunday be at the exhibit before closing time so that we can take a group picture.  Also, please do not start taking your trees out of the exhibit room until after the construction crew has the backdrops out and loaded on the truck/  Pitch in and help the construction crew first, they have to get everything to Livermore and unloaded at the storage unit before dark.  

Club Hoppi Coats will be available at the October 1st and 8th meetings for purchase.  The cost is $45.00.  During the October Show we would like to have all the members wearing a Hoppi Coat.

We are presently participating in the Eugene O'Neill Exhibit at the Danville Arts Gallery.  Our thanks to Mineko Montoya, Norm Wanek, Gale Newcomb, Alan Jones, Patrick Corbiere and Bob Evans for furnishing trees for the exhibit.

We would also like to thank Barbara Richards for taking on the project to make up the new club business cards on her computer at home.

The members who volunteer and take it upon themselves to do extra work and participate in club sponsored activities are two important things in keeping the club going and successful.

 

THE ROOKIE’S CORNER

IT’S SHOW TIME--There was discussion about sale quality of some of the trees at our Aug. meeting.  As I understood the discussion , the club although being non-profit, still needs revenue to cover expenses . The basic economic problem is a pot costing  $5.00 to $10.00 and  a plant not being up to sale standard, i.e., very small, or unattractive  has to be priced at cost or less than cost and the club will not cover expenses. I went  home after the meeting and read through my notes and found reference to new members planting  2 (TWO) one gallon trees for the October Show.

OK, that is simple, or is it? A rookie is hit with a lot of information in a short period of time and just learning the buzz words can be a task, let alone not even throwing in the purchase of tools, books ,  trees. plus the learning curve.

In my case I planted a 1 gallon cork oak with questionable skill managed to almost kill and now still question if it is attractive enough to bring a profit.  Some, loved, cared and cultivated trees that may not  reach a marketable size,  Unfortunately, beauty may only be in the eyes of the beholder.

A few suggestions come to mind and I’m sure there are more and better ideas that can be brought to the table.

1. In our indoctrination meeting have a prepared document outlining the rules of the potting session, tree size, and responsibilities. Recommend trees that would be good for rookies to learn the basics.

2. All rookies bring in their trees for a quick check in April. This would eliminate late surprises and may still allow time for change.

3. If, in the September pricing session, a tree is determined to be unprofitable, responsible member would reimburse the club for the pot and continue to raise the tree for next year’s show in addition to the two new ones required for each member. The pot reimbursement would be a partial donation to the club to help off-set the revenue that would have been enjoyed through the sale, and cover expenses for anyone leaving the club and taking the pot.

4. Last but not least, do not allow rookies to pot trees in the club potting sessions  that you, the older member do not think will be acceptable.

Richard Crawford, Rookie

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.

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

             November 3^rd -October Show Dinner Party.

             November 5^th - Basic - Preparing Bonsai for Winter. Workshop

                                    Refreshments - Michael & Linda Fazzio, Kathleen Gerner

             November 6^th - Board of Directors Meeting

             November 12^{th -}  Intermediate - Discussion on Winterizing and Trimming Bonsai.  Workshop

                                    Refreshments - Fred Kovar and Bob Lausten

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

October Show Work Schedules