2009 Annual Show - Four Seasons Bonsai Club of Michigan

June, 2009
Issue No. 6
2009 Annual Show
June 27 - 28 at Telly’s Greenhouse, (in the barn on the far side of the
parking lot).
It’s the time of year we’ve all been waiting for; our annual club show takes
place Saturday the 27th and Sunday the 28th of this month at Telly’s
Greenhouse (Same as our regular club meeting location). This year’s show
features many things you won’t want to miss: the club bonsai exhibit, more
vendors from out-of-town and guest master Roy Nagatoshi returns for a treestyling demonstration and two workshops. Mr. Nagatoshi is past president of
the California Bonsai Society and has been featured at numerous national and
international bonsai conventions and events (too many to list here!). He also
created the bonsai used in the movie Karate Kid III. Mr. Nagatoshi will shape a
shimpaku juniper during his Saturday demo and we’ll raffle it off at the end of
the show. He’s an outstanding speaker with an amazing sense of design.
You’ll love what he does with his demonstration tree. If you haven’t been to a
club event in a while, this is the one to see!
And of vital importance: the club needs every member to participate by
bringing your bonsai for display in the exhibition. No matter what your skill
level, the public and other club members benefit by seeing bonsai in all stages
of development. So we need participation by all our beginners and
intermediates too! (And we have a lot of space to fill.) See the tree check-inform included with this newsletter for more details on bonsai tree drop-off
(Friday at Telly’s, 5 - 8 p.m.) and pick-up (Sunday after 5 p.m.) The show takes
place in the barn this year, so bring your exhibit trees there, not the
greenhouse.
Complete Show Schedule
Friday, June 26
Noon: Show setup begins
5:00-8:00 pm: Exhibit tree drop-off
Saturday, June 27
9:00 am: Show opens
11:00 am: Jimmy Whiteley's
beginner-friendly demo #1
2:00 pm: Roy Nagatoshi’s
shimpaku-styling demo
8:00 pm: Show closes
Sunday, June 28
9:00 am: Show opens
9:00 am: Mr. Nagatoshi’s
workshop #1: shimpaku
12:30 pm: Mr. Nagatoshi’s
workshop #2: boxwood
1:00 pm: Jimmy Whiteley's
beginner-friendly demo #2
5:00 pm: Show closes, Teardown begins
1
Parking for the Show
If you attended last month's meeting,
you know that parking at Telly's can be
difficult during their busy months. Last
year during our show, parking was also
a huge problem. We may have lost
some show traffic because there was
not a single open parking space to be
found. Telly's is (understandably)
concerned that our show not drive away
their customers. So to alleviate the
parking problem, show workers should
park at the 3rd house to the north from
Telly's or at Raintree park (a bit farther
to the north). If you are dropping by to
see the show and can walk a block or
two, please use Raintree park. (If you
cannot walk far, go ahead and park in
the Telly's lot.) If you are dropping off
your bonsai on Friday or picking them
up after 5 on Sunday, feel free to park
in the Telly's lot as well; parking should
be better at those off-peak times. We
apologize for the hassle.
President’s Message:
May Meeting
I would like to make mention of the
awards that were passed out at our May
meeting.
Thank you Bill Struhar for an excellent presentation at the May meeting. And
congratulations go out to Bill, Anita Ormond, Todd Renshaw and Jimmy Whiteley
for winning the President's Award for exceptional voluntary service. Nice job,
guys (and gal)!
There have been four people whom had
been volunteering for tasks that were
extremely important to the success of
the Four Seasons Bonsai Club. Tasks
such as writing and publishing the
newsletter; doing the advertising and
banners for our annual show among
many side jobs; running errands when
nobody else stepped up; taking part in
the running of the show and monthly
meetings; and going out to the nurseries
to select trees for workshops and
building displays for our show.
Photos by Michael Caswell.
They are the people I wanted to call
your attention to by awarding them the
Presidents award for "exceptional
voluntary work."
They are Anita Ormond, Todd
Renshaw, Bill Struhar and Jimmy
Whitely.
Lets all thank them for a great job done
over the years.
Hector DeBrabant
President, Four Seasons Bonsai Club.
Workshops
As of newsletter-publish time, we still
have space available in Mr.
Nagatoshi's workshops. Both
workshops are Sunday, June 28. The
shimpaku workshop starts at 9 am
and costs $75. The boxwood
workshop starts at 12:30 pm and
costs $85. If you are interested,
call Todd at 248-585-9916 or
email webmaster@mababonsai.org.
2
SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BONSAI VENDORS
Telly’s Greenhouse
3301 John R
Troy, MI 48083-5656
(248) 689-8735
Discount on bonsai-related items.
Bonsai House
8653 Inkster Road, Westland, MI 48185
(734) 421-3434
Closed Sunday & Tuesday.
Tokonoma Bonsai Garden
34190 S. Gratiot, Clinton Twp., MI 48035
(586) 791-6595
10% Discount on Bonsai Items
WHAT’S AHEAD ON THE
SCHEDULE FOR 2009
June 27-28 .. ANNUAL SHOW. Roy
Nagatoshi returns for a
tree-styling demonstration
and two workshops. The
show includes beginnerfriendly demonstrations
on bonsai styling, our
bonsai exhibit, the raffle of
the Nagatoshi demo tree
(plus other raffles), as well
as bonsai, tools, pots and
supplies for sale.
July 26 ....... Focus on Beginning
Techniques.
3 demonstrators will show
must-see techniques for
bonsai beginners. For
experienced members,
treat this as a BYO (bringyour-own) workshop.
Aug. 30 ...... Bonsai Auction and
Pot Luck Lunch. Held
at the home of a Four
Seasons member. A great
opportunity to acquire
everything from highquality bonsai to low-cost
bonsai stock plants, pots
and tools.
Sept. 27 ..... Focus on Advanced
Techniques. 3
demonstrators will show
techniques for the advanced bonsaist. For
beginners, don't shy
away from this meeting.
You'll find the subjects
interesting too.
Oct. 25 ....... Japanese Black Pine.
Presented by Vance Hanna.
Nov. 22* ..... BYO Winter Wiring Workshop. Bring your own
tree, outdoor or tropical,
for a hands-on, wiring and
styling workshop.
Dec. 5*....... Christmas Party.
(Restaurant TBD.)
*Not held on the last Sunday of the month.
OFFICERS, COMMITTEE CHAIRS
& BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President ................ Hector DeBrabant
(248) 399-9629
de.bonsai@yahoo.com
Vice-President ........ Vacant
Secretary ................ John Stevens
Treasurer ................ Janine Makowski
(248) 585-6074
s.makowski@comcast.net
DIRECTIONS TO OUR MEETINGS
Our meetings are held at Telly’s Greenhouse at 3301 John R Troy, MI
48083-5656, between Big Beaver and Wattles. Nursery phone: 248-6898735, Nursery website: www.tellys.com. Guests are welcome at meetings.
Meetings are usually held on the last Sunday of the month at 2:00 p.m.
Some events are held off-site. Always consult the newsletter issued just
before a meeting for exact date, time and location.
E. Wattles Rd.
Rochester Rd.
Newsletter .............. Ryan Stibich
(248) 649-1136
ryancstibich@gmail.com
Show Chair ............. Lamont Jackson
lamont_tiger@lycos.com
Librarian ................. Justin Ouellette
mrfun39@gmail.com
.
wy
Roche
ster
Dequindre Rd.
.
Rd
Metro Pkwy.
John R Rd.
Exit 67
E. Maple Rd.
15 Mile Rd.
nH
Director, 2-Yr. Term ... Jimmy Whiteley
(248) 608-2478
jimantique@aol.com
3301 John R Road
so
en
ph
Ste
Director, 3-Yr. Term ... Bette Gay
(248) 515-1732
rgay@voyager.net
TELLY’S NURSERY
Big Beaver Rd.
Photographer ......... Michael Caswell
Website .................. Todd Renshaw
(248) 585-9916
webmaster@mababonsai.org
17 Mile Rd.
Director, 1-Yr. Term ... Todd Renshaw
(phone & email given above.)
Director, 1-Yr. Term ... Tom McCue
Anita Ormond
Four Seasons Bonsai Club of Michigan
7480 E. Holly Road
Holly, MI 48442
Visit the club website at www.fourseasonsbonsai.com
Place
Stamp
Here
Bonsai Tree Check-In Form
Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with the bonsai tree check-in procedures shown below ahead of time. Bonsai that you
created and styled yourself can be displayed in the judged category. Other trees that do not fit into this category may be shown in
the “non-judged” category. All trees will be eligible for the people’s choice award.
Your Name: ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Judging Category: (check one)
Beginner
Intermediate
Expert
Master
Bonsai 1Common Name: _ _______________________________________________________________________________
Botanic Name: __________________________________________________________________________________
Age of Tree: ___________________
Years in Training: ___________________
Judged
Non-Judged
Bonsai 2 Common Name: ________________________________________________________________________________
Botanic Name: __________________________________________________________________________________
Age of Tree: ___________________
Years in Training: ___________________
Judged
Non-Judged
Bonsai 3 Common Name: ________________________________________________________________________________
Botanic Name: __________________________________________________________________________________
Age of Tree: ___________________
Years in Training: ___________________
Judged
Non-Judged
Bonsai 4 Common Name: ________________________________________________________________________________
Botanic Name: __________________________________________________________________________________
Age of Tree: ___________________
Years in Training: ___________________
Judged
Non-Judged
Bonsai 5 Common Name: ________________________________________________________________________________
Botanic Name: __________________________________________________________________________________
Age of Tree: ___________________
Years in Training: ___________________
Judged
Non-Judged
Procedures
1) You may bring up to five trees for the judged exhibit. (You are welcome to bring additional non-judged trees. Make a copy of this form, if needed.)
2) If you shine or oil your pot in preparation for exhibit, please do not oil the back. (Stickers will be placed there and they won’t stick if it’s been
oiled.) Place a sticker or masking tape with your name and address on the back of each pot. (Preprinted return address stickers are ideal.)
3) Take the time to identify the common and botanic names of your bonsai ahead of time. (If you are unsure, we will do our best to I.D. your
tree at the time of check-in, but this tends to slow the process.)
4) Print, fill-out and bring this form, with your bonsai, to the tree check-in at Telly’s, Friday, June 26, between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Guidelines for Judging Categories
When asked about our level of bonsai skill, most of us are comfortable responding “beginner” or “intermediate”, but this leads to an unintended
problem. The beginner and intermediate categories become overly-full with entries, and very few end up in the other categories. We want
to appear humble. We don’t want to see ourselves as becoming a bonsai “expert”, but when entrants remain in either the beginner or
intermediate categories, and win ribbons year after year, we do a disservice to our newer members who deserve a chance to win a ribbon.
In order to promote fairness, the board issues the following guidelines on placing yourself in the appropriate skill category:
Beginner............... You have less than five years experience and have not won two First Place awards in a bonsai show. (If you won your
second First Place last year, you must move up to the Intermediate category this year.)
Intermediate......... You no longer qualify for the Beginner category and have not won two First Place awards in the Intermediate class.
Expert................... You no longer qualify for the Beginner or Intermediate categories and have not won two First Place awards in the
Expert class.
Master................... Is recognized by their peers as having extensive experience, and whose inclusion in a lesser class may be considered
unfair to other entrants.