What an excellent day, we had John Pitt of John Pitt Bonsai Ceramics for a whole day workshop and he ran through a critique of each of the club members trees that were brought along to the workshop.
The Swindon ‘Winter Image’ Show will be here soon, and arrangements are being made for it.
The Grange Drive centre has been booked for Sunday the 24th February 2013.
In the past the Swindon club have invited individual bonsai exhibitors to display tree(s).
As the show has now become more popular, we are receiving many more requests than the space we have available.
To allow equal opportunity for individuals wishing to exhibit, we have decided to throw it open to everyone and are accepting applications for consideration starting now.
Closing date for applications – 31st October 2012. When those successful will be notified.
Late applications may be considered for a reserve list.
We require the following details:-
- Details of what species of tree will be displayed.
- Tree dimensions.
- Size of display area requested [either 3 foot or 6 foot] depending on the size of tree. [6’ back screens]
- A photo of the tree.
The area will be clothed and have back screens.
Only stands, accents and tree(s) will be required on the day.
It is also necessary to have a name plate with details of the tree and pot, suitable to be displayed with the exhibit.
All applications to go to Paul Bowerbank [Chairman] via email contact@swindon-bonsai.co.uk
Further details on Tel. 07982 401103
The display area for individuals is limited so early replies required.
Pyracantha in 2002
Here is a brief photographic history of a Pyracantha as a bonsai which was given to one of the club members back in 2002.
Newbury and District Bonsai Society hosted a bonsai show at Roots Garden Centre off Priors Court Road near hermitage today and it was a very good event.
Another great event, lots of very good quality bonsai trees for sale from a wide range of bonsai traders who were also selling tools, accessories and some fabulous pots. It was a very good opportunity to catch up with other bonsai enthusiasts and share ideas and also stock up on some new trees and in particular some new cultivars that were on offer.
Some of our club members have a wide range of other hobbies beyond Bonsai. One member in particular had a great weekend at the British Cactus and Succulent Society (Wiltshire Branch) Annual Show in Melksham where he won Best Succulent in Show as well as a range of other classes.
This evening the club held a photographic night to learn more about the art of photographing their own and other bonsai trees. Mark Cooper gave an overview on the general rules and guidelines on how to achieve good results and a general discussion followed on types of cameras, the use of additional light and flashes as well as colours of cloth. It was a very informative evening and fun.
There were four trees entered into tree of the month and the winning tree was a fabulous Siberian Elm.
First_Siberian Elm
Here is the Pine tree prior to being worked on by Abe Kenichi at t’Veerle Japanese Bonsai Centre in Belgium. The initial discussion on the Pine during the start of the workshop was firstly carrying out an assessment of the tree prior to working on it and deciding on the front, and in the photograph above, the tree was being showed from a back view, while the image within the photograph was considered the front view.
The S. Azalea he was working on had been pruned incorrectly historically; it appeared that it had only been worked on by tip pruning to maintain the overall aesthetic shape. Therefore the pads were not very healthy, they had lots of dead branches in the interior of them and lacked the structure required to maintain the shape long term.