The Bonsai News of Houston A Monthly Newsletter of the Houston Bonsai Society Inc.

Volume 45 Number 10 October 2016

IN THIS ISSUE

Upcoming Events

David & June Nguy

Showcase of the Month David & June’s Work

October Bonsai Care One of the dramatic juniper yamadori styled by David Nguy (Photo by June Nguy)

John Miller The next meeting of the Houston Bonsai Society will be at the Cherie Flores Garden

Pavilion in Hermann Park, 1500 Hermann Park Drive, Houston, TX 77004. Refreshments at 6 PM, meeting starts at 6:30 PM. Just this one time for artist to finish the demo in time. President’s Letter th Wednesday, October 5 , HBS monthly meeting starting at 6:30 PM with a David Nguy’s lecture-demo on a fantastic California Juniper. A sensei for the Timeless Trees’ Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF) and at his Bonsai School Jidai in Chino, 7th Anniversary CA, he has been esteemed as the Juniper and Pine King. More info on the school, nursery and store, go to http://bonsaijidai.com/. The demo tree will be

raffled off at the end of the meeting.

The First Upcoming Events Saturday, October 8, Bring your own tree workshops with David Nguy at Timeless Bonsai Jeopardy Trees - Morning session 9 AM – 12 Noon, afternoon session 1 – 4 PM - $40 each or $75

for both. Remember David’s specialties are Junipers and Pines. Sign up with Hurley.

An Evening with Thursday – Sunday, October 13 – 16, “ Bonsai – Living Art” LSBF the State Bonsai David & June Nguy Convention hosted by the Corpus Christi Bonsai Club at the Emerald Beach Hotel, 1102 S. Shoreline Blvd., Corpus Christi, TX 78401 - 361-883-5731. Details in ad below

or register at http://corpuschristibonsaiclub.org/CONVENTION_2016.php th 5 US National October 13-15, 2016 - 74th annual Bulb & Plant Mart, sponsored by The Garden Exhibition Club of Houston (GCH) at St. John the Divine Church, 2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston, Texas, from 9 PM– 2 PM For more details: www.gchouston.org.

October 14-16: 40th Anniversary of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, Bonsai-Living Art Washington, DC. Details in Calendar of Events.

Convention - Corpus Christi Saturday, October 22, Basic Bonsai #2, Styling, Pruning and Wiring. 9AM – 1PM, $60 includes a tree, wire, hand-out and wire.

October 26-30: GSBF 39th Convention: A Bonsai Convergence, Gather at the Rivers in Sacramento, CA. Featuring Ryan Neil and Bjorn Bjorholm. Details in Calendar.

October Bonsai Care

Some years October here is quite warm with temps in the 90, while in other years we may see some frosts. All you can do is have your winter area ready and watch the forecasts.

If you have not checked your wiring yet this fall, you had better look at it. The fall growth can make the tree swell up and get bad wire marks in a hurry. If the tree/limbs do not stay where you want them, then rewire it placing the new wire in a slightly different path. When removing wire, you should follow one wire from one end down the branch, all the way to the other. If you jump from one wire to another it is very easy to miss a section. That would cause the branch to have a large swelling. Then the only solution would be to cut the limb off and grow a new David & June’s work one. A long repair job.

Cut back on the watering now that the temperature is a little lower but don’t allow the trees to dry out. Trees require less water during the shorter days and lower temperatures. However you need to remember that the wind can still stress the trees so water by checking the soil and not just on a given schedule.

Insects will continue to be present. Cooler (but not cold) days mean a resurgence of the aphids. Mites will also still be around. Scale also can be a problem. Evergreens and any deciduous trees, whose foliage turns, can be treated with an horticultural oil which will kill the adults and also wipe out the eggs as well as over-wintering pupae. Be sure to cover all the cracks in the bark to get to the eggs.

Feeding of deciduous trees should be discontinued for the winter. Evergreens and conifers will benefit from a low nitrogen feeding. One such mix might be 70% cottonseed meal and 30% bone meal. Since it’s organic, this mix will breakdown into nutrients more slowly as the season gets cooler and the trees activity slows down.

As the trees lose their foliage, you can study their trunk lines and branch structure. Any faulty styling in the general design can be easily observed and corrected. Look for crossing branches. Cut vertical growing twigs both growing up and those growing down. Reduce long internodes by cutting back and growing new extensions. Clean out heavy branch clusters that make the tree look too dense. Be particularly attentive to the formation of heavy branches in the top part of the tree where faster growth often occurs. Work can be done now or later during the winter at your leisure, but it is too easy to forget about them when the trees are in winter storage.

Some may repot in the fall but I feel that it is counter-productive to do so. It has been stated that the key to safe repotting is to minimize root disturbance and to exclude severe pruning. This seems to me to be a recipe for developing root problems, poor drainage leading to root rot and the inability of the soil to hold enough water to last all day. No heavy pruning will lead to the lack of refinement and a top heavy tree. I recommend that you repot at the proper time next spring.

Tropicals are the group that gives most people trouble. If you do not have a greenhouse, you have to find a place that does not freeze, has enough light, and will allow you to water properly. Fluorescent lights on shelves in the garage.

could be a solution. The lights should be within six inches (I received only one negative comment and of the plants for best results. If you try to keep them in the hopefully I corrected the mistake I made.) house, just remember that most houses have very low humidity in winter. Sunlight coming through glass windows WOW what a Fall we are going to have!!! We can turn very hot and may scorch the leaves. have several World Class events in the Some plants like the pyracantha and crepe myrtle will remaining months. grow outdoors, in the ground, in our area but their roots Here is a brief outline: are not cold hardy. I try to let them have some cold but 1. October HBS Meeting – (10/5) David would protect them before a freeze. Usually I put them on Nguy will do a lecture-demo on a the ground with a light mulch for the light freezes (to 25 or fantastic California Juniper. We will so). start the meeting early at 6:30PM, to Deciduous trees should be ready for winter. Hold back on give him enough time to finish the work the nitrogen fertilizers now to discourage new growth. on this big tree. Flowering and fruiting bonsai may be given some 2. LSBF Annual State Convention (10/13- phosphorous and potassium. Insect damage is minimal at 10/16) in Corpus Christi, Texas. The this time and is usually only cosmetic. If you have had folks in Corpus have four World Class scale problems, use a horticultural oil spray to keep them from over wintering on your trees. Artists as headliners to do lecture- demos, workshops, critiques, etc. They Just a few more days till the LSBF 2016 Bonsai Living will also have the best raffles in Texas, Art Convention, hosted by the Corpus Christi Society. It which Versie has a hand in setting up. will be at the Emerald Beach Hotel, 1102 S. Shoreline There is still time to sign up. Blvd., Corpus Christi, TX 78401, from October 13 to 16. http://corpuschristibonsaiclub.org/CON It’s time to do the final preparation for the trees you plan to display in the exhibit. If you have not signed up and VENTION_2016.php booked your hotel room, please do so right away at: Some workshops are not full yet, but http://www.lonestarbonsai.org/2016-texas-state- don’t plan on getting a spot the day of convention/ the convention. (Also note the Contest Info below.) See you all at the convention! 3. At our November HBS meeting (11/2),

John Miller Michael Ryan Bell will have a program on pots and specifically, Japanese Pots. John Miller, who writes a monthly column for the Bonsai Society His website is considered the authority of Dallas and Fort Worth Bonsai Society, has agreed to share his column with us. We need to make adjustments for our on Chop Marks on pots from many warmer and damper climate, with earlier springs, longer countries. I heard part of his amazing summers, late fall and erratic winters. lecture at Brussels’ Rendez-Vous last summer. 4. Houston Bonsai Society Fall Show at our Annual Day of Bonsai at Mercer President’s Arboretum (11/12). It will include a Judged Exhibit of Trees, vendors, Letter demos, and a display of Donald Green’s trees. For the exhibit, we will have Thanks for the compliments from some of you some tables for the Novices’ Trees, and for last month’s letter. When Shawn asked me others for the more experienced to write a monthly letter, my first thought was hobbyists. Plan on bringing your best “Nobody would even read it”. Thanks for all of work to showing it off. There will be the positive responses over the last 3 ½ years. prizes awarded in both categories.

5. December HBS meeting: Our annual The prizes are $200 gift ccertificates Christmas Party is always the event of for each member of the winning the Year. Great food, wonderful team for Joshua Roth or Ryuga companionship, and even the Chinese Tools. And the runner up team will Gift Exchange. each get $100 gift certificates for Joshua Roth or Ryuga tools. And for other news. The Fifth Bonsai U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition Scott Barboza had a great progam in was held in Rochester, New York, the second September,” Bonsai Jeopardy” with teams weekend of September. To my knowledge it competing for thousands of dollars in prize was the first time that Houston has ever been money. Scott, did you write the checks yet? I represented. Howard and Sylvia Smith from hear it was a lot of fun. Dallas had participated in previous exhibitions,

Two cools things to remember about the State but no one from Houston. We had four trees Convention (Corpus Christi, Oct. 13-16). accepted. th, 1. At the October meeting on the 5 Ken Credeur and I drove to bring the trees. Yes, we will draw the names of four it was a 1,627 mile ride. Thank goodness, it is registrants from our club and refund only every other year. Out of 298 total trees on their $150 rregistration fee. (Not for display, we had two winners: The Best Tropical workshops or hotel costs). Bonsai for Dr. Hoe Chuah’s beautiful Ficus, and 2. On Thursday evening of the the Best Kusamono for Mrs. Soon Chueh’s Convention, the vendors area will be companion plant. Our HBS group of seven who open, while cocktails, light hors attended the event were very proud of Soon d’oeuvre will be served. This year we and Hoe. I can tell you, we will attend and will have a very unique and unusual compete again in the future. contest on Thursday evening: The Texas Talent Contest, open to teams Remember that Mr. David Nguy will be our of all ages and experience levels. Visiting Artist for our October meeting. He is Teams of 3 will compete in a round- the owner of Jidai Bonsai in Chino, California robin type of contest. They will take (which is both a world class school and turn to style and wire a tree, at first nursery). He will do a lecture demo on a working separately, then together in tremendous collected California Juniper, which the end, without talking to each will be raffled off later that evening. David is a other, once the contest starts. regular artist at Golden State Bonsai events. Several of us at HBS have attended a few of his There have been suggestions of demos. While he is in town, we are planning to serving Tequila shots between each have two workshops with him on Saturday. To team member’s turn, but I can’t find learn more about this teacher, go to: this one in the rules. It does cost http://bonsaijidai.com/ $20 per team, but I promise it will

provide lots of entertainment for th Hope you can attend the meeting October 5 ! the first evening of the Convention.

I am in charge of registration, so let Have a great day, me know who is on your team. Hurley

Timeless Trees’ 7th Anniversary Celebration Saturday, September 3rd

Happy Birthday, TT! It’s hard to believe Timeless Trees is already 7-year old! You’ve come a long way, baby! (Like the saying goes) time flies when you’re having fun. Indeed, we learned a lot but also had a lot of fun there, at Hurley’s HAPPY PLACE, (aka bonsai studio and nursery), where all the hard core bonsai lovers go every weekend. I felt like naming it Cheers some time, because that’s where everyone knows your name.

Normally, the weekend for me is time to pay my sleep debt but reading through the celebration agenda, I couldn’t help but wake up with a cup Yanni having a fun time playing with her juniper of coffee, then head out with a car load of bonsai buddies. I bet you if you can foresee all The best part of the contest was the consensus to the fun, the goodies, the eye candies and the take the artistic freedom approach. Something demos, you’d jump on the band wagon too. strange was in the air, and we the rebellious old geezers felt like taking a break from the When I walked in the studio, Sharon and Clyde compete to win mentality. All the contestants already beat me to the Styling Contest station, (myself included) had the bright idea of although they live an hour drive away. Tools liberating ourselves from following strict bonsai and wire displayed neatly on the tables, they rules and do whatever we please – Just this one were ready. time! We chose creative freedom, just for the

fun of it!

From my left, Clyde leaned over to offer me a piece of his wisdom: The more you cut, the less you have to wire. And to demonstrate that philosophy, he kept only one long branch of his juniper and finished styling, wire and all, within 20 minutes. He spent the rest of the time to tease me. Little did he know that over the years, my aging skin has gotten so thick, I responded to every one of his jokes with laughter. It was impossible for him to get me angry, no matter

how hard he tried. Who has the last laugh, wins! Sharon and Charlie, always smiling ear to ear. Her shimpaku styled with plenty of happiness As promised, every hour, Hurley called out the and love won first place in the Styling Contest. names of some lucky visitors and presented them with wonderful door prizes. Shawn Nguyen (me and myself) got the second prize (although I was MIA during the judging Among those attending were a few international and trophy presentation). Clyde came in third. visitors, some from the Houston Chinese Bonsai

club, some from a young budding Vietnamese On the way home, my three friends remarked: bonsai group. They came in waves at a time to There was a lot of love and close friendship in watch Ray, Ken and Carlos Santiago in demos. that place. In fact, those who enter that Happy Place share the love of little trees, and some big Our kusamono or accent plant queen, Soon dwarfed trees, but also of the camaraderie there. Chueh, also showed up with Hoe and many of her cute plants as door prizes. I tried to stay Born and raised during the Viet Nam war, and back in hope of bringing one of her fabulous running from it at the end, I can’t help but accent plants home, but left empty handed. dream of a peaceful world where people stop fighting people they don’t know a thing about Ginger, Meredith, McKenzie and Ruby took the nonetheless hate, and sit down together to create time to prepare a real sumptuous feast for us. art with little trees. Bonsai is a nurturing art that I blew my diet that day because I was powerless binds people together, in a way that those who in the face of such yummy food. had not known bonsai cannot begin to During the lunch break, I had a few moments to understand. Is it because growing trees appeal to thank Hurley as well as Ginger, whom he the universal innate farmer within everyone? proudly calls the Number 1 Bonsai Wife. The collaboration between trees and men Hurley’s daughters, Meredith and McKenzie, (women too), Mother Nature and Father Time have always been close to him, and to the bonsai fascinates not only the bonsai lovers but the business as well. number is increasing by millions around the world every year. It’s time we start a global The only complaint my old and new bonsai peace movement, tag on Bonsai Without friends who tagged along with me had, was: I Borders, and learn to co-exist in harmony! can’t believe how wonderful these people are. Why no other bonsai nursery has ever put on On that note, my very dear friend Hurley, on such a party? A couple called the studio, a behalf of HBS, I would like to express our deep Bonsai Heaven! How can you not have a bonsai gratitude to you and your vision when building good time in an air-conditioned room, with a Timeless Trees. As a wonderful friend to all, fridge filled with refreshments, with soothing you became the magnet that attracts awesome Pandora music playing in the background, and bonsai artists to that happy place, where bonsai with experienced teachers at your beck and call? tips and secrets were shared and exchanged freely. Since day one, you have opened your doors to groups of diverse cultures and nationalities, even of special interests, like the American Herb Society. A true bridge-person at heart, you have inspired an army of bridge people, the artistic, kind and caring like-minded to come together and bridge the cultural gap of bonsai communities. I can’t say enough about your contribution to us, LSBF and bonsaiists.

We at HBS are so fortunate to have you, to have your support system of loving families and kind friends, and to have Timeless Trees where we This is where the magic happens every weekend. go to enjoy the cherished art form of bonsai.

Some even said: Friends and couples who Much success to you and yours for many more bonsai together, stay happy together. I believe years to come! bonsai magic dust has something to do with the bliss floating about the room. Shawn Nguyen

The First lasting and universal appeal. It’s also simple enough that creating a bonsai version for our Bonsai Jeopardy meeting event was pretty straightforward.

with our very own host The HBS version was developed and hosted by Scott Barboza our own Scott "Trebek" Barboza. Club members were divided into five teams who Jeopardy! might be America’s favorite would collectively attempt to answer questions. quiz show, but various incarnations of the program from game consoles to educational The topics were: programs are out there.  Name That Tool  Boys of Bonsai In September 2016, the inaugural Bonsai  A Scent of Poo Jeopardy! game landed squarely at  Root of the Matter Hermann Park during the Houston Bonsai  Tricks of the Trade and Society meeting with a fun adaption for our  History of Bonsai. meeting. As the contestants saw, it didn't exactly follow the TV show format.

For those unfamiliar with how Jeopardy! is played, the quiz show features three contestants who are given clues in an assortment of categories with different monetary values attributed to them. The contestants must identify what the clues are referring to, buzz in before anybody else and deliver their answer in the form of a question. The contestant with the most money by the end of the game wins.

As shown here, there were 36 questions with two Double Jeopardy bonuses, the first worth $2000 and the second, up to $1000.

Unlike the TV show, teams took turns answering the questions and there was no time limit. A correct answer meant the team could pick the category for the following team. Correct answers were rewarded with "Bonsai Booty", or a number of chocolate coins according to the level of the question.

Here’s Team 3! Jeopardy! is phenomenally straightforward, so The first Double Jeopardy was a huge surprise it's no wonder that the show has had such for the crowd: Bonsai drawing. There were two

choices, a twin-trunk straight as pencils, one different layers of a tree cross section. Each shorter than the other, and a wavy twin trunk. correct answer earned the team two coins for It was interesting to watch a lot of the a total of five layers, hence 10 coins. participants go into shock. They were not expecting such a difficult challenge. There was Teams racked up a lot of gold coins. As the a sight of relief when they heard each team can excitement built up, the temperature started to submit as many drawings as they like. rise in the room, the competition grew fierce! There was something for everyone. Some of the questions were easy enough for new members to participate while others were challenging for the most experienced. The more gold coins piled up on every team’s table, the more laughter resonated in the room. Everyone had so much fun.

Bonsai Jeopardy! is definitely not for the faint of heart. But it was all in good fun and gave us a chance to get to excercise team work and build camaraderie amongst HBS fellow members. The game brought out some competitive instincts. The coin count was tight but, in the end, there could be only one.

Shawn Nguyen’s illustration gave Team 1 a huge unfair advantage of $2000.

Sketching a bonsai before styling, cutting or wiring a tree has become a pre-requisite with many bonsai teachers today. Most of lecture- demos also start with the artist or master pointing out the “bones” of the bush or bushy plant to keep. The exercise has become more challenging with most schools of bonsai art in the US. And abroad focus on deadwood, jin and shari. In most of today’s exhibitions, in the entire world, at least 80 percent of important bonsai have carved deadwood.

Brian Gurrola was the sole judge for this contest. Here is Team 1’s the winning drawing.

The second Double Jeopardy was a test on the physiology of a tree. We had to name all the

Team 1 had the fewest players but ended up with the highest coin count, due to the Double Jeopardy points.

Come to our October 2016 meeting to see a husband and wife duo work their magic on a collected California juniper. Owners of Bonsai Jidai in Chino, near Los Angeles, David and June Nguy have been known mostly throughout California to work side by side in lecture- demos, in sweet harmony.

Team 1 was awarded with a huge (chococolate) gold coin.

Did we get it right? We'd love to hear from you!

Thanks everyone for playing!

Scott Barboza

David and June working in perfect harmony live, in one of their Youtube.com videos

David was a GSBF headliner in 2012 and has been serving as a board member since. He has been holding this influential position for many years, rotating in various capacities. Currently he is the 2nd vice president and will be again a headliner in 2017 at their Riverside Convention. Because of his unique artistic skills, he has been named Mr. California Juniper by GSBF. It was certainly a well-deserved term of admiration with the bonsai community throughout US.

For a few decades, the couple made a name and their fortune in the import business of goods from the Far East. Wherever their travels take them, they visited the bonsai nurseries and David Nguy’s literati juniper yamadori brought home selected trees to spend more time

working on them. Little did they know at the time that this enthusiastic hobby gradually turned out to be his lifelong passion.

June took over most of the business operation to allow her husband to spend his time doing what he loves most. David studies extensively with Harry Hirao, Ben Oki and Ernie Kuo. In 2006 GSBF Convention, Mr. Masahiko Kimura had seen David’s work with the help of sensei Erine Kou, David secured his apprenticeship with Masahiko Kimura, the most revolutionary father of contemporary Japanese Bonsai, in Japan. At that time, Mr. Kimura was still very reserved about taking foreign students so he only accepted the most serious and promising ones. David Nguy was fortunate enough to be accepted by Mr. Kimura as an apprentice.

David returned home from Japan to begin his lifelong pursuit of bonsai art as a professional. Together with his very supportive other half, he started Bonsai Jidai school in Chino, CA. Single handedly, she continues to run the family’s import business, and yet found time to help him set up a bonsai nursery and a bonsai shop to complement his classes and lecture-demos.

This coming Wednesday evening, the Nguy will work on a well-established, California Juniper collected from the high rocky slopes. This highest quality material was carefully selected for vibrant health, substantial nebari and foliage, and remarkable deadwood potential. It was nurtured at Bonsai Jidai for a few years then shipped to Houston a few months back, for it to One of the most recent team works have plenty of time to acclimate to our hot and humid weather. June was born in Viet Nam but spent her under- grad studies in Japan, so she can speak Japanese David will do the work and the talking, while and is quite familiar with the culture. A June will quietly do the wiring in the completely devoted wife to her husband and background. We have met a few couples in family, June went ahead to Japan to set up bonsai, like Howard and Sylvia Smith of Dallas, lodging accommodations for David there and like Andrea Wigert who supports hubby Erik at supported him during all the years he focused on Wigert’s Bonsai in Florida, like Diane who runs his apprenticeship with Mr. Kimura. Elandan for Dan Robinson in Oregon. June

Nguy on the other hand, prefers to be the supportive behind-the-scene spouse, but no doubt, she plays a crucial role in their success.

David will share with us his proper technique and knowledge on a Juniper specimen. He will also instruct us on the crucial (post-operation) after-care that makes a huge difference in the future health of this masterpiece.

The 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition September 10 – 11, 2016 in Rochester, NY

It’s hard to believe that once again, Bill Valavanis’ effort to promote bonsai in North America has materialized in an incredibly successful 5th U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition. Each one is better than the last, in quality and number, as well as a wide variety of species and th origins. The 2016 5 US National Bonsai A very feminine yamadori styled by the Mrs. Exhibition venue has 55,000 square feet to accommodate the 600 registeredguests and a lot Houston Bonsai Society is honored to have more visitors arriving daily, over 300 bonsai, 50 David Nguy and his wonderful other-half June, suiseki and large vendor area with over 100, as guest demonstrators at our October meeting, acrross the US, some from other countries, on a collected yamadori which they have Sweden, Canada and Japan. lovingly cared for many years in their Bonsai Jidai nursery. Demonstration by husband and wife team, working in sweet harmony like this power couple has never happened before in the midst our club. No doubt it will be a really memorable experience. Make sure you bring your spouse or significant other, so they can understand how passionate you are about the art of bonsai. Feel free to invite all your bonsai inspired friends and families to come learn and share the love for bonsai.

See you there. Hoe’s Tiger Bark Ficus is being photographed for the commemorative album Shawn Nguyen There was also a concourse set up with tables (Much appreciation goes to David and June Nguy. All photos used in this issue are either borrowed from Bonsai where visitors can relax and enjoy the company Jidai website - with June Nguy’s permission - or sent to of fellow bonsai hobbyists, and professionals me directly by David and June) too.

This was the first time that trees from Houston were most important artists in North America when it in display and the first time that many of the HBS comes to cultivating and promoting the art of bonsai. members in attendance traveled to Rochester for the show. Houston was very well represented with five beautiful trees plus companion plants in exhibition from HBS members Hoe Chuah, Soncheng Cheah, and Hurley Johnson.

Given the high quality of the displays, it was a great honor to be accepted for the show. But special congratulations are owed to Hoe whose ficus won an award for Best Tropical and to Soon whose wonderful companion plant won an award for Best Kusamono. Some familiar faces from HBS?

When Tony Tickle, one of the judges, said Bill has the energy of four men at the awards banquet, he was right to the point and drew a standing ovation. When you see him directing volunteers, from setting up the displays to measuring dimensions of bonsai for the commemorative album, he was like the bunny in Energizer battery commercials that just keeps going and going.

A large show like this would not be possible without volunteer help, and Bill has many. David Johnson Soon’s beautiful kusamono also won first prize. came from Canada, Joe Noga from North Carolina, Michael and Lunetta Knowlton from Florida. Alan The exhibit was vast. One could virtually shop for Adair was the chief coordinator directing volunteers anything you need for bonsai from the 100 vendors setting up the show, a very dedicated man. who came from all over the US and from overseas. The exhibition and vending areas occupied two Chris O’Handley volunteered to move trees for football fields, 55,000 square feet! That's a lot of photographing, a very daunting task since there were walking. many large bonsai. A number of HBS members in attendance pitched in and helped set up and break down the exhibit. The volunteers are a bunch of friendly and tireless people working quietly behind the scenes.

You might remember Bill Valavanis as one of the artists who attended the LSBF convention the last time it was held in Corpus Christi - he is the driving force behind this great event and perhaps one of the

The scuttlebutt at the exhibit was that this was the best of the National Shows. The quality of both the Calendar of Events trees and the displays had improved significantly over past exhibits. A number of exhibitors made 2016 long journeys to display their trees including drives OCT 5 HBS monthly meeting: Bonsai master David Nguy’s from Florida, Texas, California and Washington. lecture/demo on a California Juniper. A long time sensei with That is extreme dedication. Those of us that Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF), David and his wife attended were proud to just be a part of it all, but be June own and run a bonsai school Jidai, bonsai nursery and sure to give Hoe, Soon, and Hurley a pat on the store in Chino, CA. For more info: http://bonsaijidai.com/ back. It is work to get those trees ready for display OCT 8 Bring your own tree workshops with David Nguy and it felt great to have HBS so well represented at at Timeless Trees. Morning session: 9AM –12 Noon, afternoon the show session: 1- 4 PM. Each session $40 or $75 for both. Remember David’s specialties are Junipers and Pines. This spectacular piece of the swamp was the brain child of Hurley Johnson and Pedro Morales. It was OCT 13-16 Bonsai – Living Art LSBF State Bonsai Convention hosted by the Corpus Christi Bonsai Club at started with an ingenious swamp kurama with the Emerald Beach Hotel, Corpus Christi, TX. For more info or bayous, later populated with dwarfed Bald to register, see the big ad below or go to: Cypresses with deadwood and knees. http://corpuschristibonsaiclub.org/CONVENTION_2016.php

OCT 13-15 74th Annual Bulb & Plant Mart, sponsored by The Garden Club of Houston (GCH) at St. John the Divine Church, 2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston, Texas, from 9 AM – 2 PM. Info at www.gchouston.org.

OCT 14-16 40th Anniversary of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, Washington, DC, 10 minutes from the Capitol Building, created in 1976 with Japan’s gift of 53 masterpiece bonsai. Annual U.S. National Arboretum Bonsai Festival in conjunction with the Reopening of the renovated Japanese Pavilion, and World Bonsai Day Celebration. Details at /www.bonsai-nbf.org/events/2016-10/

OCT 22 Basic Bonsai #2, Styling, Pruning and Wiring. 9AM – 1 PM, $60 includes a tree, wire, handout and wire.

OCT 26-30 GSBF 39th Convention: A Bonsai Convergence, Gather at the Rivers at the Doubletree, Sacramento, CA, by The swamp bonkei before its first 1,627 mile journey to Hilton. Featuring Ryan Neil and Bjorn Bjorholm. For details, Rochester, New York and back. contact [email protected].

We certainly left motivated to "up our game" and NOV 2 HBS monthly meeting Michael Ryan Bell presenting a maybe have an even better showing next time. program on pots, and specifically Japanese Pots.

See y'all there in 2018! We'll show those Yankees NOV 12 HBS Day of Bonsai at Mercer Arboretum and Botanic what Texas Bonsai is all about! Garden, 9AM – 3 PM. Free judged exhibit of great trees, with HBS study group, workshops and vendors.

Many thanks to Hoe, Soon, Scott, Ken, Vern, Hurley NOV 21-24 36th Taikan-Ten at Miyakomesse, Kyoto, Japan and all the HBS supporters who help make this (9-1, Okazaki Seisyoji-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8343). proud event happen. For this wonderful report and DEC 3-4 3rd Annual Winter Silhouette Bonsai Expo at the some of the photos, I am endebted to Scott for North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis, NC. Free display of gathering the information and to Hoe for allowing us leafless bonsai trees, demos by William Valvanis Owen Reich, Rodney to borrow and modify from his blog entry on Clemons and Adam Lavigne, and vendors. More information at https://www.facebook.com/events/180231852388833/. BonsaiPenjing.

To read more about this exhibit, go to this link: DEC 6-9 Bonsai without Borders Global Convention & the First Black Scissors Global Bonsai Creators Convention http://www.usnationalbonsai.com (Artists) at Nanxun District, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China. Shawn Nguyen

Come visit this one-stop shop, a true bonsai Treasure Come enjoy the most dizzying bouquet of colors and Chest, filled with exotic tropicals and conifers, pre-bonsai fragrances. There is so much to take home from the large and completed masterpieces, and all bonsai supplies and selection of herbs and spices, rare tropical plants and fruit tools you ever need. Many classes offered weekly. trees, exotic orchids and pond aquatic plants, as well as Open on Friday and Saturday, or by appointment only. native trees and imported bonsai.

Quality Feed & Garden and Ken stand ready to help you Visit artist Andrew Sankowski at the Mossrock Studio & with bonsai selection, bonsai care, pots and supplies. He Fine Art Gallery for the finest gifts and most uniquely will also personally have free classes for HBS every 3- beautiful bonsai pots in every shape, form and color. month to help you start with your first bonsai. Check the Personalized pots or gifts can be commissioned year Calendar of Events for dates. Ask for 10% HBS discount. round, especially Christmas gifts for your special bonsai lovers.

Andrew Sankowski 26002 Oak Ridge Drive Direct (281) 684-4411 The Woodlands, TX 77380 Fax (281) 363-9032

[email protected]

Come stock up on bonsai soils, pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers and other supplies. The plant doctor is always on duty, so bring your unhappy bonsai for a free thorough check up. Don’t forget to ask for a 10% HBS discount.

Houston Bonsai Society, Inc. P. O. Box 540727, Houston, Texas 77254-0727 www.houstonbonsai.com

HBS Board Members President Hurley Johnson [email protected] 1st Vice President Scott Barboza [email protected] in charge of Education 2nd Vice President Dean Laumen [email protected] Secretary Barbara Adams [email protected] in charge of Membership Publicity Ken Cousino [email protected] Treasurer Webmaster Quyen Tong [email protected]

Member at Large - O Nandita D’ Souza [email protected] Member at Large - O Vern Maddox [email protected] Member at Large - O Clyde Holt [email protected] Member at Large – E Sharon Barker [email protected] Member at Large - E Ray Gonzalez [email protected] Member at Large – E Brian Gurrola [email protected]

Delegates Past President Alan Raymond [email protected] LSBF Delegate Peter Parker [email protected] LSBF Alternate Terry Dubois [email protected] BCI Ambassador TTSBE Representative Alan Raymond [email protected]

Refreshments Website/email Gary Teeter [email protected] Newsletter editor Shawn Nguyen [email protected]

The Bonsai News of Houston is a monthly publication of the Houston Bonsai Society, Inc. Copyright © 2011. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the consent of the editor or a member of the Board of Directors. Exceptions exist, however, for certain not-for-profit and non-profit bonsai organizations or associated bonsai and bonsai nursery newsletters, including without limitation the American Bonsai Society. HBS participates fully with reciprocation of contents and material between other LSBF member organizations and others. Authors who submit articles for this newsletter thereby give permission to such organizations to reprint, unless they expressly state otherwise. Space for advertising in The Bonsai News of Houston can be requested by contacting the newsletter editor or a member of the HBS Board. The rates for a business-card-size ad (approximately 3 1/2" x 2") are $6 per month, $30 for 6 months and $50 per year (12 issues). A full-page ad is $25 per month. Rates are subject to change without notice. 3½" x 2" classified ads are run free of charge for one month once per 12-month period for non-commercial members. For special requests or questions related to The Bonsai News of Houston, contact the newsletter editor or a member of the HB

Emerald Beach hotel 1120 S. Shoreline Blvd., Corpus Christi, Texas

If you have not attended a Texas State Convention, this LSBF convention is the one to attend. The Corpus Christi club really knows how to put on a show.

Headliners:

Ed Trout, Joe Day, Frank Mihalic & Jason Schley

Wonderful exhibit of Texas best bonsai

Many great workshops & Vendors

Terrific raffles

and for the first time ever

The Texas Talent contest

This year, many teams will compete in a new game designed to measure talent, skills, cooperation without talking between themselves and teamwork within teams of 3, on Thursday evening. It will be a lot of fun. So gather 2 like-minded friends to form a team with you and sign up with Hurley.

Sign up online at http://corpuschristibonsaiclub.org/CONVENTION_2016.php and to make your hotel reservation: Emerald Beach Hotel direct line: 361-883-5731 Discount code for the special rate is LSB. Request the North Tower.

See HBS there!