Pittsburgh Bonsai Society ...to disseminate knowledge, encourage others and PITTSBURGH create interest in the art of bonsai BONSAI SOCIETY April 2008 Newsletter NEXT MEETING The Dawn Redwood MONDAY April 21, 2008, 7:00pm at Phipps Garden Center, Shadyside Bob Grealish will show us the techniques for designing and assembling a special group planting featuring the “Dawn Redwood” (Metasequoia glyptostroboides). He has rom Bob: collected this species from the wilds, grown and, developed A Note F from seed exceptional trees. to the comes There will be many plantswho to pick fromaround at member cost our April everymeeting and therewill will be eaxactly free plant for plants know . The I will with the meeting each. or to $5.00 they arrive group $4.00 after doing be numbers much We will odd how bill. in freight “Think plantings. forest etc”. pot or 3,5,7,9, a shallow and different or stones be two as a stone will class Bring There at the let to use. pots a pot, tray training to order I plastic you what end, because sized soil. If week well as the your tools! before Forget me know Don’t away. will be

Bob Dietz Please check our website: MAY MEETING http://pittsburghbonsai.org Azalea Workshop! Wednesday, May 21, 2008 7:00pm at Phipps Garden Center, Shadyside You can buy new stock at modest prices, bring your azaleas from past workshops for refining, get advice from members. Don't forget your tools!!! Page 1 April Presentation: Metasequoia Glyptostroboides Dawn Redwood Botanical Terms Botanical Name- All plants have a name that is unique to The Dawn Redwood is native to China. It has been around as long as them and this is often called the Botanical name, although some the dinosaurs and was first brought to the United States in the mid people prefer to use the term: Latin name or Scientific name, 1940's by the Arnold Arboretum. instead. Plant names are based on the Latin language, which was considered the universal language during the 18th century Habit and Form: when a vast majority of the "naming" of newly discovered plants Zone 4 was taking place. Botanical names are descriptive. They A deciduous, coniferous, large tree describe many characteristics specific to that plant such as: the Uniform conical habit place of origin, color, growth habit, leaf size, bark texture, etc. Horizontal branching Botanical names all have two main parts: a genus (generic) name and a species (specific) name: Typically reaches 75' to 100' tall Growth rate is fast Genus- The genus or plant family. Plants in the same genus are Texture is fine and airy in leaf closely related (family). Plants in the same Genus have similar characteristics, so when you see the same genus name you'll Summer Foliage: automatically know something about the plant. Plants in the Leaves are deciduous same genus may interbreed with each other and if they do the Opposite arrangement on branchlets resulting plant is a hybrid (see below). Example: Acer - maple 0.5” long, linear, flat leaves Species- A species is those plants that are the same and will Steams are either persistent or deciduous produce viable offspring. Plants in the same species always Deciduous stems are green and are held on brown, persistent stems interbreed with each other. This certainty makes a species a Deciduous stems, have needles, but do not have buds species. Plants within a species can, because of their Deciduous stems drop in the fall with the needles environment, climate and soil differences, vary in some small Foliage is medium to bright green ways, such as: different leaf color, size, shape etc., so, as a result, within species you can have: sub-species, varieties, cultivars Autumn Foliage: and hybrids. Example: Acer Palmatum – Japanese maple Turns a unique pinkish tan to reddish bronze before dropping in the fall Sub-species- A subspecies is a variety within a species that shows identifiable characteristics different from other Bark: subspecies. It is usually geographically separate from other Shredded reddish brown bark subspecies. These are still able to produce viable offspring when Attractive two subspecies within the same plant species are brought Develops an interesting buttressed trunk together. Example: Acer palmatum ssp. amoenum – Japanese Trunk base is tapered and exhibits a braided, fluted structure red maple “Oshio Beni” Hybrid- A hybrid is a blending of two different species, usually Bonsai Potential: breeding desirable traits into the new plant. When different 9 on a scale of 1-10 species within a family or different families produce offspring, the new plants are called hybrids. Example: Acer x conspicuum Fertilizing: 'Silver Vein' – Snake-bark maple Balanced May to October every week or two Cultivars- cultivars are plants that have features desirable to the person “cultivating” them. These desirable characteristics Winter Care: have been deliberately selected and can be reliably reproduced Very hardy, it can not be allowed to dry out. Mulch heavily in plants under controlled cultivation. Many cultivars are the result of careful breeding, producing hybrids that have desirable leaves, flowers or growth habits. To continue the desired attribute, grafting, layering or cuttings are used to propagate the cultivars. Cultivars are valued, because they insure that a plant Monthly Question And Answer Box will be exactly like the named plant sought. Example: Acer Palmatum Dissectum – Laceleaf Weeping Japanese maple Do you have a bonsai related question? Mail or E-Mail your question to: For your Bonsai supplies support Bob Dietz the store that exists for the society 1525 Connor Rd. South Park, Pa.15219 dietz4771@comcast .net Your question and the answer will 724-348-4771 appear in the next news letter Pots, wire, tools, soil, plants joebonsai.com Bonsai Tree Name Index joebonsai.com Bonsai Tree Name Index CommonCommon Na mNamee BotanicalBotanical Nam Namee Common Name Botanical Name Aeonium Aeonium arboreum var. crestata Calamondin Orange Citrus x African Boxwood, Cape Myrtle Myrsine africana California Incensecedar Calocedrus decurrens Albanian Forsythia Forsythia europaea California Juniper Juniperus californica Alberta Spruce Picea glauca 'Albertiana' California Live Oak Quercus agrifolia Alpine Currant Ribes alpinum California Privet Ligustrum ovalifolium Alpine Fir Abies lasiocarpa Canadian Eastern Hemlock Tsuga canadensis American Beech Fagus grandifolia Canadian Yew Taxus canadensis American Bittersweet Celastrus scandens Carob Tree, St. John's Bread Ceratonia siliqua American Chestnut Castanaea dentata Carolina Hemlock Tsuga caroliniana American Cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon Carolina Poplar Populus canadensis American Cranberrybush Viburnum Viburnum trilobum Castor Aralia Kalopanax pictus American Elder Sambucus canadensis Cedar Elm Ulmus crassifolia American Elm Ulmus americana Cedar of Lebanon Cedrus libani American Euonymus Euonymus americanus Chenault Barberry Berberis chenaultii American Filbert Corylus americana Cherry Prunus American Holly Ilex opaca Chinaberry, Pride of India Melia azedarach American Hornbeam. Blue Beech Carpinus caroliniana Chinese Banyan Ficus microcarpa American Linden, Basswood Tilia americana Chinese Box Orange Severinia buxifolia American Planetree Platanus occidentalis Chinese Chestnut Castanaea mollissima American Smoketree Cotinus obovatus Chinese Elm, Lacebark Elm Ulmus parvifolia American Snowbell Styrax americanus Chinese Evergreen Oak Quercus myrsinifolia American Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua Chinese Firethorn Pyracantha fortuneana American western Larch Larix occidentalis Chinese Flowering Crabapple Malus spectabilis American Wisteria Wisteria frutescens Chinese Gooseberry, Kiwi Fruit Actinidia chinensis Amur Chokecherry Prunus maackii Chinese Hackberry Celtis sinensis Amur Corktree Phellodendron amurense Chinese Holly Ilex cornuta Amur Honeysuckle Lonicera maackii Chinese Hornbeam Carpinus cordata Amur Maackia Maackia amurensis Chinese juniper Juniperus chinensis Amur Maple Acer ginnala Chinese Lilac Syringa chinensis Anise-tree Illicium Chinese Magnolia Magnolia sinensis Arborvitae Thuja Chinese Mahonia Mahonia fortunei Arizona Cypress Cupressus arizonica Chinese Paper Birch Betula albo-sinensis Atlas Cedar Cedrus atlantica Chinese Photinia Photinia serrulata Australian Pine, Ironwood Casuarina cunninghamiana Chinese Pine Pinus tabuliformis Australian Tea Tree Leptospermum laevigatum Chinese Privet Ligustrum sinense Austrian Pine Pinus nigra Chinese Quince Pseudocydonia Baldcypress Taxodium distichum Chinese Quince Cydonia sinensis Balkan Pine Pinus leucodermis Chinese Redbud Cercis chinensis Balsam Fir Abies balsamea Chinese Stewartia Stewartia sinensis Barbados Cherry Malpighia glabra Chinese Sweet Plum Sageretia thea 'theezans' Barbados Cherry, Surinam Cherry Eugenia uniflora Chinese Tallow Tree Sapium sebiferum Beech Fagus Chinese Wisteria Wisteria sinensis Birds Nest Spruce Picea abies 'Nidiformis' Chinese Zelkova Zelkova sinica Black Ash Fraxinus nigra Climbing Fig Ficus pumila Black Cherry Prunus serotina Climbing Hydrangea Hydrangea anomala petiolaris Black Chokeberry Aronia melanocarpa Cockspur Hawthorn Crataegus crusgalli Black Hills Spruce Picea glauca 'Densata' Colorado Blue Spruce Picea pungens 'Glauca' Black Olive Bucida spinosa Common Alder, Black Alder, European Alder Alnus glutinosa Black Spruce Picea mariana Common Barberry Berberis vulgaris Black Tupelo, Black Gum Nyssa sylvatica Common Box, Boxwood Buxus sempervirens Black Walnut Juglans nigra Common Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica Black Willow Salix nigra Common Chinafir Cunninghamia lanceolata Blauwii Juniper Juniperus chinensis 'Blauwii' Common Chokecherry Prunus virginiana Blue Atlas Cedar Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca' Common Fig Ficus carica Blue Japanese Oak, Ring-cupped Oak Quercus glauca Common Flowering Quince Chaenomeles speciosa Bluebeard, Blue Spirea Caryopteris clandonensis Common Hackberry Celtis occidentalis Bog Rosemary Andromeda polifolia Common Juniper Juniperus communis Border Forsythia Forsythia x intermedia Common Lilac Syringa vulgaris Bottlebrush Callistemon phoeniceus Common Linden, European Linden Tilia europaea Bougainvillea Bougainvillea spectabilis Common Mulberry, White Mulberry Morus alba Boxleaf Honeysuckle, Box Honeysuckle Lonicera nitida Common Olive Olea europaea Bradford Callery Pear Pyrus calleryana 'Bradford' Common Pawpaw Asimina triloba Brewer Spruce Picea brewerana Common Peach Prunus persica Bridalwreath Spirea Spiraea prunifolia Common Pear Pyrus communis Bristlecone Pine Pinus aristata Common Pearlbush Exochorda racemosa Broom Genista pilosa Common Persimmon Diospyros virginiana Brush Cherry Syzygium paniculatum Common Privet, European Privet Ligustrum vulgare Buckeye, Horsechestnut, Aesculus Common Seabuckthorn Hippophae rhamnoides Buddha Bamboo Bambusa ventricosa Common Smoketree, Smokebush Cotinus coggygria Bur Oak, Mossycup Oak Quercus macrocarpa Common Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus Butterfly-bush, Summer Lilac Buddleia davidii Common White Jasmine Jasminum officinale Butternut Juglans cinerea Common Witchhazel Hamamelis virginiana Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis Common Yew, English Yew Taxus baccata Contorted Filbert Corylus Page 3 Cork-bark Black Pine Pinus thunbergiana 'Corticosta' joebonsai.com Bonsai Tree Name Index Common Name Botanical Name Common Name Botanical Name Corkscrew Hankow Willow Salix matsudana 'Tortuosa' Glossy Abelia Abelia grandiflora Cotoneaster Cotoneaster Glossy Buckthorn, Alder Buckthorn Rhamnus frangula Crabapple Malus sp. Golden Atlas Cedar Cedrus atlantica 'Aurea' Cranberry Cotoneaster Cotoneaster apiculatus Golden Larch Pseudolarix kaempferi Crape Myrtle Lagerstroemia indica Golden Privet Ligustrum vicaryi Creeping Cotoneaster Cotoneaster adpressus Grape Vitis Creeping Juniper Juniperus horizontalis Gray Birch, Old Field Birch Betula populifolia Cycad, Sago Palm Cycas revoluta Greek Myrtle Myrtus communis Daphne Spirea Spirea japonica 'Alpina' Green Ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica David Maple Acer davidii Ground Juniper Juniperus communis 'depressa' David Viburnum Viburnum davidii Guava, Pineapple Guava Feijoa sellowiana Dawn Redwood Metasequoia Hall's Crabapple Malus halliana Deodar Cedar Cedrus deodara Hardy-orange Poncirus trifoliata Deutzia Deutzia Hawthorn Crataegus Devils walkingstick, Hercules club Aralia spinosa Hazel, Turkish Filbert Corylus colurna Dogwood Cornus Heavenly Bamboo, Nandina Bamboo Nandina domestica Douglasfir, Douglas fir Pseudotsuga menziesii Hedge Bamboo Bambusa glaucescens Dwarf Eastern White Pine Pinus strobus 'Nana' Hedge Maple Acer campestre Dwarf Alberta Spruce Picea glauca 'Conica' Hemlock Tsuga Dwarf Birch Betula nana Hickory Carya Dwarf Boxwood Buxus microphylla sinica Highbush Blueberry Vaccinium corymbosum Dwarf Bush Cherry Eugenia myrtifolia Hinoki Cypress Chamacyparis obtusa Dwarf Flowering Almond Prunus glandulosa Holly Ilex Dwarf Fothergilla Fothergilla gardenii Honeysuckle Lonicera Dwarf Heavenly Bamboo, Nandina Bamboo Nandina domestica 'Nana' Horsetail Tree Casuarina equisetifolia Dwarf Hinoki Cypress Chamacyparis obtusa 'Nana' Inkberry Holly Ilex glabra Dwarf Japanese Garden Juniper Juniperus procumbens 'Nana' Italian Alder Alnus cordata Dwarf Myrtle Myrtus communis compacta Italian Cypress Cupressus sempervirens Dwarf Poinciana Poinciana pulcherrima Jaboticaba Myrciaria caulifora Dwarf Pomegranate Punica granatum 'Nana' Jack Pine Pinus banksiana Dwarf Powder Puff Calliandra emarginata Jackman Clematis Clematis jackmanii Dwarf Russian Almond Prunus tenella Jade Tree Crassula argentea Dwarf Schefflera Schefflera arboricola Japanese Holly, Japanese Winterberry Ilex serrata Eastern Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana Japanese Aralia Aralia elata Eastern Redbud Cercis canadensis Japanese Aucuba Aucuba japonica Eastern White Pine Pinus strobus Japanese Azalea Rhododendron japonicum Echiniformis Spruce Picea abies 'Echiniformis' Japanese Barberry Berberis thunbergii Elaeagnus Elaeagnus Japanese Beautyberry Callicarpa japonica Elephant Bush Portulacaria afra Japanese Beech Fagus crenata Elfin Herb, Mexican Heather Cuphea hyssopifolia Japanese Black Pine Pinus thunbergiana Elm Ulmus Japanese Boxwood Buxus microphylla Elm Zelkova Zelkova carpinifolia Japanese Camellia, Higo Camellia Camellia japonica English Elm Ulmus procera Japanese Cleyera Cleyera japonica English Hawthorn Crataegus laevigata Japanese Cornelian Cherry Cornus officinalis English Holly Ilex aquifolium Japanese Enkianthus Enkianthus perulatus English Ivy Hedera helix Japanese Euonymus Euonymus japonicus English Oak, Truffle Oak Quercus robur Japanese Falsecypress Chamacyparis pisifera English Walnut, Persian, Common Walnut Juglans regia Japanese Fatsia Fatsia japonica Euonymus Euonymus Japanese Flowering Crabapple, Showy Crabapple Malus floribunda European Beech Fagus sylvatica Japanese Forsythia Forsythia japonica European Euonymus Euonymus europaeus Japanese Garden Juniper Juniperus procumbens European Hornbeam Carpinus betulus Japanese Hawthorn Crataegus cuneata European Larch, Common Larch Larix decidua Japanese Hemlock Tsuga diversifolia European Mountainash Sorbus aucuparia Japanese Holly Ilex crenata European Red Elder Sambucus racemosa Japanese Honeysuckle Lonicera japonica European White Birch Betula pendula Japanese Hornbeam Carpinus japonica Fir Abies sp. Japanese Larch Larix kaempferi Firethorn, Everlasting Thorn Pyracantha coccinea Japanese Maple Acer palmatum Five-stem Tamarix Tamarix ramosissima Japanese Mountainash Sorbus commixta Florida Fig, Strangler Fig Ficus aurea Japanese Pagodatree Sophora japonica Flowering Ash Fraxinus ornus Japanese Persimmon Diospyros kaki Flowering Dogwood Cornus florida Japanese Pieris, Lily-of-the-valley Bush Pieris japonica Formosa Firethorn Pyracantha koidzumii Japanese Pittosporum, Mock Orange Pittosporum tobira Formosan Sweetgum Liquidambar formosana Japanese Privet Ligustrum japonicum Forsythia Forsythia Japanese Raisintree Hovenia dulcis Fragrant Daphne, Winter Daphne Daphne odora Japanese Red Pine Pinus densiflora Fragrant Sumac Rhus aromatica Japanese Rose Rosa multiflora Fragrant Viburnum Viburnum farreri Japanese Skimmia Skimmia japonica Fragrant Winterhazel Corylopsis glabrescens Japanese Snowbell Styrax japonicus Fragrant Wintersweet Cimonanthus praecox Japanese Spirea Spiraea japonica Franklinia, Franklin Tree Franklinia alatamaha Japanese Stone Pine Pinus pumila Fukien Tea Ehretia microphylla Japanese Tree Lilac Syringa reticulata Fullmoon Maple Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum' Japanese Viburnum Viburnum japonicum Giant Western Arborvitae Thuja plicata Japanese White Pine, Japanese Five-needle Pine Pinus parviflora Ginkgo, Maidenhair Tree Ginkgo biloba Japanese White Spirea Spiraea albiflora joebonsai.com Bonsai Tree Name Index Common Name Botanical Name Common Name Botanical Name Japanese Wisteria Wisteria floribunda Oriental Hornbeam Carpinus orientalis Japanese Yew Taxus cuspidata Oriental Oak Quercus variabilis Japanese Yew, Buddhist Pine Podocarpus macrophyllus Oriental Photinia Photinia villosa Jasmine Jasminum Oriental Spruce Picea orientalis Juniper Juniperus Osage-orange, Hedge-apple Maclura pomifera Katsuratree Cercidiphyllum japonicum Otaheite Orange Citrus limonia Kentucky Coffeetree Gymnocladus dioicus Pagoda Dogwood Cornus alternifolia Korean Abelialeaf, White Forsythia Abeliophyllum distichum Paleleaf Barberry Berberis candidula Korean Boxwood Buxus microphylla koreana Paper Birch, White Birch Betula papyrifera Korean Hornbeam Carpinus tschonoskii Paper Flower Bougainvillea Bougainvillea glabra Korean Mountainash Sorbus alnifolia Paper Mulberry, Tapa-cloth Tree Broussonetia papyrifera Korean Stewartia Stewartia koreana Paperbark Maple Acer griseum Kousa Dogwood Cornus kousa Patridgeberry, Twinberry, Squawberry Mitchella Kumquat Fortunella Hindsii Peking Cotoneaster Cotoneaster acutifolius Kyushu Azalea Rhododendron kiusianum Pfitzer Juniper Juniperus chinensis 'Pfitzeriana' Lantana, Yellow Sage Lantana camara Pin Oak, Swamp Oak Quercus palustris Large Fothergilla Fothergilla major Pine Pinus Lavender Cotton Santolina chamaecyparissus Pitch Pine Pinus rigida Lavender, English Lavender Lavandula Planetree Maple, Sycamore Maple Acer pseudoplatanus Lawson Falsecypress Chamacyparis lawsoniana Plum-leaved Crabapple Malus prunifolia Lemon Citrus limon Pomegranate Punica granatum Leyland Cypress Cupressocyparis Pondcypress, Pond Baldcypress Taxodium ascendens Lilac Syringa Ponderosa Pine, Western Yellow Pine Pinus ponderosa Limber Pine Pinus flexilis Poplar, Aspen Populus Linden Tilia Porcelainberry Ampelopsis brevipedunculata Little Gem Spruce Picea abies 'Little Gem' Port Jackson Fig Ficus rubiginosa Little Leaf Cotoneaster Cottoneaster microphyllus Potentilla, Bush Cinquefoil Potentilla fruticosa Little Princess Spirea Spirea, japonica 'Alpina Little Princess' Prickly-ash Zanthoxylum americanum Littleleaf Caragana Caragana microphylla Privet Ligustrum Littleleaf Lilac Syringa microphylla Privet Honeysuckle Lonicera pileata Littleleaf Linden Tilia cordata Prostrate Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis prostrata Live Oak Quercus viriniana Purple fruited Chokeberry Aronia prunifolia Loblolly Pine Pinus taeda Purple Leaf Beech Fagus sylvatica 'Atropunicea' ('Purpurea') Lodgepole Pine Pinus contorta 'latifolia' Pygmy Peashrub Caragana pygmaea London Planetree Platanus acerifolia Pyrenees Cotoneaster Cotoneaster congestus Loquat Eriobotrya japonica Quaking Aspen Populus tremuloides Lowbush Blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium Radiant Crabapple Malus 'Radiant' Macedonian Pine Pinus peuce Red Chokeberry Aronia arbutifolia Magnolia Magnolia Red Ixora Ixora coccinea Maple Acer sp. Red Maple, Scarlet Maple, Swamp Maple Acer rubrum Mazzard Cherry, Sweet Cherry Prunus avium Red Mulberry Morus rubra Midget Crabapple Malus micromalus Red Oak Quercus rubra Mimosa, Albizia, Silk Tree Albizia julibrissin Red Pine Pinus resinosa Mineature Joshua Tree Sedum multiceps Red Spruce Picea rubens Ming Aralia Polyscias fruticosa Red Yezo Spruce, Sakhalin Spruce Picea glehnii Ming Plant Crassula phyteris Red-leaved Hornbeam Carpinus laxiflora Miniature Holly Malpighia coccigera Redosier Dogwood Cornus sericea Mississippi Sugar Hackberry Celtis laevigata River Birch, Red Birch Betula nigra Mistletoe Fig Ficus deltoidea Rochea Rochea sanguinea Mollis Hybrid Azaleas Rhododendron kosteranum Rock Elm Ulmus thomasii Monterey Cypress Cupressus macrocarpa Rock Elm, Cork Elm Ulmus davidiana var. suberosa Morrow Honeysuckle Lonicera morrowii Rockspray Cotoneaster Cotoneaster horizontalis Mountain Andromeda Pieris floribunda Rocky Mountain Pine Pinus ponderosa 'scopulourm' Mountain Hemlock Tsuga mertensiana Rose Daphne Daphne cneorum Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia Rose miniature Rosa sp. Mountain Maple Acer spicatum Rose-of-Sharon, Shrub Althea Hibiscus syriacus Mountain Ninebark Physocarpus monogynus Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis Mountain Stewartia Stewartia ovata Round Kumquat Fortunella japonica Mucronata Spruce Picea abies 'Mucronata' Royal Paulownia Paulownia tomentosa Mugho Pine, Swiss Mountain Pine Pinus mugo Royal Poinciana Delonix regia Nagami Kumquat Fortunella margarita Rugosa Rose Rosa rugosa Natal Plum Carissa grandiflora Russian Olive Elaeagnus angustifolia Neea Neea buxifolia Sageretia Sageretia chinensis Needle Juniper Juniperus rigida Sago Palm, Coontie Zamia floridana New Jersey Tea, Redroot Ceanothus americanus San Jose Juniper Juniperus chinensis 'San Jose' Norfolk Island Pine Araucaria heterophylla Sand Pine Pinus clausa Northern Bayberry Myrica pensylvanica Sargent Crabapple Malus sargentii Northern Catalpa Catalpa speciosa Sargent Viburnum Viburnum sargentii Norway Maple Acer platanoides Sasanqua Camellia Camellia sasanqua Norway Spruce Picea abies Satsuki Azalea, Macranthum Azalea Rhododendron indicum Oak Quercus Saucer Magnolia Magnolia soulangiana Old Fashioned Weigela Weigela florida Savin Juniper Juniperus sabina Oleander Nerium oleander Sawara Cypress Chamacyparis pisifera Orange Jasmine, Jessamine Murraya paniculata Schefflera Brassaia actinophylla Oriental Arborvitae Thuja orientalis Scotch Broom, Common Broom Cytisus scoparius joebonsai.com Bonsai Tree Name Index Common Name Botanical Name Scotch Heather Calluna vulgaris The Pittsburgh Bonsai Society's Scotch Pine, Scots Pine Pinus sylvestris Sea Grape Coccoloba uvifera Serbian Spruce Picea omorika 50th Year Spring Show Serviceberry Amelanchier Shadblow Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis Shimpaku Juniper Juniperus x Media 'Shimpaku' Great news for those who want to show Shore Juniper Juniperus conferta their trees in the annual show. A new Shore Pine Pinus contorta Siberian Crabapple Malus baccata location this year promises to bring a lot of Siberian Elm, Dwarf Elm Ulmus pumila exposure and more importantly, a lot more Siberian Peashrub Caragana arborescens Siebold Maple Acer sieboldianum visitors to see our trees. The Society For Sierra Juniper Juniperus occidentalis Contemporary Craft on Smallman Street in Silver Buttonwood Conocarpus erectus sericeus Silver Jade Plant Crassula arborescens the Strip District has agreed to host our Silver Maple, River Maple, White Maple, Soft Maple Acer saccharinum Singleseed Juniper Juniperus squamata show on June 14 and 15, which is also Slippery Elm Ulmus rubra Father's Day weekend. It is a big, beautiful Small-flowered Tamarix Tamarix parviflora Snow Rose, Snow in June Serissa foetida art gallery in the heart of the very busy Strip Southern Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, Southern Fir Abies fraseri District. Southern Bush Honeysuckle Diervilla sessilifolia Southern Magnolia Magnolia grandiflora Spirea Spiraea sp. As it is our 50th year since the founding of Spreading Cotoneaster Cotoneaster divaricatus the society, we need to fill the space with Spruce Picea Staghorn Sumac Rhus typhina our best trees and show off what we have Star Magnolia Magnolia stellata developed over the years. Start getting Sugar Maple, Rock Maple, Hard Maple Acer distichum Sugar Maple, Rock Maple, Hard Maple Acer saccharum them ready now, as more details will follow. Summersweet Clethra Clethra alnifolia Swamp White Oak Quercus bicolor Sweet Birch Betula lenta Just the Basics Most often the very first question I get when someone sees a potted plant is… “What is it?” followed by “What kind of plant is it?” The answer will always include that it is a Bonsai which leads to…. By Louise Means Bonsai (Bone-Sigh), literally “tray tree” or “tree in pot”, is the art of growing small trees in pots that mimic what This first article is just an introduction on the topic of you would find in nature. It is not simply taking a tree or Bonsai. Questions from you “about any of my articles” bush and transplanting it into a pot. Special attention is are entirely welcomed and you can email them to given to the care, shape and the overall balanced [email protected] appearance of the tree as a part of designing and growing Bonsai. I will try to stay with just the basics of Art of Bonsai so that someone new to the discipline can gain some Basic care includes watering, fertilizing, and training. general but hopefully useful information. Each species of plant will have different requirements of those factors. While most Bonsai are outdoor plants, A little about me may be in order. I have been interested many indoor species can be also be grown as Bonsai. in Bonsai for many years but really got started with a 1 Generally any hard wood bush or tree that has the ability day class thru CCAC until somewhere around 1991. to reduce or maintain small leaves can be adapted to the From there I learned about The Pittsburgh Bonsai Art. Ideally, pruning is used to shape and cultivate the Society and some “free” classes given in Swissvale by tree but wiring and other methods are also used to Keith Scott. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the achieve the desired form. trees that were brought in by the members and still am. I hope that I can instill some of the wonder I felt as a Next issue I will cover some common plants used to newbie to Bonsai into our new and potential members. create Bonsai. Enjoy! Page 6 Tips and Suggestions from Mike Stern

“Large Trees and Large Shrubs”

This is the time of the year that there is not the other. Therefore, most of its early new enough April to keep up with all of the tasks growth is burned and the tree has to bud that must be accomplished. (A Bob Grealish back. I can see that over the course of time quote.) Spring is the time for repotting, root it will be shaded out by the other tree. It pruning, trimming back dead branches, also does not look very attractive with so styling, wiring, and more wiring, and many branches brittle and white. keeping your trees out of harsh weather. I protect some trees like Japanese red maples A couple of years ago I decided that it had and ginkos from frost. Crab apples and elm great "Potential". Therefore I cut it back trees on the other hand are tolerant of early severely in the early summer. I have not frosts. I also have a tree garden with had great success cutting back maples in the hundreds of trees that I root prune. I need to spring, as they tend to bleed profusely. If a transplant trees into spaces where trees no tree does not bleed profusely, it would be longer exist. I also want to take some appropriate to do significant pruning in the cuttings and do some air layering. spring. Following the severe pruning you can sit back and let nature take its course. This is also a time to take a look at some The following spring I then took a strong large trees or shrubs that have "potential" as solid steel spade and dug around the maple future bonsai. as though I were going to completely dig it up. However, rather than risk moving it, I It is tempting to attempt to dig large trees or left it in place with all of the major roots shrubs and transplant them or want to place severed. This being the third spring, I will them in training pots. However, some of dig it up completely anticipating that there them are just too large and the risk of should be fine roots close to the trunk which moving them to great. will help the tree survive its transition either into a large training pot or in the ground I am currently in the process of a couple year with very good soil. I will again leave it project of tackling a few large trees. In my grow with little interruption other than front yard, I have two Japanese maples. some possible bending of branches into They were both planted at the same time and more advantageous positions. one is significantly shorter than the other. They grow at equal rates, however, one of Years ago I would have cut it back and dug them is more sensitive to Spring frosts than it up and observe its' demise. When I was young I had great amount of time and I had no patience. Now I have less time but greater patience.

Page 7 Pittsburgh Bonsai Society c/o Cindie Bonomi (Editor) PITTSBURGH 335 Newburn Drive BONSAI SOCIETY Pittsburgh, PA 15216

Calendar of Events April 21 Mon. 7pm Demonstration: Phipps Garden Center Note: This is the Dawn Redwood THIRD Monday Group Planting Bring your tools!

May 21 Wed. 7pm Azalea Workshop! Phipps Garden Center Bring your Tools! June 14-15 Sat/Sun Annual Spring Show The Society for Contemporary Craft 2100 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh 15222 (Strip District) All PBS meetings, unless otherwise noted, will be held at the Phipps Garden Center, starting at 7:00pm. Emergency Phone: 412 441-4442. Phipps Garden Center is located at the edge of Mellon Park in the Shadyside section of Pittsburgh. At the Phipps Garden Center sign on Shady Avenue, just south of the intersection of Fifth and Shady Avenues, turn into the cobblestone driveway. Park in the metered lot. Walk 50 yards farther down the cobblestone lane. The Garden Center is the red brick building on your left