Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society
Dedicated to the art of bonsaiArchive for Demonstrations
NEW June Club Events
The planned June collecting trip has been postponed to a future date, so here’s a late entry for June.
On Sunday, June 24, at 12:00 noon, the Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society will host a demonstration and lesson
on bonsai techniques to develop great bonsai. Pauline will demonstrate a number of techniques that will help you develop your trees over time, and one of the demo trees will be raffled. The demonstration and lesson will start after lunch and a brief meeting. Club members, please bring something to contribute for the lunch.
We’ll also hold a Club Garage Sale and Exchange—a great opportunity to obtain, swap or sell trees, pots, tools, whatever shows up. Bring your extra trees and pots for the club garage sale to sell and/or exchange . We’ll set up tables in the parking area for this and if you have things to bring you may come early to set up. Email pauline@pfmbonsai.com if you will be selling items.
Preview: In July, we’ll do accent plants with guest artist Young Choe on the 22nd. Young will not be bringing any materials for her lesson so gather together containers and plants for the meeting.
Then on July 29, the club will visit Martin Schmalenberg’s studio in NJ. We will do sign ups for this car caravan at the June meeting. Check your calendars now. Martin will have some of his trees for sale. Plan on bringing a picnic lunch to share.
And on August 25, it’s a special one day bonsai show at Proctors Theatre in Schectady. All are welcome!
Miliea Chiem Rocks Bonsai and Other News
Guest Miliea Chiem seeks negative space in her demo tree at MHBS’s September club meeting. Ms. Chiem, a student of Colin Lewis, hosted a workshop as well and helped select club trees for the upcoming MABS event.
In coming months, MHBS is looking forward to brush painting with guest artist Linda Schultz in February, a March visit from Mark Arpag with bonsai material, an April event with guest artist Tony Tickle from England. Plus Young Choe, bench making, rock plantings and more. Download the latest MHBS TWIG newsletter here.
Mark Arpag Returns for Eastern White Cedars
Nobody does Eastern White Cedars like Mark Arpag. On Saturday, July 29, Arpag returns to pfm bonsai in West Charlton for an MHBS-sponsored all-day workshop. Bring your cedars or obtain new stock here. Mark will help you start the process of creating a masterpiece. Or return with your previous Arpag project and continue the journey. The workshop runs 9 AM to 4 PM and the fee is $50. Bring lunch or order in.
Then return on Sunday to enjoy an Arpag Eastern White Cedar demo beginning shortly after 12 noon, with resulting tree to be raffled to a lucky club member. An MHBS club meeting will precede the demo but visitors are always welcome.
Limited workshop space remains. To register for the Saturday workshop, contact Pauline at 518-882-1039 or pauline@pfmbonsai.com.
Upcoming bonsai events
Eastern White Cedars will be the featured tree on Saturday, July 29, when Mohawk Hudson Bonsai welcomes back Mark Arpag for a bring-your-own workshop. Little space remains so register soon and take your Eastern White Cedars to the next level. On Sunday, July 30, Mark will return for a demo following the monthly MHBS club meeting at pfm bonsai. Download the June TWIG newsletter for more upcoming events.
The Return of Mauro Stemberger
No, it’s not a new motion picture, it’s the real deal. On May 13 and 14, Mauro Stemberger will spend two days in workshop mode at pfm bonsai as MHBS hosts the Italian Stallion of bonsai. Bring your own trees to this weekend workshop and Mauro will help you transform them. Though he especially enjoys working with pines, junipers and larch, Mauro is happy to add his expertise to any of your trees. You may even survive his wiring instruction.
The workshop is all day Saturday and Sunday, May 13 and 14, starting at 9 AM each day. We will order in lunch on Saturday and take Mauro out for dinner on Saturday evening. Let Pauline know if you want to come out with us.
The workshop fee is $60 for both days, and Mauro’s Sunday afternoon demo tree will be raffled. Register today while space remains by contacting Pauline at 518-882-1039 or Pauline@pfmbonsai.com.
August TWIG and Fall Show
Download the August TWIG newsletter HERE to learn about MHBS’s upcoming annual bonsai show in Saratoga Springs, plus a workshop YEW won’t want to miss (okay, I couldn’t help it).
On August 28, David Hodgetts—who some years ago visited America from across the pond and refuses to go back—will hold a demo and workshop with some well-trunked yews selected from Mark Comstock’s fabulous nursery. The demo and lesson starts at 10:00, followed by a pot luck lunch and afternoon workshop, nicely priced at $100 per person. The workshop is limited to six people and one lucky person will have their workshop fee refunded in a raffle. Register now with Pauline at pauline@pfmbonsai.com or 518-882-1039. Observers are welcome to watch and learn.
Then comes our really big annual bonsai show, September 24-25 at the Saratoga Springs Public Library, Saturday from 10:00 to 4:45 and Sunday from noon to 4:00. All are welcome to browse aisle after aisle of MHBS club bonsai trees in every stage of development. Club members will be on hand to answer questions and generally chat about bonsai. If you’re curious about bonsai, this is the place to be.
Reminder: club members should start choosing and prepping trees now for the show.
April TWIG and New Events
Download the April TWIG newsletter to learn about events like:
April 24: Our 3rd annual Eastern White Cedar day with Mark Arpag. Sign up for the 9:00 AM workshop and bring your cedars or purchase one. In the afternoon Mark will do a demo on Eastern White Cedar and we’ll raffle the tree.
May 21-22: Jim Doyle and Mark Comstock Weekend. Purchase great material from Mark and get expert design assistance from Jim. Don’t let your dream tree get away.
A brief video introduction to Mauro Stemberger, who will host a demo, plus a workshop (by reservation), as a guest of the Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society on Friday, April 8, at pfm bonsai in West Charlton. To learn more, contact Pauline at pauline@pfmbonsai.com.
August 30 Club and Estate Sale
Bring your wallets to the August MHBS meeting at PFM Bonsai when our Club and Estate Sale starts at 10 AM. Three estates worth of bonsai pots and books will be on sale—cash, check or charge—along with member trees needing their next home. Club members, remember to bring your trees and other sale items by 9:30 AM, clearly priced.
After lunch Pauline will conduct a Shitakusa and Kusamono Workshop—work with Pauline’s hand made pottery and accent material or bring your own. It’s great timing for putting together your displays for the club show in October. It will help to bring a list of trees you hope to display. Register by email: pauline@pfmbonsai.com.
See you Sunday!
Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society 