Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society
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Coming Out of Winter Hibernation
As Spring approaches and trees awaken, here are some March tips from Pauline:
March Indoors
Temperatures in the greenhouse are very warm. Night temperatures may be increased by a few degrees to match the increasing daytime temperatures and decrease temperature shock for the plants. Be sure to vent excess heat. (During late winter much of our house heating comes from my attached greenhouse venting into our basement and spreading throughout the house.)
Everything is growing. Fertilizing is definitely on a regular basis. All indoor repotting is complete. Tropicals must wait until their summer “dormancy” period for repotting.
Many trees are flowering in the greenhouse. I do not fertilize while a bonsai is in flower. As the flowers fade, the trees are pruned and repotted as needed and fertilizer is restarted. (Note: Do not fertilize trees after a heavy root pruning. Instead use a root stimulant hormone and a transplanting fluid when you transplant.) Flowering trees are always given superphosphate in addition to their regular fertilizer to promote flowers and fruits.
March Outdoors
This is the month of indecision in the Northeast. Some years I have been able to bring all trees out of storage, other years we are still in winter. The key word is watchfulness. I use my yard plants as a guide. As I see bud swell in the yard, I bring out the trees. But many a year, has seen me gathering trees with tender buds in my garden cart and wheeling them into the garage for protection during an unexpected cold snap. If the trees go onto the yard stands, repotting starts and does not end until all trees are examined and transplanted as needed. Wait until after flowering on appropriate trees. If the weather is not cooperative– wait! Super hardy trees like larches are out on the benches. (Remember I never put them into closed in storage but rested them under the old trees of a spruce grove out of the wind.)
Upcoming Events
April 23-24, MHBS will host Kathy Shaner, fresh from MABS Spring Festival. It’s a great time to follow up with Kathy if you plan on going to this MABS event. More MHBS events to come as they are confirmed.
Tony Tickle Returns
One of our favorite Brits, Tony Tickle, returns to MHBS via Satellite on Sunday, November 21, with an interactive presentation on developing Yamadori into exhibition quality bonsai. The presentation will be featured on the large screen TV at PFM Bonsai at 1:00 pm, and also via Zoom for club members, followed by Q&A with Tony. Tony is a renowned collector and exhibitor, so don’t miss this one. As always, guests at PFM Bonsai in West Charlton, NY, are welcome.
The annual MHBS Bonsai Show returns to the Albany Center Gallery, September 25-26, at 488 Broadway in Albany. The show will display bonsai trees in all stages of development. Come see these delightful small trees and chat with bonsai club members, Saturday from 12 noon to 5pm and Sunday from 12 noon to 4pm. All are welcome and admission is FREE. If you enjoy bonsai trees, maybe even thought about acquiring some of your own, this show is a great opportunity to learn more.
Coming Up at MHBS
Some upcoming events at MHBS.
MARCH 28: YEW TREE WORKSHOP AND DEMO WITH DAVID HODGETTS
APRIL 28: FOREST WORKSHOP
MAY 22-23: DEMO & WORKSHOPS WITH MARK ARPAG PLUS SPECIAL SALES FROM KRIS SPRINGER AND SOME USA POTTERS
JUNE 26-27: AIR LAYERING WORKSHOP WITH FRANK MIHALIC
JULY 25: ELEMENTS OF DISPLAY WITH JEFF AND DAVID
AUGUST 29: COLLECTING RIVER ROCKS
SEPTEMBER: CLUB SHOW
NOVEMBER 28: ONLINE PRESENTATION WITH TONY TICKLE
MHBS Update
COVID and facemasks, high taxes, winter. What’s not to like? While MHBS gets ready to resume meetings sometime soon, we are wintering our trees, wiring, and keeping our tools sharp. Will post updates on the status of previously announced 2021 workshops and activities as soon as we have them.
MHBS Upcoming Events
Flu or no flu, MHBS is still kicking. In October, the club will tackle pottery making to create unique containers for bonsai. Contact Pauline to sign up for the workshop at (518) 882-1039. Other upcoming events include demos, pot exchanges and visits (real or virtual) from masters like Mark Arpag, Frank Mihalic, Kathy Shaner and Tony Tickle.
Upcoming Bonsai Events
Upcoming events at MHBS include:
June 9: Young Choe and Kusomono
July 28: Martin Schmalenberg and Suseiki
September 21-22: MHBS Annual Club Show
October 20: Fertilizing and Winter Care of Bonsai
November 24: Jim Doyle and Pines
November TWIG and Upcoming Events
David Knittle is smiling because his tools are sharp.
Download the November TWIG newsletter here and read up on what’s happening with the Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society. Looking ahead (all events at PFM Bonsai in West Charlton unless otherwise noted):
Nov. 22 – The ever-popular David Knittle tool sharpening workshop returns.
Dec. 5 – MHBS Holiday Party at The Charlton Tavern. Club members, make your reservations now.
Jan. 31 – Larch Wiring Workshop. Perfect season to wire those rascally larches.
Feb. 28 – Make your own pottery workshop. Come on, you know you want to.
April 8 – Mauro Stemberger workshop and demo.
April 15-17 – MABS.
April 24 – Eastern White Cedars with Mark Arpag.
May 12-15 – ABS in Grand Rapids MI.
May 21-22 – A special weekend. Bring Your Own Tree workshops with special guest Jim Doyle, PLUS Mark Comstock and a fresh truckload of great bonsai stock to kick off your spring.
Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society 