Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society
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Upcoming Events and the April TWIG
Budi Sulistyo and not your tree.
Download the April TWIG here. This month’s MHBS newsletter includes some great advice for potting season from Pauline, plus reminders of upcoming events including a special April 25 demo and workshop with our fresh-from-MABS guest Budi Sulistyo. Mr. Sulistyo will demonstrate on material chosen at MABS and offer the tree in a club raffle. His bring-your-own-tree workshop starts at 10 AM and space is limited so register now.
On Monday evening, May 4, Ted Matson returns to work with members on their own trees, one or several. Register in advance.
There’s still time to register for MABS in East Hanover NJ, April 18-20. Meanwhile get back to wiring because potting season will shoot by fast.
Big Bonsai Stock Sale August 23
The Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society invites you to a giant sale of bonsai material, pots, books and more on August 23 at PFM Bonsai in West Charlton. On hand to help you choose your next tree will be guest bonsai master Jim Doyle of Nature’s Way.
Mark Comstock is bringing a big selection of hardy bonsai stock and there will be pots, books and more on sale from the estate of MHBS founding member Josie Biondo.
Arrive early for the best selection. All are welcome to browse and shop from 9am to 5pm. For more details call Pauline Muth at 518-882-1039 or Pauline@pfmbonsai.com.
Forest Workshops this weekend
Create a forest this weekend at PFM Bonsai. Saturday and Sunday workshops with Pauline offer great material including amur maples, junipers, Chinese elm, quince and larch. After the lesson, choose a slab or container (or bring your own) and start creating. The class is $40 plus cost of materials. No class charge for members of the Intermediate Class. Trees ranges from $15 each.
PREREGISTRATION REQUIRED PLEASE. Email Pauline@pfmbonsai.com or call 518-882-1039 (you may leave a message if there is no answer). Space is limited so your registration is a commitment. BRING TOOLS, WIRE AND LUNCH.
More May events to save time for:
• May 3 and 4 workshops on amur maples and others
• May 10-11 advanced study group with Ted Matson (filled)
• May 17 open workshop
• May 18 MHBS workshop and demo with Tropical Bonsai Queen Mary Madison
• May 24-25 Wild Bonsai Weekend with eastern white cedar collected trees, workshops with Mark Arpeg
• May 31-June 1 Frank Mihalic design workshop with your trees
January TWIG
In a world where success is measured in decades, another fleeting year is behind us. Our trees are in deep freeze (hopefully not tropicals) but spring is just weeks away. Attached is the first edition of the TWIG NEWSLETTER for 2014. In it are upcoming events for 2014, the Chinese Year of the Horse (beginning January 31), a year for making efforts to improve. Also included are some Bonsai New Year Resolutions you may wish to pledge. Happy New Year!
Snappy comeback
The next time someone refers to your bonsai as a hobby, you might share that while it takes seven years to become a practicing attorney and eight to become a doctor, most bonsai competitions consider someone with less than ten years experience a “beginner.”
June TWIG and upcoming events
Many club members are looking forward to the upcoming Montreal Trip to David Easterbrook’s & Montreal Gardens. Others are anticipating Frank Mihalic Workshops at PFM Bonsai, July 14-15, and a July 29 field trip to NE Bonsai and Royal Gardens.
Jake DeSilva’s ongoing $10 Monday night workshops at PFM Bonsai offer an incredibly affordable opportunity to work one-on-one with Jake in small sessions. Jake apprenticed in Japan and China for many years learning techniques that produced some of the best shohin from Mr. Masumi and Mr. Urushibata, directors of the Japan National Small Bonsai Guild of Nurserymen. Though shohin is his specialty, his knowledge can be applied to all sizes of bonsai. Contact Pauline to sign up.
Not done yet. The Club’s August 26 Annual Picnic and open workshop will welcome David Easterbrook and he will bring trees. Sept 29-30, David Knittle will host a double event at PFM Bonsai: Build a Tokonoma / Sharpening Bonsai Tools—a double-exciting opportunity to score twice. And there’s more to come through fall with field trips, shohin and mame workshops. Download the June TWIG here.
In Life as in Bonsai?
“Seek to understand the root. It is futile to argue as to which single leaf, which design of branch, or which attractive flower you like; when you understand the root, you understand all its blossoming.” – Bruce Lee
iPhone for Bonsai
With a quarter-million apps for iPhone, it occurred to me there might be some useful bonsai apps in there. A quick search revealed several dozen but many are for things like creating your own virtual pet bonsai, which I’m sure I could kill as efficiently as I do my real ones. 
Read the rest of this entry »
Bernie Gastrich Returns For Double Event
On June 26 Bernie Gastrich will offer his expert photography services to club members at PFM Bonsai. Bring your favorite bonsai to be photographed by Bernie in the morning from 9 AM to Noon, followed by our noon social and lunch hour. After lunch we’ll have an open pine workshop as a follow up to Bernie’s incredible Pine Lecture. Bring the tree you worked on then or different pine(s) you need some help with. Bernie is one of the best pine artists around. Be sure to bring pines and other bonsai for the display area too.
