Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society
Dedicated to the art of bonsaiArchive for Workshops
MABS Spring Festival approaches
The 11 bonsai societies that comprise MABS (Mid-Atlantic Bonsai Society) will host the annual Spring Festival in Parsippany, NJ, March 31 – April 2, 2023. This year’s festival will feature bonsai masters Will Baddeley of Ipswich, United Kingdom, Todd Schlafer of Lakewood, Colorado, and Hugo Zamora Luna of Mexico City, Mexico (pictured below), in demonstrations and workshops. MABS is a wonderful opportunity for those interested in bonsai to learn and improve. To find out more, visit http://www.midatlanticbonsai.org.
Mark Arpag Workshop June 27
MHBS welcomes Mark Arpag to run a bring-your-own workshop at pfm bonsai in West Charlton on on Saturday, June 27. Mark is a frequent guest, known for working with many species of bonsai and especially cedar. The workshop hours are 9am to 4pm and it is limited to eight people so register soon by calling 518-882-1039. The workshop fee is $50.
Social distancing will be observed so this workshop will be held outdoors. Don’t forget to bring a mask and sunscreen, as well as your tools and trees. The nursery is open if you need a tree or two.
2020 Happenings
The events are tentative but MHBS members have these things and guests to look for in 2020:
- Tree insect pests and diseases
- Finding the tree within with Martin Schmalenberg
- Forest and root over rock plantings
- Kathy Shaner and bonsai display
- Air layering and shohin with Frank Mihalic
- Jim Doyle and pines
- A Mark Arpag workshop
- Rock collecting in the river
- Turntable building
- Pottery making
- Choosing the right pot for your bonsai
- And don’t forget the 2020 US National Exhibition
It’s going to be a great 2020. Enjoy your holidays and a Happy New Year!
Jim Doyle Does Pines
Coming in November: Pines with Jim Doyle Jim Doyle will spend the weekend of November 23-24 teaching us pines. Register now for the Saturday BYO workshop with Jim, 9:00 until done. Bring your lunch. To register, email Pauline at Pauline@pfmbonsai.com.
The Return of Young Choe
Some MHBS club members were lucky enough to create a kusamomo last year under the guiding hand of Young Choe. If you weren’t among them, or even if you were, you’ve got another chance. Young returns on Sunday, June 9, for an all-day workshop beginning at 9:00 AM, prior to the monthly MHBS club meeting at noon. In the morning we will create calligraphy, and in the afternoon we will again build a kusamono with Young Choe.
The all-day workshop is only $35 and a few spots remain. Register with Pauline at pfm bonsai. Our last Young Choe event was sold out so don’t delay. Bring tools and a deepish bonsai container for your kusamono. Everything else is provided. Don’t forget something for the pot luck lunch.
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
Bonsai on the Rocks
Club members, create your own bonsai rock planting on Sunday morning, May 19th beginning at 9:00 AM at pfm bonsai in West Charlton, with guidance from Pauline Muth and Dave Hodgetts. All you need is a tree (or trees), a suitable rock with pockets for soil and drainage (both trees and a few rocks are available at pfm bonsai), plus tools, wire, muck, moss and soil. Pot luck lunch at noon so bring food to share. There is no fee for the workshop and materials needed to fasten your trees on the rock will be available at cost. There’s still time to register by email: pauline@pfmbonsai.com.
Mark Arpag Visits MHBS
Mark Arpag’s recent visit to MHBS included a bring-your-own workshop and a lecture and demo on shohin material. Both were well-attended and here are some photos.
Mark Comstock: Bonsai Repotting
On March 31, bonsai expert Mark Comstock will help MHBS club members repot trees. Mark says to bring plenty of trees and learn the best way to repot and transplant safely. The day starts early at 7 AM. “I will repot from 7 to 10,” says Mark. Then comes a demo and more repotting of club member trees until 5 PM.
Mark will also demo nursery container trees into pre-bonsai configuration, demo a finished tree, and go over soil sizes, watering practices and bacteria/fungal issues.
Bring trees that need transplanting this spring, plus your tools and soil, or just come to observe. Soil will also be available for purchase. And don’t forget to bring some food to share at our usual pot luck lunch. The timing is great for spring repotting. Please email Pauline to register for this FREE-to-members event.
Mark is starting early, but you needn’t come at 7 AM. If you are interested in coming that early, just let Pauline know when you register.
Spring and Bonsai at MHBS
Yup, you’ve done all your winter wiring and hopefully haven’t lost any trees. Spring is ready to pounce. At MHBS, we have a busy spring planned.
On February 24, club member Carl Taeubner will lead an Ikebana worksho. On March 31, Mark Comstock will show us how to properly transplant trees. On April 28, Mark Arpag will hold a bring-your-own workshop and demo. On May 19, Pauline Muth and Dave Hodgetts will lead a rock planting lesson and workshop.
And there are the April 11-14 ABS Seminars in Houston:
http://absbonsai.org/event/american-bonsaisociety- 2019-national-convention
And the April 12-14 MABS in Harrisburg PA:
Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society 