www.bonsaisocietyofupstateny.org

Newsletter of The Bonsai Society of Upstate New York Inc

May 2017 Volume 46 Number 5

O n May 27thand 28th we will be having our

Annual Spring Show at the Monroe Community

Hospital. Our two featured demonstrations for the

Spring show this year will be our own Mark Arpag

(Topic-Shohin) on Saturday 27th and three accredited

Ikebana International members with Jerome

Cushman on Sunday 28th. Both talks with demos will

be at 2:00pm.

Club member, Great friend, and Show photographer,

Joe Noga, will not be taking tree photos during the

show this year due to illness. Get Well Soon Joe!

There will be a display of Suiseki (viewing stones) again this year by the

Upstate New York Suiseki Study Group, and Ikebana International Chapter 53.

About Demo #1… Mark Arpag has been a member of the Bonsai Society of

Upstate New York for 27 years and is our current President. He is a long time

student of Wm. N. Valavanis and teaching assistant at the International

Bonsai Arboretum. His Bonsai have been displayed in all 5 US National

Exhibitions and the Artisans Cup. Mark has received a number of

National and Regional Awards as well as photographs featured in a number of

Bonsai books and magazines. About Demo #2… Ikebana International

Rochester Chapter has been in existence since 1961 and its members have a

common bond of love of flowers and a passion for the Japanese art of flower

arrangement. They uphold the motto of Ikebana International, which is:

“Friendship through flowers.”

Special Display of Azaleas! From private Bonsai Gardens and Suiseki Collection of Mel

Goldstein in Cleveland, OH. Mel has

quietly assembled an impressive

collection over the past years. He has

imported most of his trees from Japan,

and others from China and Korea when

this was still possible. He prefers to put

Azaleas in earth color pots that do not

distract from the color of the flowers

when they are in bloom. By far Mel has

one of the most impressive private

collections in the United States.

Come help, enjoy and learn

at our annual show!

B illboard It’s Show Time Again! 44th Annual Spring Show

American Larch by Bob Blankfield, 2016 Irene

Valavanis Founders Award

All members are invited to come at 5:30

Saturday evening for a private viewing of our

exhibition. Enjoy light refreshments, and some

relaxed conversation with fellow members. We

will then vote for your favorite bonsai for our

annual Members’ Choice Award in memory of

Yuji Yoshimura. There will again be a Second

Award again this year, the “Irene Valavanis

Founders Award”. It will be selected by Bill

Valavanis for any style of Bonsai.

Japanese Maple by Harvey Carapella 2016 Member’s Choice Award

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www.bonsaisocietyofupstateny.org

We need your trees! We need your help! Set up will start at 4:00 pm Sharp (NO EARLY ARRIVALS) on Friday, May

26th and be completed by 8:00 pm. Please make sure to bring your cleaned

and prepared bonsai to the Monroe community Hospital at 5-6pm Friday to

be in show. The trees do not have to be masterpieces but should look their best.

There are many jobs to be done. Try to participate in the show somehow: Submit a tree, help setup and/or takedown, sell raffle tickets, work security during the show by signing up with Joe Moore. If you don’t know what you can do, please ask! Remember, many hands make light work!

For more information call Bill Valavanis (334-2595)

or Harvey Carapella (426-6548).

T he Garden Factory held its Sixth Annual Flower & Garden Showcase on

April 8th & 9th. BSUNY participated again this year and provided advice

and answered questions on the art of bonsai. The society had a combined display

of bonsai trees with the International Bonsai Arboretum for people to look at and

admire. We gave out quite a lot of literature on the society and on our 44th

Exhibition in May. The show was like previous year with no formal bonsai

programs, but we are grateful to Mark Arpag (Saturday), and Harvey

Carapella (Sunday) for doing great demonstrations in our booth. The event was

free and open to the public.

We had trees for the display from the following members: Harvey Carapella,

Bill Valavanis, Mark Arpag, Alan Adair, Rick Marriott, Bob Blankfield, Joe

Lentner, Jason Henderberg, and Joe Moore. The society would like to thank

all of the many members who came during the two days to provide information

and security, and for preparing their trees for display. Well done everyone!

Garden Factory Flower & Garden Showcase

BSUNY Activities

MAG-Asian Pacific American Heritage Family Fun Day

BSUNY was invited to take part in this years annual Memorial Art Gallery Asian Pacific American Heritage

Family Fun Day on May 7th. There were art activities, music and dance, cultural displays, tours and storytelling

that presented a snapshot of Asian culture and the Asian American dispersion. Literature about the society was

given out to visitors. We had several bonsai on display as well as information on the special Exhibition featuring

large Satsuki Azalea Bonsai, Suiseki and Ikebana at our 44th Exhibition on May 27-28. The trees on display were

supplied by Mark Arpag, Harvey Carapella, Rick Marriott, and Dave Paris.

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www.bonsaisocietyofupstateny.org

April Meeting Highlights Our April meeting featured Mark Arpag our society president who presented a very

informative program and demonstration on Shohin Bonsai to a packed house of 49

members and guests from here and surrounding areas.

Members attending this meeting were treated to an out-standing lecture and

demonstration by Mark Arpag who passed on some of his enthusiasm for shohin.

Mark’s demo was a very busy one, since it had three parts. The first was styling a

flowering Quince, the second was styling a Shimpaku ‘Itoigawa’ Juniper, and the

last was the most interesting of all, a great Beech forest. Part of Mark’s comments

were about what type and style of pot would be best for each tree he worked on.

Potting soil with Akadama in it helps shohin bonsai retain moisture. He also

brought and displayed fine examples from his personal collection and Alan Adair,

Rick Marriott, Harvey Carapella, and other members had their trees on display.

How to display multiple shohin trees was shown with trees from the display table.

Mark finished with a critique/chat about some of the trees members had brought

along. Some really nice shohin are being developed and he was more than happy

to give any tips and advice he could to help keep members going in the right

direction with their own trees. Mark’s efforts were much appreciated by those

attending.

The three bonsai that Mark worked on in his demo were raffled off. The flowering

Quince was won by Marty Budinski: the Shimpaku ‘Itoigawa’ Juniper was won

by Joe Lentner; and Tom Hunt won the five tree Beech forest. The Society is

grateful to all who purchased tickets for the raffle. Everyone appreciated Rick’s

fine refreshments, and the great cookies from Linda House.

Many thanks Mark for a great informative program!

www.bonsaisocietyofupstateny.org

Billboard is brought to you by:

President: Mark Arpag, President@bonsaisocietyofupstateny.org

Co-Editors & Photographers: Tom Friday & Irma Abu-Jumah,

Billboard@bonsaisocietyofupstateny.org

Contributors: William N. Valavanis & Harvey Carapella

S pring has finally arrived! Maples and flowering trees are starting to leaf out and

bloom. By now, all your outdoor, winter-hardy bonsai should be outside in the

full sun. If they are showing small leaves already then it’s a good sign that they

made it through the winter in good condition. But, it’s too early to be sure.

Winter damage does not always show up until the really hot weather arrives in June.

Be sure to protect bonsai that are in full leaf from sudden cold. The key temperature

I look for is 25° F but 30° F is safer. If the temperature threatens to drop below what

you feel comfortable with, then move your bonsai indoors for the night, then move

them back out the next morning. It’s a big job, but it’s worth it to save the bonsai.

Members have lost some trees when fooled by the weather (and the weathermen) into leaving them out when they

should have come in. At this time of year, it is best to just reconcile yourself to a lot of running in and out with trees.

By now, my watering is a daily task, usually about 3-4PM. Flowering bonsai require more water than conifers. Bonsai

that have been recently transplanted will not require too much water, but do need extra protection from wind and for

the first few days, from too much sun. Misting helps newly transplanted bonsai. If deciduous species have not leafed

out by the time you transplant, you can put them directly in the full sun, but watch out for wind. Start thinking about

fertilizing, but just think for now. I will include some tips on fertilizer soon. The next three to four weeks are the most

active and fun for bonsai enthusiast. Ninety percent of my transplanting and new bonsai creations are done now, so I

have to go, because, It’s that time of the year… W.N.V.

Deshojo Japanese Maple by Bill Valavanis

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BSUNY Picnic

Reminder

Dear friends: This is to remind you about

the picnic supper meeting on June 27th

This special meeting will be at the usual

meeting place, Brighton Town Lodge at

Buckland Park. The picnic promises to be a great

time with many attending and plenty of good food. Spouses and

significant others are welcome to come.

The club will be providing hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage, coffee, tea and

soda pop. We need those attending to bring dishes to pass like potato &

macaroni salads, baked beans, and desserts. A tray of appetizers, a

three-bean salad, and a lettuce salad would also work well. You could

also bring your special dish you make with your

secret recipe. If you would like to bring something,

please let me know what you plan to bring, and how

many will be attending. I look forward to talking

with you during our May Exhibition at the

Monroe Community Hospital.

You can call me at home after 7:00 pm

at (585) 247-340 or contact me by e-mail at

refreshments@bonsaisocietyofupstateny.org

Thank you! Rick Marriott

It’s That Time Of The Year Again...

BSUNY Spring Show

Saturday and Sunday May 27-28,2017

10:00 am to 5:00 pm 2pm Demonstration (both days)

Monroe Community Hospital, 435 East Henrietta Rd. Rochester, NY 14603

2017 BSUNY

PROGRAMS & EVENTS

May 27-28: BSUNY Spring Show, Demos & Azalea Display

June 27: BSUNY Picnic/Auction/Sale

July 25: Garden Tour, TBD

Aug. 22: Open Bonsai Workshop

Sept. 26: Bjorn Bjorholm (Japan)

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