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The Bonsai News of Houston A monthly newsletter of Houston Bonsai Society Volume 52 Number 1 January 2021 In This Issue Upcoming Events Zoom meeting Collecting with Dan Wiederrecht & Steve Varland from Backcountry Bonsai Showcase of the Month Sea Stack Bonsai January Bonsai Care President’s Letter Pomegranate Christmas 2020 Virtual Party Jonas Dupuich’s demo Bonsai inspired cocktails Door prizes Over sea stacks in Bali, a new day is dawning on a brand new year. (Photo: Pinterest) The virus is still raging in Houston and considering our member age profile, and the fact that it is still going to take at least 3 - 4 months to get the vaccine. Wishing you and your loved ones a safe, healthy, happy and prosperous new year and many treasured memories and blessings for 2021! Upcoming HBS activities January 9 HBS monthly program: Zoom session Tips for sustainable and successful collecting: preparation , tools, grafting, wooden boxes and aftercare tips, with Dan Wiederrecht and Steve Varland from Backcountry Bonsai . The two demo trees will be raffled after the presentation. January 9 afternoon, , Saturday Study Group at Timeless Trees, 12 – 4 PM. Free, coffee and juice provided. Please bring your tools, wire, and trees to work with other HBS members. January 16 Lecture-demo on Ashe juniper by Todd Schlafer on Zoom or in-person at Timeless Trees – 9AM – 12 Noon. Demo tree will be raffled. January 16 Todd Schlafer Workshop at Timeless Trees, 1 – 5 PM, $40. Please bring your own conifer to work with Todd.

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  • The Bonsai News of Houston A monthly newsletter of Houston Bonsai Society

    Volume 52 Number 1 January 2021

    In This Issue

    Upcoming Events Zoom meeting Collecting with

    Dan Wiederrecht &

    Steve Varland

    from Backcountry Bonsai

    Showcase

    of the Month Sea Stack Bonsai

    January

    Bonsai Care

    President’s Letter

    Pomegranate

    Christmas 2020

    Virtual Party Jonas Dupuich’s demo

    Bonsai inspired cocktails

    Door prizes

    Over sea stacks in Bali, a new day is dawning on a brand new year. (Photo: Pinterest)

    The virus is still raging in Houston and considering our member age profile, and

    the fact that it is still going to take at least 3 - 4 months to get the vaccine.

    Wishing you and your loved ones a safe, healthy, happy and prosperous new

    year and many treasured memories and blessings for 2021!

    Upcoming HBS activities

    January 9 HBS monthly program: Zoom session Tips for sustainable

    and successful collecting: preparation, tools, grafting, wooden boxes

    and aftercare tips, with Dan Wiederrecht and Steve Varland from

    Backcountry Bonsai. The two demo trees will be raffled after the

    presentation.

    January 9 afternoon, , Saturday Study Group at Timeless Trees, 12 – 4

    PM. Free, coffee and juice provided. Please bring your tools, wire, and

    trees to work with other HBS members.

    January 16 Lecture-demo on Ashe juniper by Todd Schlafer on

    Zoom or in-person at Timeless Trees – 9AM – 12 Noon. Demo tree will

    be raffled.

    January 16 Todd Schlafer Workshop at Timeless Trees, 1 – 5 PM,

    $40. Please bring your own conifer to work with Todd.

  • Bonsai on Sea Stacks

    January Bonsai Care

    AZALEA

    • Keep plants in full sun.

    • Satsuki azaleas can overwinter outdoors in Houston. If temperatures

    drop below 30F, protect them.

    • No fertilizer this month.

    • Do not use lime sulfur on azaleas for winter fungicide.

    BALD CYPRESS

    • Can wire this month.

    • Can remove foliage once it has completely changed color to brown.

    • Little or no fertilizer this month.

    BOXWOOD

    • Fertilize lightly.

    • Can wire and trim lightly (if the plant is healthy).

    DECIDUOUS

    • Keep trees in sunny locations in the cool weather.

    • If leaves have not dropped on their own, remove them.

    • Spray with lime sulfur just as the buds begin to open. Use a 1.4%

    active ingredient concentrations for the spray.

    • Can do winter cut back this month.

    JAPANESE BLACK PINE

    • Check wire and remove if it is cutting in.

    JUNIPER

    • Junipers can be “cleaned” at any time. Remove old, dead foliage and

    downward growing foliage. Done both to promote health and to

    prepare the tree for styling.

    • Fertilize. Junipers appreciate a moderate level of fertilizer year round

    • Can repot junipers now.

    • Wire and style.

    TROPICALS

    • Remove old wire, dead limbs and dead foliage.

    • Thin lightly by removing downward growing leaves and old, non-

    productive leaves.

    • Make sure your winter protections are available for use. Keep an eye

    on the weather. Protect all tropical trees below 40 degrees. Protect

    buttonwoods whenever it is below 50.

    Around the end of December or early January, you can spray with lime sulfur,

    which will kill most fungus spores and many insects. Mix to a 1.4 %

    concentration of the active ingredient.

  • President’s Letter

    I am honored and excited to accept the role of president of HBS. I have been a member of HBS for twenty years now and it has brough me immense joy, knowledge and many new friends. Every time I attend

    a meeting, a workshop or a study group, I learn something new. The practice of bonsai is always evolving, as mastering a living art form is a constant process that brings me great satisfaction. I hope to share this passion with all of you in my term to come and to help you become the best that you can be in the art of bonsai.

    I look forward to continuing the strong tradition of educating our members and the general public about the art of bonsai. I also hope to continue the growth of our membership and exceed our record membership in 2020. We will continue to put on great programs with great artists and myself and all the Board members are always open to your suggestions about ways to improve the club’s educational offerings.

    I know the last nine months have been difficult for everyone. I have been proud of how HBS has adapted to and overcome these difficult times. I am very appreciative of the HBS Board members, artists and club members who pulled together to keep our educational programs running and to help each other in any way they can.

    As we wait for the Covid vaccine to be widely distributed and for life to return to normal, I anticipate that we will continue virtual programs until the Spring. We will monitor and evaluate conditions as they evolve and work to return to our in-person meetings as soon as it is safe to do so. Thank you for being an HBS club member and I look forward to seeing you in-person again soon.

    Anthony Cutola

    Pomegranate

    Among the fruit trees cultivated as bonsai, two special

    trees look their most festive when winter approaches, just

    in time for the Christmas season. We featured the first,

    the Persimmon last year, and now, the Pomegranate, an

    the untraditional Christmas that Mother Nature decorated.

    As promised last month, here is how you can start your

    own cultivation of these darlings.

    A twisted pome from the Saito collection, Japan (Photo: Bill V).

    The pomegranate, a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub

    originated in the region extending from Iran to northern

    India, and has been cultivated since ancient times

    throughout the Mediterranean regions. It was introduced

    into Spanish America in the late 16th century and into

    California by Spanish settlers in 1769.

    The name Pomegranate derives from the old French

    word pomme - grenade, or in early English, the apple of

    Grenada (Spain).

    Punica granatum var. nana is a the most popular dwarf

    variety of Pomegranate grown as an ornamental plant in

    gardens and larger containers, and as bonsai specimen.

    Training/Pruning

    Clip and grow works best on pomes, since the twigs are

    so brittle, wiring often damage the branches, especially

    those with bloom shoots in the spring. Miniature pome

    only makes small, densely twigged trees or shrubs with

    small blossoms and fruits, and works best as smaller size

    bonsai.

  • However, to prevent

    weakening the tree,

    growers often reduce the

    number of flowers, hence

    the fruits, on each branch.

    Others allow a tree to fruit

    every two years. The top

    can be pruned heavily as well as root prune lightly at

    each repotting.

    With careful planning,

    there may be flowers and

    fruit somewhere on the

    tree every year. Trim non-

    flowering new shoots

    during the growing

    season.

    Train your pomegranate plant into a tree form early in the

    plant's first year, by shaping the plant into a single trunk

    or the plant will naturally develop into a bush. Frequent

    removal of suckers is essential.

    Styles: Pomegranate is ideal for making small bonsai.

    Informal upright works well in order to display the flowers

    and fruits.

    The trunk naturally twists, making it perfect for bonsai

    with the gnarled ancient appearance.

    Temperature

    Although the tree can tolerate close to 10°F, their roots in

    shallow bonsai pots need protection below 40°F. Pome

    grows is best suited to regions with cold winters and hot

    summers, or Mediterranean climates, but needs a cool

    dormant period to produce abundant fruits.

    The first sprouting leaves in Spring come out red then

    turn green. If shape control is desired, once the first

    branches are hardened, cut back to 2 or 4 leaves. From

    the middle of April, the next flush of growth with flowers

    forming at the tips of new shoots, needs to be allowed to

    grow wild for some time to gain strength.

    Light: Pomegranate thrives in full sun and high

    temperature but low humidity.

    Watering: In order to produce fruit this plant likes

    moisture. Never allow to dry out. Keep water away from

    blooms, as this might prevent fruiting.

    In colder environments, the species is deciduous, but in

    our Southern environment, the growth may be continuous

    in mild winters.

    A California

    twisted trunked

    pomegranate

    John Naka

    started for his

    wife Alice (Photo:

    Pinterest)

    Feeding

    Fertilize heavily

    in early spring

    and throughout

    the growing

    season with

    organic

    fertilizer.

    Repotting

    Repot in early

    spring until 10 years old, when minimum night

    temperature reaches low to mid 60°s. Roots are delicate,

    and it does not mind being pot bound. Plant in a pot that

    is a bit deeper than usual.

    Soil

    Well-draining non-organic soil, with balanced pH of 6.6 -

    8.0. but watering and fertilizing need to be increased.

    Organic materials may be added to bonsai mix.

    Propagation

    Poms can be propagated from either seeds or cuttings.

  • Insect/ Diseases

    Watch for scale, mealy bugs and thrips, and check your

    tree periodically for signs of fungal diseases that affect

    the fruit and leaves. Severe fungal infection may cause

    premature leaf loss and fruit splitting. Apply a copper-

    based fungicide late spring or early summer.

    The Pomegranate fruit ripens into a most gorgeous bright

    red. It can be eaten fresh as a great snack, but for those

    who prefer the cocktail drink, its abundant juice is tasty

    and full of rich nutrients. Each country where these trees

    grow well, reported their own miraculous benefits as their

    elixir of youth or their traditional cuisines. Here is just a

    sampler of those superfood qualities.

    Pomegranate health benefits include:

    • anti-cancer properties.

    • support a healthy heart, works like an aspirin to

    prevent blood clotting and lower blood pressure,

    the vitamins and antioxidants incredibly good for

    your heart, and the risk of cardiovascular

    diseases.

    • aphrodisiac properties in love potions/cocktails,

    • arthritis and joint pain prevention,

    • bacterial infections prevention,

    • source of energy. Pome is rich in vitamin C, K

    and group B as well as antioxidants, proteins and

    carbohydrates, a high content of potassium and

    other minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium

    and phosphorus.

    • support digestion,

    • fights wrinkles,

    • bone health improvement.

    • the perfect “brain food” as they help to increase

    cognitive function and memory recall.

    It appears that everyone of us can use a good helping of

    this rich natural juice daily for the maintenance of our

    overall health.

    With so many health protections pomegranates are world

    famous for, a small harvest from a Shohin bonsai may

    never be sufficient for a shot. If you had the choice, look

    for organically grown fruit juice, for commercially grown

    ones are sprayed with a lot of fungicide.

    Last week, in his first 2021 blog, Bill Valavanis shared a

    beautiful tradition his grandmother brought from the

    Greek island. Here is an excerpt:

    When I was a youngster my grandmother had a couple of

    customs she brought from Greece for the New Year

    holiday…

    The Pomegranate is a fruit with a long history going back

    to ancient times. It is widely revered as a symbol of

    fertility, prosperity, regeneration and the inseparable

    marriage of life and death. One of my tasks for my

    grandmother was to take a large, plump, ripe

    Pomegranate and smash it on the doorstep for good luck.

    The blessed luck was proportional to how far the seeds

    were spread. I also had to clean up the red mess which

    stains. We do not follow this tradition for obvious reasons,

    but I might start next year, with a piece of plastic on the

    floor.

    For the entire article, please visit Bill Valavanis’ blog:

    URL: https://wp.me/p3NEgM-4px

    The Asian communities of the world could not wait to bid

    farewell to the year of a very wicked Rat, to welcome the

    gentler Metal Ox. According to Feng Shui experts, this

    hardworking animal is expected to bring hope for career

    advancement, health, wellness, and prosperity.

    The Metal Ox is a healing year or comeback year, after

    all the sufferings of 2020. In agricultural civilizations, the

    Ox is considered the strong and sturdy loyal companion.

    May your new year 2021, the Year of the Metal Ox brings

    you and your loved ones safety, good health, good

    healing, happiness and prosperity.

    Shawn Nguyen

    https://wp.me/p3NEgM-4px

  • HBS Annual Christmas party

    December 5th via Zoom.

    As the Board planned for a Christmas party at

    Mercer Arboretum, with lunch boxes and gift

    exchange, the Houston mayor cancelled out all

    gatherings. The impromptu party returned to

    Zoom, still packed with fun activities.

    Jonas Dupuich

    did a short

    demo on a

    Christmas tree

    bonsai, using a

    Japanese Black

    Pine he grew

    from seeds for

    7 – 8 years. The most important features of JBP are

    short needles and short internodes. Pines that

    developed slowly for a number of years often

    reward their owners with a beautiful foliage and

    silhouette.

    It was wonderful that Jonas could carry on a

    conversation with the Zoom audience and get their

    feedback on what he should do with the tree.

    I was quite relieved that Jonas did not removed

    most of the pom -poms as he proposed as a literati.

    He took the time to thin out the minimal numbers

    of needles to redistribute the energy for new

    growth. Removing too many needles now may

    weakens the tree in the next year. Best to wait till

    Spring. The front Jonas decided on was the angle

    showing beautiful curves.

    Pete prepared a couple of “door prizes”. a Yaupon

    Holly in a 2 gallon container and a juniper

    procumbens.

    Gale Childers was the one in charge of raffle and

    door prizes. The demo tree was won by Vern

    Maddox. Jonas will be shipping the pine to him. On

    the other hand, the Juniper went home with Jerry,

    and the Yaupon Holly went home with Galen and

    Deb.

  • The Christmas party concluded with a very unique

    Bonsai Cocktail Contest to help toast the New

    Year.

    Somewhere in the shadow of his home, our HBS

    Santa (Clyde Holt) seemed to enjoy the Zoom

    party. So far, he probably had not miss a single

    session.

    There's

    nothing like

    being there in

    the venue

    itself and

    seeing familiar

    faces, but the

    board has

    done a really

    great job with the Zoom shows and found plenty of

    ways to safely celebrate the end of what has

    undoubtedly been a very tough year. May 2021

    turns a completely happy and healthy chapter.

    Shawn Nguyen

  • Calendar of Events.

    2021

    JAN 1 Happy New Year! May the new year bring good health, prosperity and happiness to our land, our people and the whole world. Until we are get vaccinated, please stay safe with face masks and observe social distancing.

    JAN 9 HBS monthly program on Zoom: Tips for sustainable and successful collecting: preparation, tools, grafting, wooden boxes and aftercare tips, with Dan Wiederrecht and Steve Varland from Backcountry Bonsai. Dan supplies yamadori to Ryan Neil and other bonsai professionals. The two demo trees will be raffled after the presentation.

    JAN 9 afternoon, 12 - 4PM, Saturday Study Group at Timeless Trees. Free, coffee and juice provided. Please bring your tools, wire, and trees to work with other HBS members.

    JAN 16 Lecture-demo on Ashe juniper by Todd Schlafer on Zoom or in-person at Timeless Trees – 9AM – 12 Noon. Demo tree will be raffled.

    JAN 16 afternoon Todd Schlafer Workshop 1-5 PM $40. Please bring a conifer to work on with Todd. FEB 6 HBS monthly Zoom program: Junipers with Bjorn Bjorholm FEB 13 Saturday Study group at Timeless Trees. Free, coffee and juice provided. Please bring your tools, wire, and trees to work with other HBS members.

    FEB 20 In-person demo and Shohin workshops, at Timeless Trees, tentatively with Mike Lane.

    FEB 20 or 27 Club Dig for native species at Barker Cypress - Addicks reservoir Due to the Covid-19 situation, the Board will not be able to plan for activities for the entire year, like in all the previous years. For the most up to date activities, please visit Houston Bonsai Society Facebook page.

    Houston Bonsai Society P. O. Box 540727, Houston, Texas 77254-0727

    www.houstonbonsaisociety.com HBS Board Members President Anthony Cutola [email protected] 1st Vice President Janny van Beem Education [email protected] 2nd Vice President Nandita D’Souza [email protected] Secretary Chris Lannen [email protected] Public Relations Ken Cousino [email protected] Treasurer Gale Childers Membership [email protected] Webmaster Anthony Cutola Member at Large – E Paul Henderson Member at Large – E Scott Barboza [email protected] Member at Large – E Luis Tehran Member at Large – O Ellis Montes Member at Large – O James Fuller Delegates Past President Pete Parker [email protected] LSBF Delegate Hurley Johnson [email protected] LSBF Alternate Pete Parker BCI Ambassador TTSBE Rep Alan Raymond [email protected] Website/email Anthony Cutola [email protected] Newsletter editor Shawn Nguyen [email protected]

    Space for advertising in The Bonsai News of Houston can be requested by contacting the newsletter editor or a member of the HBS Board. The rates for a business-card-size ad (approximately 3 1/2" x 2") are $10 per month, and $75 per year (12 issues). A full-page ad is $50 per month. Rates are subject to change without notice. 3½" x 2" classified ads are run free of charge for one month once per 12-month period for non-commercial members.

    http://www.houstonbonsaisociety.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

  • Timeless Trees Nursery & Studio would like to extend our appreciation to all HBS members and local bonsai lovers for your relentless support in the past 11 years. Our goal was to create a happy place where novices and serious bonsai students can further their knowledge in the Art of Bonsai with workshops led by local teachers and well known artists, or on occasions, by visiting bonsai masters.

    You can also find bonsai trees of all varieties from all over the country, great pots and display stands, supplies, fertilizers, soils, tools and books as well as gifts for bonsai lovers. Make sure you subscribe to Current Events on Timeless Trees’ website to stay in the know about classes offered weekly.

    We are open on Friday and Saturday, 9AM - 4 PM. Please wear your masks and observe social distancing.

    Quality Feed & Garden owner, HBS member Ken Cousino stands ready to assist with your bonsai necessities. You are invited to come to the HBS Study Group event we host every three months. Quality Feed & Garden offers fruit trees, vegetable seeds or plants, and pet, livestock or wild birds for nearly 100 years. Besides organic and synthetic fertilizers, fungicides, and insecticides, we have added soil blends, Boon’s Mix, Ken's Bonsai Soil with Turface, Organic Bonsai Blend with Pine Bark (10 – 50# bags), as well as Akadama, Lava, Pumice, Kanuma, Clay King Aoki, Turface, Expanded Shale, Charcoal and Granite and also bonsai trees and tools, supplies, bonsai pots of all kinds, and "how to" bonsai books. HBS members receive a 10% discount on bonsai purchases.

    If you are looking for auspicious Feng Shui flowers and plants to decorate your home, garden and ponds for all occasions year round or just for gifts to friends and families, JRN II got them all, including Christmas trees, wreaths and poinsettias.

    The greenhouses are home to countless rare plants and exotic tropical bonsai, aquatic plants for ponds, and the most unusual gifts for all occasions from birthdays, anniversaries, grand openings, house warming parties, Christmas, as well New Year celebrations. Take a stroll in the shop and around the garden to check out the bonsai figurines, boats and pagodas, bonsai supplies, tools and soils as well as bonsai pots, garden statues and Japanese lanterns. You will never know what kind of surprises are waiting for you to take home.

    For advice on all plants and bonsai, please ask Thuy Doan.

    Visit artist Andrew Sankowski at the Mossrock Studio & Fine Art Gallery for the finest gifts and uniquely beautiful bonsai pots in every shape, form and color. If there is a potter who knows bonsai pots, it’s Andy. He also keeps a greenhouse full of a beautiful bonsai collection.

    As a master potter who offers weekly pottery classes, Andy also mixes his own proprietary clay blends and over 100 of his own colored glazes. Bring your unusual trees for him to make unusual personalized pots. Pots as gifts for the upcoming holidays for friends and families, or just for yourself, can be commissioned now. While you are on the tour of gallery and studio, check out the masterpieces of many talented local artists.

    Andrew Sankowski 26002 Oak Ridge Drive Direct (281) 684-4411 The Woodlands, TX 77380