Welcome to the Bonsai4me March Newsletter.
February 2024 started the bonsai event season with a bang! With the Swindon Winter Image Show, The Trophy in Genk, Belgium and then the Doncaster Bonsai Experience on consecutive weekends through the month.
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Willow bonsai by Simon Temblett
Swindon 'Winter Image' show
Early February saw the return of the Swindon 'Winter Image' show 2024, long established as a Bonsai Show with high-quality trees and the start of the British Bonsai calendar.
I’d been invited to display my Acer palmatum/Japanese Maple bonsai, and run a Bonsai4me trade stand with the help of the B4me team.
Thanks to everyone who stopped by and said hello, it was a very busy day!
In my opinion one of the best deciduous bonsai I’ve ever seen was at the show (see image above), a Willow bonsai by Simon Temblett in a weeping style, one of the hardest branch structures to pull off convincingly
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Apprentice Syed standing next to a stunning piece of Sabina Juniper raw material at The Trophy.....with a price tag of 11,000 Euros!
The Trophy, Genk, Belgium
This year, my first since 2020 and Covid, involved an 8 hour journey starting at 1am on the Saturday, arriving at the Show for 10am. Getting to Genk is always something of a trek but it is always worth the hassle when you arrive and are faced with 4 huge halls of displays and trade stands plus the demo auditorium!
Saturday was absolutely packed with huge crowds, however Sunday, as with all two day shows, was quiet enough to be able to wander around fairly uninterrupted. As one would expect from the biggest European show of the year, the quality of the bonsai on display was very high. As was the quality of bonsai and raw material for sale on the trade stands.
Whispers at the Show said that next years 3 day event, will be the 25th and final Trophy unless some younger blood can take over the reins. So if you’ve ever wanted to attend, it’s essential that you make plans for next February.
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I thoroughly enjoyed catching up with some good friends from Europe, including French bonsai artist Laurent Darrieux, famed for his ‘Cosmic Bonsai’ style.
I am fortunate to have returned to the uk with stock of his two books
So I’m very pleased to announce that I have copies of the books Cosmic Bonsai 1 and 2 by Laurent Darrieux available for sale here in the uk via the Bonsai4me.com/store, fresh from the Trophy last weekend!
Because I ship from the UK this is your opportunity to obtain these books in the uk without the possibility of customs duties. I can of course ship to anywhere in the world.
Both books explain Laurent’s artist philosophies and the techniques used to create his unique style. They are not however ‘beginners books’ and already having a basic understanding of bonsai is required. |
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I am currently working on and recording a number of videos that will become public next Winter. These videos are being edited in a similar style to my current work on YouTube; so fairly direct, fact-filled and hopefully free of too much waffle and filler!
They will however explore a more detailed approach to styling bonsai, in terms of techniques and design, making them an average of 20-30 minutes content. Something I know many YouTube viewers have asked of me.
The videos are currently only available privately on YouTube but if you would like a taster of the new output, please follow the links here in this Newsletter. The first exclusive Bonsai4me video shows the styling of a Larch bonsai during dormancy and illustrates some of the design aspects of tree that is too tall. Winter Pruning And Detail Wiring A Larch Bonsai |
The second exclusive Bonsai4me video covers the very basic structure of pine growth through the growing season. My aim with this video is to help people understand the basic growth pattern of pines and help them have a plan for approaching their pines of all varieties.
Pine techniques are often overly complicated for the beginner, and for more advanced enthusiasts trying to apply them too early in the development of a bonsai.
Hopefully this short video will go so way to helping you out!
A Basic Straightforward Guide To Pine Bonsai
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The queue outside the Doncaster Bonsai Experience half an hour before the doors opened last Sunday morning!
Doncaster Bonsai Experience
Not only does the Doncaster Bonsai Experienceit draw a huge number of people traveling from across the country, there are always massive number of traders and always a superb display of bonsai. This year was no exception!
News reached us after the Show that following a meeting with management at Markham Grange Nursery & Steam Museum this morning, it has been agreed that the event was the final one.
Unfortunately they have become victims of their own success. The sheer number of people arriving at each event meant they gradually outgrown our venue, and this has had an increasing impact on the smooth running working life of the garden centre. For a number of hours on Sunday, the carpark and overspill car park were completely full and there were cars parked on both sides of the narrow country lane that leads to the Garden Centre.
The work that the organisers put into making Doncaster happen was incredible, each year, and they did it for 16 years running.
They should be immensely proud of what they have achieved. |
UK Bonsai Association (UKBA)
UK Events Diary for the coming month:
09&10Mar24 Sat & Sun (Confirmed)
Dragon Bonsai Spring Show
Open workshop & Clinic
Aberglasney Gardens, Llangathen,
Carmarthenshire, Wales. SA32 8QH.
Adm: £9.50 Children Free
Times: Sat 1000-1600.hrs Sun 1000-1500.hrs
Contact: Chris Thomas 07798.798194
Email: chris.thomas1@sky.com
17Mar24 Sun (Confirmed)
Southend Bonsai Society Spring Show
Ashingdon Memorial Hall,
Ashingdon Road, Rochford,
Essex. SS4 3HF.
Adm: £3. Times: 1000-1600.hrs
Ctc: Paul Schofield 07942.679688
Email: southendbonsaisociety@gmail.com
24Mar24 Sun (Confirmed)
South East Bonsai Fair
Little Fant Farm, Farleigh Lane,
Maidstone, Kent. ME16 9LY.
Adm: Free. Times:1000-1500.hrs
Contact: Adam Hadley 07765.522117
Email:hadoribonsai@gmail.com
24Mar24 Sun (Confirmed)
Friends Of The National Bonsai Collection
Bonsai Boot Sale
Birmingham Botanical Gardens,
Westbourne Road, Edgbaston,
Birmingham. B15 3TR.
Adm: FREE. 0800-1200.hrs.
Contact: Kim Turton 07760.186522 (Text Only)
Email: turtonkim@hotmail.com
14Apr24 Sun (Confirmed)
5th Expo Bonsai UK
Sponsored by UKBA
K2 Leisure Centre,
Pease Pottage Hill, Crawley,
West Sussex. RH11 9BQ
Adm: £8. Accompanied under 16.yrs Free.
Times: 1000-1600.hrs.
Contact: Steve Hale 07850.771201
Email: ebuk18@gmail.com
www.ExpobonsaiUK.weebly.com
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Please forward the Newsletter to fellow enthusiasts and club members. They can also subscribe for themselves via the Form on the Bonsai4me.com homepage.
Enjoy!
Harry |
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