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A huge Japanese White Pine bonsai I refined during June 2024 in the New Forest.
Welcome to the Bonsai4me July 2024 Newsletter.
After a relatively cool month dominated by, it seems, continual Northerly winds that kept evening temperatures below the magic 12C that triggers faster growth, we have finally had a stretch of hot weather. Albeit only for a few days.
We’ve now entered what tends to be the hottest part of the Summer and the possibility of very hot temperatures that can potentially cause damage to ours trees. Memories of the damage caused by the record-breaking 38-40C temperatures of 2022 are still very fresh for many of us.
I have noticed a few enthusiasts panicking already but the current temperatures of 25-30C are a normal, annual event and as long as watering requirements are met, will cause no issues whatsoever.
However, be on the look out for heatwaves where +35C and up are forecast. This is where real damage to overheating pots and root systems is a possibility. Particularly if the night temperatures don’t drop below 20C to cool everything down somewhat.
Remember, placing your trees in the shade, on the ground where temperatures are less affected by the ambient heat, and even covering pots with wet towels, sacking or cloth will be more than sufficient to protect them.
My feeling is that unless the winds turn to southerlies, we won’t have any particularly hot +35C temperatures this year. |
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| Yours truly working on the Japanese White Pine bonsai; it's only now that you can see exactly how big a tree it is! |
The original planned front and back cover for Bonsai Inspirations 2, in the end we used an image of the tree in leaf for the front cover.
The Foundations Of Bonsai is now out of stock.
There are still copies Bonsai Inspirations 2 available so it is still possible to obtain it without paying silly prices on EBay.
Until the economic and political fallout of Brexit is reversed, there will be no further print runs of any of my books. Including Bonsai Inspirations 1; something I’m asked about regularly!. If you’d like to get your copy of Bonsai Inspirations 2 before they totally sell out, it would be worth doing now from the Bonsai4me.com/store! |
New Video On YouTube!
Watering Your Bonsai With Rain Water
Tap water contains many chemicals that aren’t great for bonsai; ammonia, chlorine and chloride being amongst the worst offenders. In hard water areas, limescale causes many problems particularly with the build up of limescale on the trunk, bonsai pots as well as a white film over the leaves.
Switching to rain water, and water obtained by reverse osmosis during the drier summer months isn’t that difficult and for a relatively small amount of money and effort, it’s possible to have cleaner, more healthy water for your trees, coming through your hose.
Watering Your Bonsai With Rain Water
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The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter WohllebenRecently, I have been reminded of a fabulous, awe-inspiring book The Hidden Life Of Trees.
It's not a bonsai book. However it is one that will give you a great insight into trees, how they communicate and support each other. How they adapt to fungal or pest attack, how they adapt and grow according to their environment giving them the ability to obtain gallons of water a day and support a weight of many tonnes of weight, sometimes many hundred feet into the air.
As well as giving you a wide array of interesting insights into trees, the books also gives you a deeper understanding of how and why some bonsai techniques work so well........ and why some bonsai techniques don't!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hidden-Life-Trees-International-Communicate/dp/0008218439/
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UK Bonsai Association (UKBA)
UK Events Diary for the coming month:
07Jul24 Sun (Confirmed)
Bristol Bonsai Society Show
Failand Village Hall, Oxhouse Lane,
Failand, Somerset. BS8 3TS.
Adm: £5. Under 16s Free.
Times: 1000-1600.hrs
Ctc: Mark Wood 07964.249279
Email: bbs-site@outlook.com
www.bristolbonsaisociety.wordpress.com
14Jul24 Sun (Confirmed)
Surrey Heath Bonsai Show
Chobham Village Hall,
Station Road, Chobham, Surrey. GU24 8AQ.
Adm: Free. Times: 1000-1600.hrs.
Contact: Chris Rhodes 01276.20893
Email: rhodes163@googlemail.com
www.surreyheathbonsai.org.uk
Supporting Club:
International Saikei Association
19-21Jul24 Fri-Sun (Confirmed)
Accrington & District Bonsai Society Display
At Royal Lancashire Show,
Salesbury Hall, Salesbury Hall Road,
Ribchester, Lancashire. PR3 3XR.
Adm: tba. Times: 0930-1700.hrs.
Ctc: Diane Kennedy 07799.567692
Email: dianestardis@icloud.com
www.accringtonbonsai.co.uk
19-21Jul24 Fri-Sun (Confirmed)
UK Bonsai Association Display
At Hyper Japan Festival
Olympia London.
Hammersmith Road,
Hammersmith, London. W14 8UX.
Adm: tbc. Times: Fri 1200-2030.hrs
Sat: 0900-2030.hrs Sun:0900-1700.hrs
Contact: Russell Wheeler 07810.372377
Email: russboy23@gmail.com
20Jul24 Sat (Confirmed)
Surrey Heath Bonsai Society Display
At Wood Street Village Show,
Village Green, Wood Street,
Guildford, Surrey. GU3 3EU
Adm: Free. Times: 1200-1700.hrs.
Contact: Chris Rhodes 01276.20893
Email: rhodes163@googlemail.com
www.surreyheathbonsai.org.uk
20Jul24 Sat (Confirmed)
Waltham Forest Bonsai Club Display
At Ingatestone Summer Show.
Seymour Field, New Road,
Ingatestone, Essex. CM4 0HH.
Adm: tbc. Times: 1230-1700.hrs
Contact: Chris Brown 07907.429439
Email: bcraindancer@hotmail.com
20-21Jul24 Sat & Sun (Confirmed)
Chichester Bonsai Exhibition
Manor Nursery, Pagham Road,
Runcton, Chichester. PO20 1LJ.
Adm: Free. 0900-1700 & 1000-1600.hrs.
Ctc: Liz Panton 01798.865551/07368.327244
Email: lizpanton5@gmail.com
www.chichesterbonsai.uk
21Jul24 Sun (Confirmed)
Bonsai Fair
Penkridge Markets,
Clovelly, Pinfold Lane,
Penkridge, Staffordshire. ST19 5AP.
Adm: Free. Times:1000-1600.hrs
Contact: Mark Akins
Email: penkridge@beechfieldbonsai.co.uk
04Aug24 Sun (Confirmed)
Staverton Group Bonsai Fayre
Opp Long River Farm,
New Town Road, Westbury,
Wiltshire. BA13 3ED.
Adm: Free. Times: 0900-1600.hrs
Contact: Tony Oswin 07776.338899
Email: Rob - oakfieldbonsai@aol.com
or Chris - jeffreyschris@hotmail.com
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The Bonsai4me workshops are back next month!
The Bonsai4me workshops are back next month with the first one on August 17th
With myself and 2-3 apprentices on each date, we can handle a lot of work over the course of the day.
Bring whatever you wish us to help you with but August tends to be a focus on Juniper and Pine styling and repotting.
I have added a string of 8 dates to the Bonsai4me.com/store please visit to book your place. |
I am off to Stockholm in Sweden at the beginning of July for a weekend workshop; something that I am lucky enough to do since the inception of Thor Holvila’s Scandinavian Bonsai Retreat 9 years ago. Look out for images of some fantastic yamadori pine on social media in the coming weeks!
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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