Welcome to the July edition of the Bonsai4me Newsletter.
Kusamono at the MK show
I had the pleasure of visiting the recent Milton Keynes Bonsai Show in early June where they gave room for a display of high quality Kusamoko, Japanese Flower Arranging. I have to say, the display was very inspiring with many of the same principles of bonsai display, applied to freshly cut flowers and leaves.
Set up in a really nice light space at the City Library, congratulations to all those who made the Show work so well.
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Telford BonsaiLive announcement
CONFIRMED: The Bonsai Show Live 2024, 5th -6th October 2024 at The International Center in Telford.
I’m very pleased to hear the news that the BonsaiLive Show will return in October 2024! Last years Show had a large display area of National-Standard exhibition trees, many vendors and 8-9 bonsai artists demonstrating on a purpose built stage alongside the sales area.
A two day weekend Show, with overseas artists and enthusiasts in attendance, the inaugural event had a distinct European Show level to it and in these Post-Brexit times, that can only be welcomed.
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My garden, looking up towards the house
Summer Senescence
During the driest parts of the Summer in the UK, typically during July and August, you’ll notice leaves on street and field trees starting to yellow and fall.
This is something that can be seen very clearly on species such as Elm, Willow and Birch.
What is happening is that the trees are adjusting their foliage mass according to how much moisture is available at the roots. Although they are not drying out completely (and dying), they are able to adjust themselves and reject a certain number of leaves, by putting them through early senescence, also known as autumn- or fall-colouring.
Having balanced the foliage mass and the moisture at the roots, the tree may then push out new growth in the event of a few days heavy rain!
Our deciduous bonsai are no different. They also will reduce their foliage mass if they are getting on the dry side at the roots.
If you do have a tree that begins to go through some early senescence and has some interior leaves that yellow and fall, it would be worth considering why.
Does your substrate dry out too quickly? Do you need a more water retentive mix or more frequent watering in the future? One quick fix can be to apply a surface layer of a small grain water retentive soil such as akadama as this will help the soil mass as a whole hold onto more moisture between waterings.
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Bonsai garden in the New Forest
Fertilising Bonsai in July
Throughout July is is worth feeding our deciduous bonsai hard to take advantage of the end of their growing season, at a time when internodes are naturally shorter and leaf size reduced.
As normal, I would strongly recommend feeding with organic fertilisers from Oceana every 4 weeks, seaweed from ProBio Carbon every 2 weeks. For trees in development where maximum growth is required, I’d recommend using Fish Emulsion from ProBio Carbon every two weeks.
In July, new buds will begin to set on the new growth of Pines meaning that needle size is set and they can be fed hard to encourage backbudding and multiple buds at the tips of each branch.
The same principles apply to other coniferous species such as Spruce and Cedar and Taxus.
Root growth on pines and spruce is at its strongest as soon as new buds start appearing in mid-July onwards, and my experience it is by far the best, and the safest, time to repot them.
For more information on Seaweed, Fish Emulsion and other ProBio Carbon products, please visit the Bonsai4me.com/store
More Information on Oceana Organic Fertilisers at the Bonsai4me.com/store |
UK Bonsai Association (UKBA)
UK Events Diary for July 2023
01Jul23 Sat (Confirmed)
Manchester Bonsai Society Show
At The Lymm Arts Festival
Lymm United Reformed Church,
David Way, Off Brookside Road,
Lymm, Cheshire. WA13 0WQ.
Adm: Free. Times: 1000-1600.hrs
Ctc: Wayne Crumpton 07742.111142
Email: mbsmembershipsecretary@gmail.com
02Jul23 Sun (Confirmed)
Bedfordshire Bonsai Society Show
Toddington Village Hall, Leighton Road,
Toddington, Bedfordshire. LU5 6AN.
Adm: tba. Times: 1000-1600.hrs
Ctc: Richard Gaiger 07745.507318
Email: r.gaiger@ntlworld.com
www.bedfordshirebonsaisociety.weebly.com
02Jul23 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
Supporting Trader:
Collettee's Bonsai
16Jul23 Sun (Confirmed)
Aka Matsu School Of Bonsai Annual Show
Azure Garden Centre,
Station Road, Cramlington,
Northumberland. NE23 8BJ.
Adm: Free. Times: 1000-1600.hrs
Ctc: Graham Walker 01287.637734
Email: graham.walker11@ntlworld.com
21-23Jul23 Fri-Sun (Confirmed)
Accrington & District Bonsai Society Display
Royal Lancashire Show
Salesbury Hall Estate,
Salesbury Hall Road, Ribchester,
Preston. PR3 3XU.
Adm: tbc. Times: 0930-1730.hrs.
Ctc: Diane Kennedy 07799.567692
Email: dianestardis@icloud.com
www.accringtonbonsai.co.uk
19-23Jul23 Wed & Sun (Confirmed)
At RHS Flower Show Tatton Park
Mereheath Lane, Knutsford,
Cheshire. WA16 6QN.
Adm: tbc. Times: 1000-1700.hrs.
Supporting Clubs:
Cheshire Bonsai Society Display
Fobbs Bonsai Display
Supporting Trader:
David Cheshire bonsai
Derbyshire Bonsai
21-23Jul23 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: Mark Moreland 07850.771201
Email: ukbonsaiassociation@gmail.com
22-23Jul23 Sat & Sun (Confirmed)
Chichester Bonsai Exhibition
Manor Nursery, Pagham Road,
Runcton, Chichester. PO20 1LJ.
Adm: Free. 0900-1700 & 1000-1600.hrs.
Contact: Frank Weaver 01243.586195
Email: frankweaverbonsai@gmail.com
www.chichesterbonsai.co.uk
30Jul23 Sun (Cancelled)
Staverton Group Bonsai Boot Sale
Pound Lane, Semington,
Wiltshire. BA14 6LP.
Adm: Free. Times: 0900.hrs
Contact: Tony Oswin 07776.338899
Email: Rob - oakfieldbonsai@aol.com
or Chris - jeffreyschris@hotmail.com
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I will be at the HyperJapan Festival on Sunday 23 July 23 working on the UK Bonsai Association Display stand. The Festival embraces all things Japanese and we will provide the prescence of bonsai alongside sushi stands, anime, cosplay, manga and J-Pop! Please drop by and say hello if you're there!
Olympia London.
Hammersmith Road,
Hammersmith, London. W14 8UX.
Sun:0900-1700.hrs |
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 your Summer!
Harry |
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