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Welcome to the June edition of the Bonsai4me Newsletter.
It has been a difficult Spring for many of us this year with the discovery of prized trees not emerging from dormancy.
At first 4-5 of my trees appeared to be running late as was the rest of my collection. However there was then a point where the majority of my trees not only came into leaf but grew strongly, but a few others were left behind with anything from barely perceptible spring buds to tiny leaves that have failed to move.
Added to this mystery has been that when the bark of the branches are scratched, they reveal green showing a degree of life. I am now 100% certain that these losses are due to the heat of last year burning the root systems of some trees. The reason that they have shown some form of life this Spring is that they are, unfortunately, dying from the roots upwards.
Any new growth will be thanks to any residual strength that was left in the trunk and branches over the winter. Those that I have lost include some that I have owned through some pretty cold and nasty Winter's and Spring’s without any problems. The one anomaly is last years heatwaves, not the cold weather.
Moving forward, we are going to have to find ways to reduce the heat of the soil in extreme summer temperatures. Placing trees onto the ground (and away from concrete slabs or blocks), covering the pots with wet towels or sacking will go a long way to reducing the temperature of the soil. I would suggest that some kind of action is required if temperatures of over approx 35C if forecast.
There are some silver linings to this year however. Thanks to the proper cold of the Winter, a number of species are responding extremely well this year. After a run of relatively mild Winters my Elms and Hawthorn had been a little lacklustre. This year they are incredibly vigorous and Hawthorn are flowering profusely. I seem to have managed the equivalent of 2-3 seasons development already with some of my trees! |
.JPG "Privet bonsai partial defoliation") |
With Summer now upon us, many enthusiasts will be considering defoliation of their deciduous bonsai. Partial defoliation is the better approach to our trees and will give better results, particularly on species such as Beech, Oak and Hornbeam where it is essential.
Complete defoliation at midsummer is a well-known technique for improving the ramification and density of the branches of a deciduous bonsai.
This method of improving the density of the branch structure is not without its limitations. Some trees and tree species react poorly to complete defoliation with dieback of weaker branches. Others will typically return fewer but larger leaves.
Over the years I have found that partial defoliation can give far more satisfying and predictable results with a large number of tree species used for bonsai. Partial defoliation, as the name suggests, involves leaving some of the leaves remaining on the branches as ‘sap drawers’ to allow the tree to continue to photosynthesise and protect its vigour while it responds to the removal of others, leading to better, more predictable results.
Read More: Improving Ramification in Deciduous Bonsai Using Partial Defoliation
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The end of the road for book publishing?
I’ve been publishing bonsai books since 2011, with a long number of runs of my 3 books Foundations of Bonsai, Bonsai Inspirations 1 and Inspirations 2.
Unfortunately, the costs of printing and shipping bulk quantities of books around Europe has become prohibitive due to Brexit. Book sales have also been hit hard by the loss of the European market due to Excise Duties. The result is that until the negative consequences of Brexit are balanced out, stock levels of my books will soon run dry.
I am now down to the last cases of stock of FoB and Bi2 and I expect to be sold out by the end of the summer. As with my now out-of-print book Bonsai Inspirations 1, once out-of-print, expect FoB and Bi2 to become fairly sought after. So if you wish to get your hands on these books, please consider ordering now while they are available!
See More: Bonsai Books from Harry Harrington |
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BKKS NATIONAL KOI SHOW
A reminder that Bonsai4me will have a large bonsai stand at the premier Koi event of the year and we will be selling a wide selection of bonsai as well as books, fertiliser and other bonsai accessories.
Say hello if you are there!
Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd July. 9:00 to 17:00 on both days. Heart of England Conference and Events Centre, Meriden Road,Fillongley, Coventry CV7 8DX. |
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Maru is a foliar version of the very popular Danu soil bacteria and is sprayed onto the leaves or needles of our bonsai, where it is very effective in tackling 'bad' bacteria and fungal attack such as Elm Gall, Olive Knot, Mildew, Rusts and helps reduce Needle Cast in Pines.
A very useful natural product for providing disease resistance in our bonsai, without using chemicals that will strip all bacteria (good and bad) from the leaves.
During the growing season, Maru is best sprayed fortnightly on problematic trees.
Note that after 3 applications, spaced 2 weeks apart, your bonsai will have a strong colony of beneficial bacteria 'living' in the foliage, branches and trunk of the tree and will not need replenishing.
For more information on this and other ProBio Carbon products, please visit the Bonsai4me/store |
UK Bonsai Association (UKBA)
UK Events Diary for June 2023
31May-01Jun23 Wed-Thu (Confirmed)
Ipswich Bonsai Society Display & Sales Table.
Suffolk Show
Trinity Park, Felixstowe Road,
Ipswich, Suffolk. IP3 8UH.
Adm: £28.50. Times: 0700-1730.hrs.
Contact: Dave Fryer 07449.801297
Email: daveafryer@aol.com
02&03Jun23 Fri & Sat (Confirmed)
National Bonsai Society 50th Anniversary Show
Southport Eco Visitor Centre,
Esplanade, Southport. PR8 1RX.
Adm: Free. Times: 0900-1900.hrs.
Ctc: Stephen Holland 01519.338757
Email: sholland19547@gmail.com
03Jun23 Sat (Confirmed)
Milton Keynes Bonsai Society Show
Milton KeynesCentral Library,
555 Silbury Blvd, Milton Keynes. MK9 3HL.
Adm: Free. Times: 1000-1500.hrs
Contact: Simon Roberts 07592.527736
Email: simon.roberts26@btopenworld.com
www.mkbonsaisociety.co.uk
Supporting Clubs:
Bedfordshire Bonsai Society
Mid-Herts Bonsai Society
Middlesex Bonsai Society
Northampton Bonsai Society
Ikebana Club
04Jun23 Sun (Confirmed)
Chiltern Bonsai Show
Liston Hall, Chapel Street, Marlow,
Buckinghamshire, SL7 1DD
Adm: £2.00 -16s Free. Times: 1000-1600.hrs.
Contact: Michael Pegg & Adrian Garnett
Email: mikew.pegg@btinternet.com
Email: adrian.garnett@virginmedia.com
www.chilternbonsai.org.uk
10&11Jun23 Sat & Sun (Confirmed)
Mid-Herts Bonsai Society
Kingsbury Barn, Branch Road,
St Albans, Hertfordshire. AL3 4SE.
Adm: Free. Times: 1100-1700.hrs
Contact: Geoff Conybeare 07528.614826
Email: info@midhertsbonsaiclub.co.uk
www.midhertsbonsaiclub.co.uk
11Jun23 Sun (Confirmed)
Bonsai By The Sea.
The Pavilion, The Esplanade,
Exmouth. EX8 2AZ.
Adm: £5. Times: 1000-1630.hrs.
Contact: Brian Mackichan 01392.437525
Email: brian.mackichan@mypostoffice.co.uk
www.exeterbonsaisocety.com
Supporting Clubs:
British Suiseki Club
Cardiff Bonsai Society
Celtic Knot
Cornwall Bonsai Society
Dragon Bonsai
Exeter Bonsai Society
Middlesex Bonsai Society
North Devon Bonsai Society
Somerset Bonsai Society
South Devon Bonsai Society
11Jun23 Sun (Confirmed)
North East Lincolnshire & Humberside
Bonsai Show
Darby & Joan Hall,
58 Finkle Street, Cottingham. HU16 4AZ.
Adm: £1.50 -16s Free. Times: 1000-1500.hrs
Ctc: Ian Butland 07963.470696
Email: nelbs.chairman@virginmedia.com
www.nelincsbonsai.org.uk
11Jun23 Sun (Confirmed)
Midland Bonsai Society Show
Birmingham Botanical Gardens,
Westbourne Road, Edgbaston,
Birmingham. B15 3TR.
Adm: tbc. Times: 1000-1630.hrs.
Contact: Richard Gilkes 07803.593024
Email: ragilkes@blueyonder.co.uk
Supporting Club:
Redditch Bonsai Society
15-18Jun23 Thu-Sun (Confirmed)
South Staffs Bonsai Society Display
At Gardeners World Live
National Exhibition Centre
North Avenue, Marston Green,
Birmingham. B40 1NT.
Ctc: Dave Barnsley 0121.6822200
Email:davidbarnsley@blueyonder.co.uk
24Jun23 Sat (Confirmed)
Middlesex Bonsai Society
South Harrow Methodist Church,
Walton Avenue, South Harrow,
Middlesex. HA2 8QU.
Adm: Free. Times:1000-1300.hrs.
Ctc: Mark Moreland 07850.771201
Email: markmoreland@live.co.uk
www.middlesexbonsaisociety.weebly.com
25Jun23 Sun (Confirmed)
Blackmore Vale Bonsai Group Show
Charlton Remembrance Hall,
Charlton, Shaftsbury, Dorset. SP7 0PL.
Adm: £3.00. Times: 1100-1500.hrs
Contact: Geoff 07837.781744 & 01747.853475
Email: m5eay.geoff@btinternet.com
www.blackmorevalebonsaigroup.com
Demonstration by:
Trevor Banbury
Supporting Clubs:
Somerset Bonsai Society
Staverton Bonsai Group
Warminster Bonsai Society
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
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Thanks to the time-consuming task of moving house at the moment, this has been a shorter Newsletter than normal. Service will be fully restored in June!
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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