1. April, 2012 Issue No. 4
Focus on Advanced Techniques
Sunday, April 29, 2:00 p.m.
Meet in the greenhouse at Telly’s, Troy,
1:45 p.m. - Meeting setup and socializing
2:05 p.m. - Club business and announcements
2:20 p.m. – Presentations
3:30 p.m. – Expert help with your Bonsai
As a follow-up to last year's "Focus on Beginning
Techniques," our April program has a similar theme, but
is intended to appeal to the intermediates and experts President’s Message
among us. (Beginners, don't let that scare you away. We have had a crazy spring so far. What’s
You can learn a great deal from this program too.) the weather doing; cold and warm, maple
Our demonstrators will show must-see techniques used trees budding too soon, hopefully everyone
by bonsai experts. trees will be doing well by June. This month
we plan to have a demo of the legendary
Our first presentation will be on the creation of phoenix and mystical phoenix graft. By making your
grafts. (A phoenix is a bonsai technique where a live tree look like it's dead and coming back to
tree is grafted on to a piece of dead wood. The intent is life. It takes skill with a dremel and a steady
to make it look like the live and dead parts of the bonsai hand. I have seen some unbelievable
are all one in the same plant.) phoenix grafts in my time. And hopefully it
will give you ideas for your next project.
Our second presentation will be on creating and There should be one in everyone’s collection
maintaining your own bonsai grow bed. (A garden of specimens. We would also like to prepare
where you can plant inexpensive trees and grow them your show quality trees with some tips for
quickly into larger diameter bonsai stock.) The grow bed the show in June, along with how to design
presentation will be done by Jimmy Whiteley who a growing bed. We should start planning for
maintained the club's grow bed for many years. volunteers for our show in June. It will be a
great experience for the newcomers as well
as the old timers. Mingling with the people,
And finally, we'll have an expert panel discussion on
explaining the art of Bonsai. We should all
getting your trees ready for the annual show in June.
have paid for our yearly dues by now thank
(Plus, we'll answer any other burning questions you may
you. This should be a great meeting for us.
have on any other technique. We hope you come to the I'll see you there.
meeting loaded with questions.)
President
See you there!
Lamont Jackson
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2. All-State Bonsai Show in Grand Rapids, May 12-13
The Michigan All-State Bonsai Show in Grand Rapids is a great show and well worth the
drive. From the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park website:
Pauline Muth will be this year’s featured bonsai artist. She is past-president of the
American Bonsai Society, an internationally recognized bonsai artist, instructor,
consultant and author of many informative articles about bonsai in a variety of
publications. She has studied with some of the greatest bonsai masters, received many
regional and international awards for her trees, and owns and operates pfm bonsai
studio, located in West Charlton, New York. In addition to judging the show, she will be
teaching two workshops and presenting two fascinating demonstrations (“Land & Water
Penjing” on Saturday and “Designing the 5 Styles of Bonsai” on Sunday).
Note: this is not a Four Seasons event, so log on to meijergardens.org for more info. We
may have a limited supply of printed flyers at the April meeting for our non-internet
members.
Remember Volunteers are always needed for
the Annual Bonsai Show
Contact Mr. President @ (586) 646-3888 or
sign up at the next club meeting.
2

3. SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BONSAI VENDORS WHAT’S AHEAD ON THE
SCHEDULE FOR 2012
May 20* ...... Mentor Workshop.
A BYO (bring-your-own)
tree workshop where
beginners are paired up
with more experienced
members.
June 23-24 . ANNUAL SHOW. Our
once-a-year, not-to-be-
missed event! Featuring
the spectacular bonsai
exhibit, raffles, as well as
bonsai, tools, pots and
supplies for sale.
July 29 ........ Workshop. This workshop
is meant to be relatively
inexpensive and
welcoming for all our new
members that joined at the
annual show. Experienced
members are welcome too.
Aug. 26 ....... Bonsai Auction and Pot
Luck Lunch. A great
opportunity to acquire
everything from high-
quality bonsai to low-cost
bonsai stock plants, pots
and tools.
Club members get 10% discount on bonsai items.
Sept. 30 ...... Focus on Beginning
Techniques. 3 demonstra-
tors will show must-see
techniques for bonsai
beginners. For experi-
enced members, treat this
as a BYO (bring-your-own)
workshop.
Oct. 28........Pine Presentation with
Paul Kulesa from the Ann
Arbor Bonsai Society.
Nov. 18* ...... Winter Protection. You’ll
learn how to protect your
outdoor bonsai over the
winter and have them
Club members get 10% discount on regularly priced bonsai. looking good and ready
for success in the spring.
Dec. 8* ....... Christmas Party.
Thank you, S+R EVENT RENTAL (Restaurant TBD.)
S+R Event Rental “FOR ALL OUTDOOR OCCASIONS” *Not held on the last Sunday of the month.
for all your help HARRISON TWP.
with the club’s
Toll Free #: 800-230-7706
annual shows!
sreventrental.com

4. OFFICERS, COMMITTEE CHAIRS DIRECTIONS TO OUR MEETINGS
& BOARD OF DIRECTORS Our meetings are usually held at Telly’s Greenhouse at 3301 John R Troy, MI
President ................ Lamont Jackson 48083-5656, between Big Beaver and Wattles. Nursery phone: 248-689-
(586) 646-3888 8735, Nursery website: www.tellys.com. Guests are welcome at meetings.
lamont_tiger@lycos.com
Meetings usually take place on the last Sunday of the month at 2:00 p.m.
Vice-President ........ Michael Corbeille
mrcorbeille@gmail.com Some events are held off-site. Always consult the newsletter issued just
before a meeting for exact date, time and location.
Secretary ................ John Stevens, (248) 544-3112
jalden123@aol.com
E. Wattles Rd. 17 Mile Rd.
Treasurer ................ Janine Makowski
(248) 585-6074
janine.makowski@att.net
Rochester Rd.
TELLY’S NURSERY
Newsletter .............. Kristy Lowell, (248) 670-6712 3301 John R Road
kristy_lowell@comcast.net
Show Chair ............. T.B.D.
Big Beaver Rd. Metro Pkwy.
Website .................. Todd Renshaw, (see below)
John R Rd.
Dequindre Rd.
Exit 67
Director, 3-Yr. Term ... Bette Gay, (248) 515-1732
rgay@voyager.net
Ste
.
Rd
ph
en
ster
Director, 2-Yr. Term ... Todd Renshaw, (248) 585-9916
so
webmaster@mababonsai.org Roche
nH
wy
E. Maple Rd. 15 Mile Rd.
.
Director, 1-Yr. Term ... Jimmy Whiteley
(248) 608-2478
jimantique@aol.com
Director, 1-Yr. Term ... Guy Vitale, (734) 558-2024
guy_vitale@hotmail.com
VISIT THE CLUB WEBSITE AT WWW.FOURSEASONSBONSAI.COM
Four Seasons Bonsai Club Place
913 Hendrickson Stamp
Clawson, MI 48017 Here