News
November 2023 Newsletter
PO Box 2682, Olympia WA 98507-2682
www.olympiabonsai.org *** https://www.facebook.com/OlympiaBonsaiClub/
November meeting
For our November 9th meeting we will welcome Richard Miles of the Northwest Dharma Association. A long time Zen practitioner, he will help us to bring an open heart and a beginner’s mind to our bonsai practice. Miles’ background is varied, from building the Lady Washington and lecturing on astronomy at The Evergreen State College to bringing Buddhism to prisons in Washington State, and more. You can read more about him here.
November workshop
The Saturday workshop on November 18th is an open workshop. Bring your trees to work on and collaborate with other club members on their trees too.
⭐ Workshop volunteers are always needed. Help is needed every month opening and closing the room at the North Olympia Fire Station, contact gerryokeefe@mac.com if you want to pitch in. If you would like to do a presentation at a workshop please let Joe K or a board member know. You can do so by writing an email to the club email address olympiabonsaiclub@gmail.com.
Preparing for winter, complements of Joe K
In the last few weeks we had snow down to the 4000 ft or lower followed by temps dipping down into the high 20s. Many club members were wondering what to do with their plants. First, relax, it's not the end of the world and with just a little precaution your Bonsai will do just fine. Last month I warned about the usual November dive in temps and just on cue here it comes a little earlier than usual, but a common occurrence in the Pacific Northwest. If you see that temps are going to drop below the freezing threshold and rise back up during the day, the likelihood of your plants freezing to death are miniscule, provided you give them the appropriate care. All of your Tropicals should already be moved into a heated greenhouse or indoors under grow light for the winter. All other tender trees such as young maples and other tender deciduous trees should be moved into a semi protected area such as underneath a bench, against a wall with an overhang or into a cold frame. In real dire cases you may even move them into a garage or shed for a short period of time. You may want to heel them in using fir bark. Your pines and junipers should be placed flat on the ground. If you want, you can also heel them in and when the temps rise above the freezing level you can move them back out.
I moved my plants into their winter positions a few days ago and that’s where they will remain until spring or until I start doing my late fall/winter work on them. Make sure your plants remain well watered during the cold weather and if you are moving them indoors be very vigilant.
It’s also time to stop fertilizing your trees and remove any tea bags that contain Organic fertilizer. You should refrain from fertilizing until the spring. It’s also time to check all wire and remove any that is biting into the wood. Let the wood rest a few days or weeks and then begin the process of rewiring again. We often feel that winter is a time for not only your trees to be dormant but for us to take a rest as well. But realistically, it is a continuing process.
I know not what November brings as I am going on my annual hunt in the first week of November and return to have surgery mid-November so I will not be at either the meeting or the workshop in November, but hope to be back in December. Here’s hoping all of you had a good Bonsai Summer and Fall and looking forward to what comes next.
LAVA/SOIL/PUMICE ORDER
Running low on ingredients to repot your trees? The club now offers not only lava rock but pre-sifted pumice and bags of pre-mixed soil. Please contact Kent R. and make arrangements to pick it up directly from him (971-236-3641 or warlordkentax@gmail.com.)
PLEASE RETURN YOUR EMPTIED LAVA BAGS TO KENT FOR RE-USE
2023 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
November Meeting
11/9 7PM / Lacey Community Center
November Workshop
11/18 10 AM - 2PM / North Olympia Fire Station
December Meeting
12/5 7 PM - 9 PM - Mauro Stemberger, Italian Bonsai Artist
👉 NEW LOCATION: Lacey Senior Center, next door to the Lacey Community Center
Officers
President - Sam L.
Vice President - Darrell A.
Secretary - Kent R.
Treasurer - Eduardo M.
Workshop Volunteer Coordinator
Gerry O.
Past President
Gerry O.
Board of Directors
Cole N.
Logan H.
Matt C.
Librarian
Volunteer Needed
Webmaster
Logan H.
Newsletter
Beth R.