June 1, 2013, Cotoneaster & Pyracantha

The next meeting of the Oregon Shohin Kai is Saturday, June 1, 2013.  We meet between 10 am and 2 pm.  Our speaker this month will be Roger Case, and his topic will be a couple of species very well suited to Shohin – cotoneaster and pyracantha.  If you have some of these trees, be sure to bring them, but if you don’t have any (yet) just bring what you want to work on.  It’s a good idea to bring a lunch, too.

Because of pending changes at our regular meeting place, I’m not certain where we will meet.  Please watch your email the last week of May, or check the website (portlandbonsai.org).  Or contact Jan.

May 4, 2013, Saikei = Instant Gratification

Meeting Summary: BSOP member Lee Cheatle was our guest speaker at the May meeting of the Oregon Shohin Kai.  The main topic was creating Shohin Saikei, or miniature landscapes.  As Lee said, a great way to get some instant gratification and deal with small trees that generally do not look well alone is to put them into a group with other trees, rocks, moss and gravel.  This technique can create a highly gratifying scene in one sitting. Lee also helped several members with their single trees. 

April 6, 2013, Conifers at the Top

Meeting Summary:  Conifers are especially important to bonsai exhibits, as the highest tree on the mountain (or the Shohin stand) should always be a well developed conifer.  These powerful little trees can also serve as a counter-point to a Shohin display that contains a multi-tree stand and a small accent plant. Members attending the meeting of the Oregon Shohin Kai on Saturday, April 6, 2013, enjoyed demos by Scott Elser, 3-time winner at the US National Bonsai Exhibition in Rochester, New York.  Scott showed us how to repot a mugo pine and demonstrated pruning techniques for several pine seedlings which are well on their way to becoming Shohin. He also brought several examples to show. Members brought both raw and refined trees for Scott's review and suggestions of how to take them to the next level.

March 27, 2013, Jim Barrett Shohin Workshop

Event Summary:  On Wednesday evening, March 27th, OSK members enjoyed a workshop with California artist Jim Barrett.  Eight participants and several "silent observers" met at St. Philip Neri Parish at 6:00 pm.  The participants took turns discussing their trees with Mr. Barrett, getting ideas on styling, culture, future potential, and learning about bonsai in general. 

March 2, 2013, Focus on Maples

Meeting Summary:  Thank you Dennis Vojtilla for an excellent, well planned program on Shohin maples on March 2, 2013!  Dennis started with a well organized hand-out, and had a couple hundred examples of a couple dozen varieties of maples.  Well, maybe not that many, but lots and lots of examples and a few for sale.  We learned the differences between the species, and how to pinch, prune, and pot, as well as air layering, fertilizing… everything we need to know about maples.  Including what NOT to use for Shohin (paperbark and hedge maples are two).  After the lecture, Dennis circled the room giving one-on-one care and styling tips for individual members’ trees.

Apex Bonsai was present as well, with some maple starts, tools, wire and soil for sale.  Pretty handy, having a bonsai store come to the meetings!  Thank you Steve.  We hope to see you again next month.

February 2, 2013, Repotting Shohin

Meeting Summary: For the February 2, 2013 meeting, BSOP member Greg Brenden's demonstration of repotting techniques was an exquisite display of care and precision.  He handled his tree with gentle respect, and took the time to patiently get the smallest details of the procedure correct.  In his teaching he stressed patience and attention to detail.  His artist's eye guided members in the choice of pot, demonstrating how to analyze the pot itself to find the best front and match it with the best front of the tree.  He gave a reason for every decision, even when selecting precisely which root to prune and how much.  Greg showed the same patience and precision in preparing the pot screen, mounding the soil, and positioning the tree so that the base made good contact with the new soil.  At every step, Greg was the consummate artist, and it was a real privilege to learn from him. The meeting was also attended by Apex Bonsai, who offered imported pots, soil and tools for sale, and Jan Rentenaar, who brought some of her hand-made pots.