Everyone wants to know what is the way to having beautiful bonsai trees. And I would answer that you must know the trees you grow, their needs and characteristics, how and when to prune and shape them, when to water and spray for pests, when and how to root prune and repot, how to select an appropriate pot to put them in and how to cultivate and maintain them to keep their size and beauty. Additionally you must study other trees both in nature and the work of others on bonsai material. It seems like a lot to do and it is. But the rewards of owning or knowledgeably viewing a beautiful bonsai are worth the effort.For those of us who love and admire bonsai the attraction runs deep and so does the pleasure.

To those just beginning the first steps of this journey I say prepare yourself for the long haul because bonsai is a life time commitment as most of your trees, if you do right by them, will out live you. How best to tackle this task which seems to grow greater as your knowledge increases? You have already taken the most important first step by associating with this club. In everything we do our focus is on education and training. We attempt to inform the novice and experienced member alike and provide learning and growth opportunities to all. And by we I mean every member because each of us, from the member who has joined last month to those who have been in the club for most of its over forty years existence, has something to contribute. New members bring fresh insights to time honored traditions while long time members bring the awareness of successful growing techniques to help others achieve their goals.

Participation is key to this and really the point of this writing. It is through participation in the activities of the club, our general meetings and workshops and opportunities to volunteer that we all advance our knowledge, sharpen our skills, strengthen our friendships and improve our own trees. I have seen this process up close over many years now and I can guarantee each member that you will see your bonsai improve in direct proportion to your level of involvement in the activities of the club. Our membership holds a vast reserve of knowledge, experience and generosity. Find the time to tap into it and you will reap the rewards.

I have to beat the drum for any who will listen. The Bonsai Society of San Francisco is a club to reckon with. We are dynamic , engaged and enthusiastic for the art of bonsai and are actively promoting it to one another and the community at large.

There are many opportunities for members to participate in the activities of the club in the coming months.

May 11 at our General Meeting Gary Tom will give a talk on developing and refining junipers as bonsai. Many of Gary’s trees have been in training for over 30 years and this is an opportunity for all of us to learn what is possible over time.

May 13 we have a volunteer day at Dorthy Day Bonsai Garden which is the brain child of BSSF newsletter editor Ben Pertosanta and the adopted ward of our club. The garden serves as a lovely backdrop for a elder community which lives in the complex and our clubs participation in its maintenance has been appreciated for some time. Accordingly Ben has announced the creation of a special prize at our December meeting to be raffled off to volunteers each getting one ticket for each work day they attend between now and December.

On May 20 we are seeking two members of BSSF to fulfill a commitment we have made to the Collection North garden for the 1 pm to 4 pm docent shift on the third Saturday of each month. At present their are no members sighed up for May. We would like the spots to be filled by one long term member and someone who is newer to the club, who maybe has never been to Collection North. The three hours fly by and there is plenty to do both in greeting the public and tiding up around the garden. As added incentive a special tree will be raffled at the December meeting with Collection North volunteers getting one raffle ticket for each shift they spend this year.

There is as I say a great deal of commitment and knowledge embodied in our membership Think about how you can become involved in helping to perpetuate our goals of furthering bonsai knowledge and get to work. Speak with other members and speak up about any ideas you would like to see implemented.

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