The Indian summer has come just about on time. Hopefully your waning deciduous trees are protected from the drying effects of 80 degree plus sun and low humidity of late October weather. An unwanted effect is to have the trees reverse dormancy and begin to bud out. I saw a blooming crab apple last week that was certainly confused. Any new growth should be removed and the tree moved into shade. The positive side of the weather is being able to continue to feed conifers and evergreens and extend the growing season. The trick is to position your trees strategically to take best advantage of the weather conditions. I am always moving my trees around to give them a better advantage. More or less sun, wind protection my trees are constantly in motion. Once the warm weather gives way I’ll move my deciduous trees into a spot that has less wind protection and gets enough sun to help the dormant buds along without triggering an early spring. A dose of 0-10-10, some weeding and critical pruning once they are bare and the structure is apparent and then wait for spring.
I’ll begin pulling last years pine needles and looking for ways to dramatically style my conifers. Never completely dormant in our climate they nevertheless slow down enough that it is a good time to make any heavy cuts or bends without harming the health of the tree.
The first weekend in November is the Golden State Bonsai Convention in Sacramento.
If you have never been to convention it is something to experience. Workshops, demos, and a bonsai exhibit comprised of some of the better trees in the area. Additionally there are vendors from all over the country. http://www.gsbfbonsai.org/Convention06/welcome06.htm for more information.
The year is almost over and we will be voting for the board for the coming year. As I wrote last month the board is in need of members who can commit to attending a board meeting once a month and contribute to discussion on the club’s programs and direction.
I urge each of you to consider this and I will be speaking with you about it before the start of our program at the November General Meeting.
One item of great significance on the agenda is finding other venues for future bonsai shows and sales. As you all know our show at the Cow Palace will be reduced in size to 200 square feet and the sales area will be eliminated. We have been working on possible alternative locations to hold one or more shows with a sales presence. Joe Nersveen has offered to join the board next year he and Joe Dellea have offered to explore alternate sites. The show is an essential function for our club. Preparing for it assures that our trees continue to develop and improve and gives us all a chance to observe how trees progress. Having sales not only generates monies to fund our programs it is the best way to circulate trees among members. I have seen many trees that have languished on one member’s bench only to find new potential in the hands of another member.

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