Hello friends, Happy winter. As I write this it is snowing and the forecast tonight is for very cold temps, maybe even below zero! I hope you have adequate plans to protect your trees. While some of them can survive this temperature plunge, many cannot. I keep mine on an unheated porch but have a ceramic heater with a rheostat to try to keep the temps in the upper 20’s. Good Luck with yours. Our first meeting for 2019 will be an exciting one. Because of scheduling challenges IT WILL NOT BE ON OUR REGULAR 3RD TUESDAY NOT WILL IT BE AT MEIJER GARDENS. On Monday March 25 we will once again meet at Kent Career Tech Center for an evening with Pauline Muth. A true Bonsai Master, Pauline has held various positions within the bonsai community including Board Member with the American Bonsai Society and guest artist at the Michigan Allstate Show in Grand Rapids at the Michigan Allstate Show in 2012. She will conduct an evening program she calls a learning demonstration. We will be there from 6:30 till 9:00. We are still waiting to determine which tree she will teach us about and style but I think it will be a nice Itogawa Juniper styled as a Shohin size bonsai. We will also plan to sell raffle tickets for the tree and draw the winner later in the year. The next day Pauline will conduct a workshop featuring shohin itogawa junipers. The class is limited to 10 individuals and will be open only to club members. If the class is not filled by March 4 we will open it to non members. The cost will be $75.00 Registration is currently open You must send your check to our Treasurer Brian McNulty (made to WMBC) at 1537 Hidden Creek DR NE Apart I (NOT 1) Grand Rapids MI 40505. First come first reserved. This workshop will be held Tuesday March 26 from 6:00 till 9:00 pm at Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. In April our regular meeting date will be Tuesday April 16 from 7:00 till 9:00 pm with bonsai 101 starting at 6:45 This will be a working night with everyone repotting bonsai trees. This is a perfect time for repotting so bring one tree you want to repot and you will be able to get help and advice on repotting. You could also bring a tree to style trim wire or what ever you wish to do There will be several club member/mentors available to help. The club will provide materials (wire and soil) for each person to pot one tree. If you wish to do more bring your own soil and go at it! This meeting is to be held at Meijer Gardens Our May meeting is scheduled May 21. We will have bonsai 101 at 6:45 followed by a swap meet and silent auction. We will be auctioning our club library that night so bring your wallet and have fun. This meeting is to be held at Meijer Gardens. Our June Meeting is scheduled for Tuesday June 18, again at Meijer Gardens. Details to follow Remember the March opportunity for a great workshop and send your payment and registration to Brian. More details as we get closer to the date. Tim Cox
  1. (Source Facebook)