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February 2025 – MBS & RBS Newsletter

REDDITCH BONSAI
www.midlandbonsai.org www.redditchbonsai.co.uk
Edition of late February 2025.
Editor’s remarks.
Well, I am afraid that it has not been such a good start to the year here. I contracted a
bit of a cough in early January and that developed into the virulent Influenza A
which is going around. This put me in hospital for a few days and the whole thing
has left me a bit washed out to say the least.
We did however manage to get a programme put together for the MBS and it’s hoped
that this will be something that you can all warm to as the year progresses. We still
have to finalise the Redditch programme but we are getting there and as I write it’s
hoped that it will be completed and agreed by all at the AGM due on 20th February.
Late in January we were approached by Malcolm Hughes wearing his FOBBS hat.
You may remember that they run a New Talent competition, in fact we seem to
remember that one or two of our members may have taken part in the past. Malcolm
asked whether we would mind if FOBBS ran this year’s competition alongside our
Annual Show in June. His proposal was to try and persuade the Botanical Gardens to
allow the use of the bar area between the two main function rooms for this exercise,
so that their activities would not take up any space that we might otherwise be using
in our hall. The Committee were asked to consider this and have agreed that
Malcolm’s proposal be acceded to. He has been asked to liase with Show Secretary
Dave Attwood to move things along.
Coming up at the MBS.
March 6th is the date for the next meeting and features Repotting and Root pruning.
If we are correct David Cheshire will be helping out at this meeting.
Coming up at Redditch Bonsai.
As mentioned above we have the AGM this coming Thursday 20th February and we
hope that this edition will be published before then and that as many current
members as possible will attend. Redditch has never been as large in membership
terms as the MBS and unfortunately we have lost a number of members recently for
one reason or another. Efforts have been made to garner new people but it’s just not
that easy and frankly of late people have tended to drift in and then drift out again
quite quickly. It’s all very disappointing. No-one wants to see the Society fold but
Treasurer Wes is getting quite despondent about the whole thing. You will hear what
he has to say on Thursday.
The meeting will accordingly comprise:- 1. The AGM, 2. Discussion about the 2025
programme, 3.Discussion about the future,,and 4. If there is time a look at any trees
brought along by members,
Bonsai tip of the month.
Due to my indisposition I have hardly been outside in this cold weather, but I have
managed to keep my trees watered and sheltered from the worst of the weather. It’s
time to think about re-potting. Make sure that you have all the soils that you require
and have clearly identified all the trees which you wish to deal with this year. We
know that some members keep meticulous notes about each tree in their collection
but we are afraid that doesn’t include us! We do however know which trees were
re-potted in years gone by so when the time comes we can make decisions about this
year based not only on the individual tree’s performance in 2024 but also its potting
history.
Gardening tip of the month.
We are growing quite a few Amaryllis this year and they have now been in the
relative warmth of the dining room for several weeks and are already developing
flower stalks. We are hoping for a good display. Keep them reasonably well watered
and give a regular feed.
If you have them in the garden then get outside and enjoy the snowdrops! Ours are
just coming into flower although they have been threatening to do so for some time
now. It’s just been too cold for them. Another favourite is the Spring Snowflake,
Lecojum Vernum – which is also appearing just now. Garden centres may sell these
in small pots of 4/5 bulbs and they can be good value giving instant flowering if
planted now.
We made a short burst down to the allotment earlier in the week and found enough
daffodils to make a splendid display, although they took a few days to actually
blossom in the vase.
Time to order seeds, and other “stuff” for the coming year. Try Chiltern Seeds for the
former – they have an excellent and very extensive catalogue.
Here’s a picture of a lovely little tree given to Alex at Christmas. It may already of
course have been displayed at either the January or February meeting. I see that I am
not the only one who sometimes forgets to take the price tag off!
(There was also a copy of Peter Adams’s “The Art of Bonsai” which, although a bit
long in the tooth now, still has a wealth of good advice etc within!)
Websites.
It looks as if we missed off the address of a couple of websites when we published
the January supplement.
To put that right, here they are:-

  1. Deadwood (January)
    https://www.bonsaiempire.com/basics/stylingdeadwood
  2. Soils (February)
    https://www.bonsaiempire.com/basics/bonsai-care/bonsai-soil
    All day workshop.
    We are, as you will have already read in the supplementary Newsletter in January,
    thinking /proposing to organise an all day Workshop at the Cricket Club, probably
    on a Sunday.
    Is anyone interested? Do please let us know as soon as possible. The Cricket Club
    have agreed to allow the use of the room, so if there enough members interested it’s
    just a question of organising a date.
    We look forward to hearing from you.
    This event would also be open to Redditch members.
    Membership update.
    Your membership secretary, Teanah, would really like to hear from all those 2024
    members who have not yet committed to 2025 and paid their subscription. So, do get
    in touch and let her know your intentions. You know who you are! Teanah is missing
    you!
    New arrangements.
    Your Committee would like to hear from you if you have any comments or
    suggestions about the new approach to monthly meetings.
    Advertising.
    We regret to say that we have not yet received, as far as we know, any “entries” or
    suggested designs for the proposed car sticker. Does no-one have an idea or three for
    this venture?
    Trip to Cottered Japoanese Garden and elsewhere.
    This day out to Cottered is scheduled for May 25th. Teanah is organising things for us
    and we are sure that she will soon be in touch to set out her full proposals for the day.
    M.B. This trip is of course open to both MBS and Redditch members
    Judging by comments made about the venue by David Cheshire your participation
    will be well rewarded.
    Teanah has also been trying to organise a return trip to the Bonsai expert, John Pitt in
    Derbyshire. We are afraid that she has unfortunately drawn a blank here, as it
    appears that John has “retired” from all things Bonsai.
    Malcolm Beach’s Bluebell Walk.
    As you will also see from your programme Malcolm is proposing to lead a jaunt
    around the back of the Lickey Hills to view the bluebells when in flower. This will
    be on the first Saturday of the month of May which is 3rd May So, the month will be
    a busy one.
    We (A and I) took part in the last outing a couple of years ago and thoroughly
    enjoyed the afternoon as Malcolm has a wealth of knowledge about the natural
    world which he is only too happy to impart.
    We would urge members to support this initiative by Malcolm.
    Accordingly please let us know if you are interested in participating.
    If we are not mistaken the afternoon will start from Birmingham Road, Lydiate Ash,
    near Singletons Nursery. This road is now pretty quiet and parking should not be a
    problem.
    R and A Gilkes. Ed. February 14th 2025.

January 2025 – MBS & RBS Newsletter

REDDITCH BONSAI
www.midlandbonsai.org www.redditchbonsai.co.uk
SUPPLEMENTARY NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2025.
The sole purpose of this Supplementary Newsletter is to inform MBS members
about the programme for 2025. Please study it carefully. Any comments would be
welcome. Redditch members will hear from us early next week!
The Society is adopting a new approach to life as we know it in 2025!
There will be attached to this Supplementary Newsletter a Programme of events for

  1. What follows is intended as a commentary upon and explanation of changes
    being made and new additions to the programme.
    The key feature of all this, however, is that there will be more emphasis on a
    practical approach to Bonsai. Each meeting, more or less, will comprise a short talk
    on a particular subject/aspect of Bonsai followed by a practical workshop session
    with more experienced members and/or invited guest speakers offering help and
    guidance to members as desired. So far we have spoken with David Cheshire and
    Malcolm Hughes about these changes and they are both ready and willing to support
    you in this way. Please refer to the attached programme for full details of each
    meeting.
    Here, in no particular order, are some comments/explanations of the proposals.
    The Society reaches 50 years of age this year. Judging from the Minutes in our
    possession the first meetings took place in late 1975 with the first AGM held in
    December 1976. So, your committee has decided to hold an “Anniversary Social
    Evening” which will take place at the Cricket Club on Thursday 2nd October 2025.
    Brian Cooke has agreed to organise the event and will be forming a sub-committee
    of members to assist him. More details of final proposals to follow in due course.
    The Club’s Annual Show will take place on Sunday 8th June. David Attwood has
    been appointed Show Secretary for this event and indeed any other similar events
    that we decide to organise. He too will be forming a “show sub-committee”.
    For new members who do not have any or only one or two trees we propose to
    donate a “starter tree” free of charge by way of encouragement.
    We hope to organise at least one “All Day Workshop”, probably on a Sunday from
    say 10.00 until c. 4.00 when members may “come and go” as they choose.
    Teanah Rowland is organising Trips for us this year. She has already fixed 25th May
    2025 for a trip to the world renowned Cottered Japanese Garden” near Stevenage,
    Herts. One bonus of visiting on that day is that the collection of the well known
    Bonsai Artist, Harry Harrington, will be on display there. More details of the trip to
    follow from Teanah in due course but put the date in your diary. Redditch members
    are of course to be invited to join in the fun.
    Teanah is also trying to organise a return trip to the garden of renowned expert,
    bonsai artist and pot maker, John Pitt, in Derbyshire. Watch this space for more on
    that.
    Teanah will also shortly be asking you to think about the Tombola at the show by
    suggesting that you put aside any “unwanted or unused” presents to swell the prizes
    on offer.
    She is also to organise a “Bottle Prize Draw” in house. Every bottle donated is given
    a number. Every member gets a ticket. An equal number of prizes and tickets so
    everyone wins something. Simple! There might well be a small entry fee! Let’s see?
    Malcolm Beach has very kindly agreed to organise a ramble around the “backside”
    of the Lickey Hills in the early part of May (a Saturday or Sunday afternoon) in
    delightful woods called Beacon Wood and Chadwich Wood. Well worth the effort,
    so please support Malcolm.
    Advertising. We have one or two ideas about this, You have, no doubt, already
    started designing your entry for the sticker competition, so we will see how many
    entries come forward for judging before embarking on any other similar ventures.,
    which might include pens, badges, coasters and keyrings.
    Other comments upon the programme and notes attached:-
    David Cheshire and Malcolm Hughes will be on hand on the dates identified.
    The websites noted are there to enable you to do some background reading upon the
    subject of the month’s meeting.
    A further copy of David Cheshire’s Soil Notes will be circulated in the early new
    year.
    The words “Committee Meeting” in notes to several months simply serve as an aide
    memoir to your secretary to think about organising a meeting around that date if
    required. The committee meeting would not take place at the cricket club on the
    night of the monthly meeting.
    Here are the details of the 2025 Programme.
    Our monthly meetings will offer an initial talk from our experienced members, or a
    guest speaker, followed by guided workshops and help with members’ trees.
    Month Meeting Activity Notes
    January 9th Membership update
    Deadwood – Jin & shari
    workshop – led by DA & BC
    Donations request: Tombola, raffle &
    bottle prize draw.
    February 6th Bonsai soil & feed mix –
    sharing practice.
    Membership update
    March 6th Repotting & root pruning –
    David Cheshire
    Membership update
    April 3rd Wiring workshop – David
    Cheshire
    May 1st Show preparation – Malcolm
    Hughes
    Bank Holiday Bluebell woodland walk –
    Malcolm Beach
    25th Visit to Cottered Japanese Garden
    June 5th Show classifications
    Pruning & defoliation
    Final show prep
    Sunday 8th June = show
    July 3rd Accent plants
    August 7th Rock planting & building
    landscapes – Malcolm Hughes
    September
    4th
    Autumn colour art workshop –
    paint & other media
    Crafting trees from wire, painting pictures
    of your trees & sketching your trees.
    David Attwood, Brian Cooke & Teanah
    Rowland
    October 2nd 50th Anniversary Social
    November
    6th
    Winter prep Committee Meeting
    December
    4th
    AGM, Mince pies & Quiz
    BRING YOUR TREES WITH YOU!
    You will have ample time to work on them, get advice and maybe even show them
    off!
    Your committee sincerely hopes that you will find this new approach useful,
    interesting and enjoyable. As ever, feedback would be much appreciated.
    Richard and Angela Gilkes. 3rd January 2025.