Minutes of the November 17, 2013 meeting of the Michiana Bonsai Study

Present:     Larry Benjamin, Jason Bittle, John Deguara, Bruce Kennedy, Cat Nelson

             and Bill & Norma Osborne

Location:    Home of Larry Benjamin, Bristol , Indiana

Program:   

            We started out "visiting" as we ate lunch: assorted veggies with Beau Monde dip, crackers

            with cheese spread, sloppy joes, butternut squash soup, black bean chili, fudge and lemon bars

           -  all washed down with fresh apple cider. Then, for those who had not been able to attend the

            October meeting, Larry showed the video he had made of Bill Valavanis' International Bonsai

           Arboretum in Rochester, New York. This was followed by a short business meeting in which the

            the motion to maintain the present officers in 2014 was passed. Cat Nelson then provided us

           with a wealth of information on wiring bonsai. She stressed that knowing the characteristics of

           of what you are working with (the wire as well as the plant) is essential. Following strict "rules"

            is neither necessary nor prudent. Cat demonstrated techniques using a Scots pine that she is

            beginning to train. The suggestion was made that we do BYOT wiring program next November,

           an ideal time to wire bonsai.