Minutes of the November 11, 2012 meeting of the Michiana Bonsai Study

Present:      Larry Benjamin

               John DeMaegd

               Bruce Kennedy

               Mary Morgan

               Cat Nelson

               Cheryl Owens

               Sue Salach 

Location:     Home of Larry Benjamin, Bristol

Refreshments:    (Lunch)  Rose & Larry Benjamin

Program:

        We started with a discussion of plans for 2013. The (somewhat tentative) schedule we came

         up with is as follows:

Month            Location                Program

* January         Lintons             Shohin bonsai  (by Cat Nelson)

* February        Lintons             Japanese Gardens  (by Cheryl Owens)

* March          Lintons             ?   (by Paul Weishaar)

April         Potawamini Park        Bonsai Exhibition (by our club)

May          Meijer Gardens         Michigan All-State Show

* June              ?               Repotting  (BYOT - bring your own tree)

July         Kittles (Huntertown)      Ft. Wayne auction & picnic

August     Chicago Botanic Gardens    Chicago Show

* September         ?               Bonsai Styling (BYOT)

* October           ?               Video from Larry's Bonsai Tour of America

* November   Home of Larry Benjamin  Wiring  (BYOT)

     *  NOTE:  We need people to volunteer to bring snacks for these meetings. Please email Larry.

        Next, we held our annual election of officers. It was moved, seconded and approved that we

   retain the same officers for 2013 as those in office in 2012. Finally, it was announced that Cat

   Nelson had authored a book: Introduction to Bonsai Pots. Cat passed around several copies

   for us to see (and, buy). Cheryl then guided us as we worked on the day's activity: needle pruning.

    It was pointed out that, after needle pruning, wiring may be done. Also, we learned that needle

  pruning should commence from the top. (If you don't get the job completed, the bottom could

  experience die-off if only it has been pruned.) Cheryl demonstrated on the Ponderossa Pine that

  she had brought while Cat worked on a fairly large Scotts Pine which she had brought. Meanwhile,

  Larry did a little work on a Mugho Pine he had purchased at Cheryl's sale.