President’s Message

August 2023

We are now only two months from our annual bonsai show at the Cupertino Quinlan Community Center on September 30th. I'm getting very excited, as we all should. It will be a wonderful opportunity to show off our bonsai trees we have worked so hard on over the years, and now finally put them on display. But as usual, much planning and organization is required for all of this to take place, especially over the next few weeks. This is a call for everyone in the club to step forward and share in the many jobs required for such an event to run smoothly. In addition, we will need everyone at this time to prepare and refine the trees you plan to show, along with whatever accents or display tables are needed for each tree. For newer members who have trees, but are not as refined for the main room display, we have a tree-in-training area of the show just for you—no one will be left out!

For our First Thursday of September, Juan Cruz will once again review what is necessary to prepare a bonsai tree for display, and the way we set up a display. If you’re new and have questions or need help, Juan will answer all those questions for you.

First Thursday Meeting in August

Valerie Monroe will be our guest speaker for this month. She is an avid bonsai teacher and enthusiast who has worked with bonsai trees for many years with Sei Boku Bonsai Kai. Val, as she is known, will be sharing her many years of experience overcoming the numerous hurdles that bonsai artists encounter with Mother Nature, as well as the diverse teachings we all need to know to be successful with our trees. She would like to pass on to us the many things she has learned when dealing with monthly weather issues, the effect they have on our trees, and what to do when. I hope that we can personally learn and have greater success because of her guidance and techniques.  

She plans to bring in many of her bonsai trees as learning examples, noting the various issues she worked with to bring about the beauty and success that her trees exemplify.

In addition, she asked that Midori members please bring in their problem trees, or those trees that need direction for future development and tree health. It should be a very interest and informative evening for us all!

Third Thursday Meeting in August

We are now nearing our yearly show, and our monthly workshop is designed to help those who need special help with their trees. So bring in your trees for continued guidance and direction that evening. Juan Cruz will also continue with his beginners program that evening. 

Have a great month of August doing bonsai everyone! 🌳