June Silent Auction
The Annual Silent Auction is coming up. Please print out the form below for each item you bring in. Fill out all the fields except for the bids, then fold at the line and place next to your item.
Print and complete this form for each item in the auction. Make sure to fold the form at the dashed lines!
BONSAI POCKET GUIDE: A Beginner’s Journey
Review by George Haas
This review was previous published in the 2022 February edition of the Marin Bonsai Club Newsletter.
I was asked to review Jason Chan’s new book Bonsai Pocket Guide: A Beginner’s Journey for I love reading all about bonsai. Jason Chan and I share the experiences of being past editors of the Golden Statements Magazine, a publication of the Golden State Bonsai Federation (GSBF).
We both began our journeys into the living art of bonsai about 20 years ago. Jason and his wife Renee own and operate Eastern Leaf, Inc., located in Chino, California. A full service bonsai family business having its beginnings at the San Diego Farmers’ Market in 2004. Jason launched EasternLeaf.com towards the end of 2004. Today, their business is recognized by numerous home and business magazines and publications and serves many Fortune 500 companies in spreading eco-friendly messages. Their products line includes full bonsai supplies, wedding, and event favorites.
The book, Bonsai Pocket Guide: A Beginner’s Journey, is a compilation of the last 20 years of learning and experiences in bonsai through Jason’s perspective. He was given much help along the way. Since 2012, Jason has been an apprentice to the southern California favorite and infamous bonsai artist and instructor David Nguy. Jason served in a number of bonsai community organizations, including elected board trustee of GSBF, editor of its quarterly bonsai publication, officer of Kofu Bonsai Kai of Anaheim, California, and a founding member of the Chino Bonsai Club. He also helped with establishment of Bonsai Jidai, southern California’s premier bonsai school. Jason is active in conducting demonstrations, producing blog articles and how-to videos.
Jason is an accomplished photographer. The book’s photographs are detailed beautifully and illustrative.
The Bonsai Pocket Guide: A Beginner’s Journey is divided into 29 topics: How to Use this Book on page 7, How to get Started on page 14, Designing & Styling on page 45, Identifying Species and Classification on page 57, to The Ongoing Process on page 88. I truly appreciate the topic Species Reference Guide provided at page 90. The entire book is well organized and easy to use as a reference.
It is a small book measuring 5 by 7½ inches total. Every topic is packed with bonsai basic information and illustrations. The past 20 years of bonsai have undergone a vast amount of information going forward from classic Japanese teachings to contemporary techniques and practices. Jason provides the reader with what is currently the modern approach to the art of bonsai.
Jason gives the beginner in bonsai some fundamental advice about getting started in bonsai. Under the topic How to Get Started on page 14, he provides the following:
“For everyone that’s come to me with that question, I’ve told them the very first step is simply to learn how to keep the tree alive.
“TREES IN A CONTAINER CAN ONLY RELY ON YOU FOR ITS NOURISHMENT AND SURVIVAL.”
Throughout the book, Jason uses his abilities in photography to provide illustrative pictures depicting such items as the size and texture of soil particles used in bonsai potting. Other examples include step by step procedures for repotting a bonsai.
Overall, Bonsai Pocket Guide: A Beginner’s Journey is a comprehensive understanding of bonsai in contemporary times. Jason takes on this giant challenge of introducing someone to bonsai through an easy to read and to understand modern step-by-step practices and techniques.
The final topic, the Species Reference Guide, on page 90 is a summary of care and maintenance for nine common beginner bonsai species. The information lists common and botanical names of the most favorite bonsai species and includes basic knowledge of pruning, watering, light, fertilizing, repotting, and pests & diseases. A valuable resource guide for all bonsai enthusiasts.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the Bonsai Pocket Guide: A Beginner’s Journey. Jason has produced a wonderfully written and photographic book on the bonsai hobby. I strongly recommend this book as a primary text supplement for any beginners’ class or workshop.
Anyone starting out in learning bonsai will be greatly rewarded by first reading Jason’s pocket guide on bonsai. 🌳
BONSAI POCKET GUIDE: A Beginner’s Journey
Authored by Jason Chan
Soft cover, 108 pages
Published by Eastern Leaf
First Edition 2021
Language: English
ISBN 978-0-578-86272-9
$8.95
https://www.easternleaf.com/product-p/802090-07.htm
UPCOMING MIDORI EVENTS
June Silent Auction
Thursday June 2nd, 2022
June is our annual Silent Auction. It’s the same procedure as last time. Bring in those trees, pots, tools, stands, you name it that you don’t need to the auction. A silent auction sheet is provided in this newsletter for you to fill in for each tree.
JUAN CRUZ’S BEGINNER’S BONSAI WORKSHOP CLASS
Third Thursdays March-June
For those of you who would like to get additional help and instruction for your bonsai trees, the club is offering a beginners class starting in March. Your instructor will be Juan Cruz, a dedicated bonsai artist who loves teaching the art of bonsai.
He will cover all basic aspects of this amazing hobby. Juan started his first class in March at our usual workshop on our third Thursday meeting.
There will be an up front $5.00 charge to cover the four classes over a four month period. Please contact Juan at our first monthly meeting and let him know that you would like to be included with this group. Juan will let you know what materials you'll need to bring to each class each month.
New students are always welcome to start any time.
Developing Shohin Trees with Juan Cruz
Thursday July 7th, 2022
Juan will be presenting the process of creating shohin trees. These are trees that are small enough to be held in the palm of your hand. They require much more particular attention than a larger standard tree. Don’t miss this wonderful presentation.
Nursery Tour
Saturday, July 16th, 2022
Three-Way Group Presentation
Thursday August 4, 2022
This will be a special presentation from Drew, Tung, and Elliot. The topics will be a surprise for all of us.
(Ok, I’ll spill the beans, at least mine. My topic will be on Automated Watering Systems. Great for those who haven’t retired yet and need to travel often. All the ins and outs of those in this presentation!)
MIDORI BONSAI SHOW
Saturday October 1, 2022 at the Quinlan Community Center in Cupertino
Our annual show is back! Please sign up to volunteer for this event. We will need everyone’s help in making this show happen again. 🌳
UPCOMING NORTHERN CALIFORNIA (AND BEYOND) BONSAI EVENTS
Sei Boku Bonsai Kai 37th Anniversary Bonsai Show
June 4 & 5, 2022
10am-4pm with Special Events at 1pm both days
San Mateo Garden Center
605 Parkside Way
San Mateo, CA
Come celebrate Sei Boku Bonsai Kai’s 37th Anniversary Bonsai Show, June 4 and 5, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the San Mateo Garden Center, 605 Parkside Way, San Mateo. Saturday demonstration by Steve Iwaki at 1:00 p.m. Sunday workshop by Jerry Carpenter and Valerie Monroe at 1:00 p.m. Raffles, door prizes, tree clinic, vendor sales, plant sales. Free admission. POC is Jeremy Foster at coastaqua@yahoo.com.
VALLEY BONSAI SOCIETY 12TH ANNUAL SHOW
June 18-19, 2022
10am-4pm with demonstration at 1pm
Alden Lane Nursery
981 Alden Lane
Livermore, CA 94550
The finished trees will be raffled off at the end of the demonstrations. Bonsai pots, soil, etc. available for purchase. Admission is free.
MARIN BONSAI CLUB AT THE MARIN COUNTY FAIR
June 30-July 4, 2022
Marin County Civic Center
Join the Marin Bonsai Club at the return of our annual show at the Marin County Fair. This year’s show will be outdoors as we celebrate Being So Happy Together.
The Marin Bonsai Club regrets that due to the logistics of tree safety for an outdoors show, the club will be postponing our wonderful show until 2023. Once things are indoors again, please come back and check out our show at the County Fair!
Special Makishima Auction
July 9, 2022
Preview at 11am
Live Auction at 12pm
Lakeside Park Garden Center at Lake Merritt
666 Bellevue Ave
Oakland, CA
The BGLM will conduct a special one day auction and sale of bonsai trees from the personal collection donated by Dennis and Joanne Makishima, on July 9, 2022, at the Lakeside Park Garden Center, 666 Bellevue Ave., Lake Merritt, Oakland, California. Preview of auction will start at 11:00 a.m. and live auction at 12:00 p.m. Sale follows immediately after auction. This event is predicated on the largest single donation ever made to BGLM. Bonsai trees include legacy pines, cedars, maples, and more, dating back to the early 1950s and 1960s. All proceeds go to support the newly created Dennis and Joanne Makishima BGLM curator fund. For further information, contact George Haas at gwhaas@comcast.net or visit the BGLM website http://bonsailakemerritt.com.
Joint Bonsai Sale by MBC and REBS
Saturday August 6, 2022
11am-4pm
Terra Linda Community Center
670 Del Ganado Rd
San Rafael, CA
Joint Bonsai Sale, hosted by MBC and REBS, on Saturday, August 6, 2022, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Terra Linda Community Center, 670 Del Ganado Rd, San Rafael. The sale will include established and starter bonsai trees, pots, tools, etc. Checks and cash accepted. Free admission. Parking available. For details, contact Diane Matzen at dcmatzen@gmail.com or George Haas at gwhaas@comcast.net.
GSBF Bonsai Rendezvous 2022
October 8 & 9
Hotel Mission de Oro
13070 S. Highway 33
Santa Nella, CA 95332
Annual GSBF event held at Hotel Mission de Oro, 13070 S. Highway 33, Santa Nella, CA 95322. Free and open to the public. 30+ vendors from northern and southern California as well as several out of state vendors will be on hand both days. Admission is free, donations are appreciated. Free demonstrations throughout the days. Bring-your-own bonsai work area. Mel Ikeda and his tomodachi group will demonstrate the art of creating bonsai amongst friends. Silent auctions of bonsai trees and related material will be held both days. Consignment silent auction sells opportunities are available. Rendezvous hotel room rate $155 two-night minimum. For more information contact Rich Guillen at richguillen@att.net or (831) 348-5015.
PACIFIC BONSAI EXPO
November 12-13, 2022
The Bridge Yard
Oakland, CA
The Pacific Bonsai Expo is a juried exhibition featuring 70 outstanding bonsai displays and a selection of the community’s top vendors. Jurors Bjorn Bjorholm, Ryan Neil, and William N. Valavanis will select the trees. The exhibitors are the judges. Your trees are the stars. It’s an event not to be missed. 🌳
