Akron Canton Bonsai Society
July 2015 Newsletter
Akron Canton Bonsai Society, July 2015 p. 1
Member of Bonsai
Clubs International
President’s Notes:
Great Show, Rain & the Meeting
The Akron Canton Bonsai Society was created to understand,
enjoy, learn and share ideas about the art of Bonsai. In short: it's
all about our trees.
Officers:
President
Matt Connelly
1st Vice President
Gib Butler
2nd Vice President
Eric McDaniel
Treasurer
Gary Gifford
Publicity Officer
Mike Rusnak
Recording Secretary
Carolyn Hanlon
Newsletter Editor
What a wonderful show we had in June at the Irish Fest. There were so many
new trees on exhibit this time. Including a show stopping, full bloom Azalea
and an awesome, massive, collected Beech. The Penjing display was in full
glory and truly has come into its’ own. And it wasn’t just the big guys that
drew attention. Some unusual items were catching eyes too. Who would have
guessed a Habanero would be a bonsai? Great show. Thank you for all that
helped. Special thanks to Emmett who was at every shift. That’s commitment!
Water, water everywhere…. As we end June with the third wettest month
recorded in Ohio, be on the lookout for pests starting to nestle into trees.
Cool and mild weather has been a time to heal for many of my severely
damaged trees that made it through the winter. Also, don’t forget to fertilize
regularly--trees may become nutrient depleted fairly fast.
Looking forward to seeing everyone on the 9th of July for our Tropical
meeting. Eric and Emmett have some special plants we’ll work on.
Matt
Mike Rusnak
Librarian
Mike Antoniotti
Meetings:
1st Thursday of each month 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the
Cuyahoga Valley Art Center
2131 Front Street
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Use rear door on lower level
Meeting:
July 2, 2015:
Tropicals—Parrot's Beak
Bring. Share. Collaborate.
Spectacular Greeting for visitors entering the exhibit
2015 June Show Case Shines
by Michael Rusnak
This year's June Show Case may
have had more member
participation than any of our
recent shows. When setting up
on Thursday evening, we
brought in two additional display
areas to accommodate the
One of many cool trees
number of fine trees that
Akron Canton Bonsai Society, July 2015 p. 2
members brought to share in the exhibit. In addition, we had a wide variety of species and styles. The
greenery of the penjing project was looking full and lush and greeted visitors as they entered the
exhibit. Just behind the penjing was Ken Huth's stunning azalea which was covered in white –as well as
occasional pink--blossoms. The timing on this was perfect. In contrast, one of Dan Tullius' terrific dead
wood and green junipers sat i right beside the colorful azalea. Each of these pieces led to one tree after
another and drew one positive remark after another from the groups of visitors that came to our show.
Throughout the day on Saturday, ACBS members trimmed impatients and other small annual plants to
look like literati and gave them to interested visitors, many of whom made a small donation to our club.
See all of the photos of the 2015 show at our gallery site:
http://picasaweb.google.com/akroncantonbonsai
A video tour of the 2015 show plus all of our videos are at:
https://www.youtube.com/user/AkronCantonBonsai/videos
Minutes from the April Meeting
The June meeting was set-up for
the show, which by all reports was
a success.
The July meeting will be tropicals,
you can bring your own or we were
planning to have a project tree. We had decided on Parrot's Beak.
Reminder: The picnic will be September 19th at the Butler Park
Pavilion in Green from 4PM to 8PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn Hanlon
Small plants for interested visitors at show
Akron Canton Bonsai Society, July 2015 p. 3
Rohrs Mini Show-- more to come
by Emmett Bratt
The Rohrs mini show was held Father's Day weekend . A representative number of trees were
displayed, and even know Saturday's weather was less than favorable the visitors seemed to enjoy
them.
Demos were held both Saturday and Sunday at noon. Even with the rain on Saturday we had 6 people
attend the demonstration. Sunday's turnout was much better, as was the weather, with 20 people
viewing the demonstration. The boxwood that was created in Saturdays demo was raffled to the
attendees of both demos. A number of people ask about our club and were given cards, hopefully a
few will come to one of the meetings.
Rohr's has already mentioned the possibility of a show again in the fall.
Emmett' Internet Bonsai Picks: Check this link on DIY fertilizers for your trees:
http://bonsaitonight.com/2015/06/30/how-to-fill-a-tea-bag-with-fertilizer/
This month's meeting
This month's meeting—July 9, moved back one week due to the holiday
Yes, we'll have parrots beaks—a good small tropical with leaves that resemble trident
maples—for our tropical workshop. Ken Huth has provided the club with these cool
plants. We should have a number of tropical plants for people to work on.
Emmett will have some Pyracantha available too, so we should have a couple options for
those interested.
Upcoming ACBS Meetings and Events
•
•
ACBS Summer Picnic Plans, Need for Volunteers Freida Hunter Bates Pavilion at Boettler Park
on September 19 reserved time from 4:00 to 8:00-- discussion and sign up sheet at July/August meetings
As always, bring a tree to every meeting.
Bonsai News Items:

**Close Event—The Indianapolis Bonsai Club will host the 2015 MidAmerica Bonsai Alliance convention at the Clarion Hotel In
Indianapolis, Indiana July 10-12, see http://www.maba2015.com/ with
ACBS members Ken Huth and Frank Mihalic as guest artists

Columbus Bonsai Society's annual exhibit is July 18-19 at the
Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 East Broad Street , 10 am to 4 pm


October 10-11 20th Annual Carolina Bonsai Expo at the NC Arboretum,
Asheville NC. Exhibition of work by 15 bonsai organizations from a 6state region; educational programs; marketplace; Guest demonstrator:
Walter Pall. Admission to show is free. www.ncarboretum.org
The 3rd Winter Bonsai Show in Kannapolis, NC that will
be taking place onDecember 5th and 6th, 2015
Akron Canton Bonsai Society, July 2015 p. 4
Bonsai Pilgrimage, Part 2:
A Walk through the Bonsai Village in Omiya
Homes with bonsai gardens, Azalea Hedges & a visit to three bonsai nurseries
by Michael Rusnak
A map from the Bonsai Art Museum showed areas of the famous
Bonsai Village and the location of its nurseries. Somehow, I headed
in the wrong direction from the museum and found that I had to ask
directions again from friendly
people who directed me back
to the areas where the
nurseries were located.
Bonsai manhole cover in Omiya
It seemed that this area has
such a different flavor to what
I had been seeing in at our
hotel back in Tokyo. This
of course was a small
town, and perhaps because
of it tradition in the history One of the Omiya Nurseries
of bonsai or just the more
laid back atmosphere or both, small private gardens ruled—and
many gardens with bonsai.
I recalled the history of the Village—established in Omiya in 1928
after an earthquake, and four requirements: 1. Possession of at
Home bonsai garden in Omiya
least 10 bonsai,
2. Agreeing to open their gardens to the public, 3. No two story
houses, and 4. The use of hedge as live fencing.
This tradition was
very much alive.
It seemed that just
about every side
street or alleyway I
crossed through
had well tended
gardens, and many
with a line of
bonsai just over a
gate or under a
A couple of well developed tridents
carport or on top
of an elevated
deck. Bonsai were definitely still a part of the this city's
character as well as its history.
Large slanting black pine
Having been lost for a while, it was good to find a large city map posted on a street corner, and
following the you are here mark, I could see one nursery was very close by. I admit that the bonsai
Akron Canton Bonsai Society, July 2015 p. 5
here had a certain enchantment over me. Either that magic or just reading the map upside-down,
but right across the street was an open gate—entering into long rows of gorgeous bonsai.
The character of these trees was like a beacon-- these full
flowing, lush foliage outlines just screamed at me in the
sunlight and let me know that this was the place to see
some fine bonsai being developed and cared for. I ran
across the street. The tree guy there welcomed me and I
was free to look around and take all of the photos I
wanted.
You were just in the middle of hundreds of great trees. I
wandered through the pathways between benches and
just lingered. This was bonsai heaven. They just have
such great material to work on. Beyond the rows of trees
in
this particular nursery, you could see that there was even
a
growing area up
above on top a car port. They were making good use of
their space.
At this nursery, deciduous trees seemed most prevalent. I
was especially taken by some of the grove plantings and
the trident maples. Their foliage triangles were just
spreading, well shaped and glorious.
Just up the road, another nursery had many more pines
and also shimpaku junipers. The gentleman working here
spoke English and
when I gave him
our club card, he
welcomed me and
One of many mountain shimpaku
made sure I saw
some of the
fantastically shaped shimpakus in their collection. This
nursery also had some serious pines—and some
especially great cascade pines. Plus there were a number
of tall literati specimens that I just wanted to hug they
were so cool.
One cascading pine sported a small hen and chicken
companion plant cascading over the opposite side. Sort of
a counter balance of the plant world.
I visited three different nurseries. All allowed me to
wander about as much as I wanted and two permitted
me to take all of the pictures I wanted.
Omiya side street with azalea hedges
Akron Canton Bonsai Society, July 2015 p. 6
At the end of my time in Omiya, I wandered back toward the train station, and couldn't help but to
feel the sense of mixing everything good that bonsai and the trees have to offer with the everyday
lives of people.
Some of the side streets there served as a reminder of the
village's original requirements—the concept of using live
hedging, only here with azaleas to form the barriers
between cars and bike paths. Plus more gardens in the
homes, many with bonsai next to the front door, on the
porch or on top of a garage, keeping the Village's original
spirit.
Waiting for the train back to my hotel, I realized that in all
the excitement I had forgotten about things like lunch,
Another fine pine in bonsai nursery of Omiya
what time of the day it was and stuff like that. For certain,
bonsai can cast its spell over, an obsession that just holds on and won't let you go.
MORE ACBS SHOW PICS
Orphaned Trees-- Recently a man named Bob from Wooster
moved to Texas and wanted to give his trees to someone who might
give them a good home. These trees will be up for adoption at the July
meeting-- two field maples, a honey suckle and an extra large scotts
pine. They are rough, in field clay, but might be fun to work on.
Akron Canton Bonsai Society, July 2015 p. 7
Pictures & Video of the ACBS 2015 June
Showcase Posted
A great show deserves a visual record. Don't forget to check out
the photos of all of the trees from our show at our gallery site,
https://picasaweb.google.com/117185823413448957904/June2015ACBSExhibit
Sometimes photos just don't quite do it. That's why we also have a
neat walk-through of the exhibit at our Youtube spot at this link:
https://youtu.be/1qJ4fjZK4z0
Worth another look
Real and spectacular, our trees speak for themselves-Visit ACBS on the Internet & share with your friends:
Our blog spot:
Our photo galleries:
And YouTube:
http://akroncantonbonsai.blogspot.com/
http://picasaweb.google.com/akroncantonbonsai
http://www.youtube.com/user/AkronCantonBonsai?feature=watch
Cool bonsai stuff on the internet:
Great series of videos on larches, from Nigel Saunders of Canada. Check out
how he creates a home-made finished look for a forest planted in a seed tray:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWAUAXn4ICw
Tour of some awesome trees in Japan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ok2LtQVOJDQ
Akron Canton Bonsai Society members are invited to submit articles, book reviews,
photographs and/or announcements of interest to the newsletter. Email to Mike at
[email protected]