1. March, 2012 Issue No. 3
The Bonsai Circus
Sunday, March 25, 2:00 p.m.
Meet in the greenhouse at Telly’s, Troy,
1:45 p.m. - Meeting setup and socializing
2:05 p.m. - Club business and announcements
2:20 p.m. - Presentations
The bonsai circus is one of our most popular club events because
there’s always something for everyone. Beginners find plenty of
information on the basics of bonsai, while long-time club members
can find unique subjects of interest too. Several presenters will
each give mini-demonstrations on a variety of topics - all President’s Message
simultaneously! March madness is all around us and
the anticipation of spring has
Members and guests can jump from one presentation to the next to arrived! I'm confident we all
catch everything, or stick with one or two for a really in- depth have accumulated some creative
lesson. See the topics that interest you most. Ask the questions ideas for this year. With that said, I
you’ve always wanted to ask one-on-one. It truly is a circus! Just am delighted to announce our next
like last month, we'll be meeting in the greenhouse, so even if the event, the 4sbc 3-ring circus. The 3-
weather is cold outside, inside it'll be warm and (hopefully) sunny. ring circus has always consisted of
fresh concrete methods. Topics
As of newsletter press-time, the following presenters and topics range from choosing the right
were confirmed: nursery stock, soil choices, insect
control, wiring branches, air
Guy Vitale: Styling & air layering a Chinese elm. layering, thread grafting, Forrest
Michael Corbeille: Wiring your bonsai and an introduction grouping, jin, Phoenix graft, tree
to tools. styling, marriage of the correct pot
to tree and last min prep before the
John Stevens: Bonsai soils.
show. Think there is nothing more
(We'll have more presenters at the meeting, but that's all we could you can learn? Come to the circus
confirm by newsletter time. Expect more on the topics of repotting, and show your enthusiasm for the
styling and possibly fertilizers and pest control.) art of Bonsai. Thank you.
One last note: feel free to bring your bonsai in for expert help and
President
advice. Any styling, wiring, repotting, etc. questions are welcome.
Lamont Jackson
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2. New Interactive USDA Hardiness Map
Just a quick note to let our members know that the USDA has revamped
their hardiness zone map. We're still zone 6a here in Oakland county, so
no change there, (6b if you live closer to Lake St. Clair, the Detroit river or
Lake Erie), but the map itself is much nicer now. Check it out at:
http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/
Vance Hanna during last month's meeting.
A Special Announcement from Jack Wikle
Thank you for a great presentation, Vance! Looking back at more than 45 years of pleasure and
Photo by John Stevens. personal satisfaction in "growing" bonsai, and with my
80th birthday rapidly approaching (July 2012), my wife,
Jeannine, and I have decided it is time to pass on the bulk
of my outdoor bonsai collection (some 90 trees or groups
of trees in bonsai pots) before changes in our health or
other circumstances make this transition more difficult.
After having these bonsai independently appraised, they
will be available for sale at 40% off from the appraised
values until Labor Day, 2012.
Our plan is to host the last of our Wikle Bonsai Open
Houses, open to everyone, Saturday and Sunday of Labor
Day Weekend. Until that time, we will continue to
welcome visitation by appointment. If you would like to
come and see us and the bonsai in Tecumseh, Michigan,
call us at 517-423-7893.
Bonsai unsold by Labor Day will be donated to Hidden
Lake Gardens, Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Frederik
Meijer Gardens.
Jack Wikle
Volunteers needed for the
Annual Bonsai Show
Contact Mr. President @ (586) 646-3888 or
sign up at the next club meeting.
2

3. SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BONSAI VENDORS WHAT’S AHEAD ON THE
SCHEDULE FOR 2012
April 29 ....... Focus on Advanced
Techniques.
3 demonstrators will show
must-see techniques
used by bonsai experts.
Beginners can learn a lot
from these techniques too.
May 20* ...... Mentor Workshop.
A BYO (bring-your-own)
tree workshop where
beginners are paired up
with more experienced
members.
June 23-24 . ANNUAL SHOW. Our
once-a-year, not-to-be-
missed event! Featuring
the spectacular bonsai
exhibit, raffles, as well as
bonsai, tools, pots and
supplies for sale.
July 29 ........ Workshop. This workshop
is meant to be relatively
inexpensive and
welcoming for all our new
members that joined at the
annual show. Experienced
members are welcome too.
Club members get 10% discount on bonsai items.
Aug. 26 ....... Bonsai Auction and Pot
Luck Lunch. A great
opportunity to acquire
everything from high-
quality bonsai to low-cost
bonsai stock plants, pots
and tools.
Sept. 30 ...... Focus on Beginning
Techniques. 3 demonstra-
tors will show must-see
techniques for bonsai
beginners. For experi-
enced members, treat this
as a BYO (bring-your-own)
workshop.
Club members get 10% discount on regularly priced bonsai. Oct. 28........Pine Presentation with
Paul Kulesa from the Ann
Arbor Bonsai Society.
Thank you, S+R EVENT RENTAL Nov. 18* ...... Winter Protection. You’ll
learn how to protect your
S+R Event Rental “FOR ALL OUTDOOR OCCASIONS” outdoor bonsai over the
for all your help HARRISON TWP. winter and have them
looking good and ready
with the club’s
Toll Free #: 800-230-7706 for success in the spring.
annual shows!
sreventrental.com *Not held on the last Sunday of the month.

4. OFFICERS, COMMITTEE CHAIRS DIRECTIONS TO OUR MEETINGS
& BOARD OF DIRECTORS Our meetings are usually held at Telly’s Greenhouse at 3301 John R Troy, MI
President ................ Lamont Jackson 48083-5656, between Big Beaver and Wattles. Nursery phone: 248-689-
(586) 646-3888 8735, Nursery website: www.tellys.com. Guests are welcome at meetings.
lamont_tiger@lycos.com
Meetings usually take place on the last Sunday of the month at 2:00 p.m.
Vice-President ........ Michael Corbeille
mrcorbeille@gmail.com Some events are held off-site. Always consult the newsletter issued just
before a meeting for exact date, time and location.
Secretary ................ John Stevens, (248) 544-3112
jalden123@aol.com
E. Wattles Rd. 17 Mile Rd.
Treasurer ................ Janine Makowski
(248) 585-6074
janine.makowski@att.net
Rochester Rd.
TELLY’S NURSERY
Newsletter .............. Kristy Lowell, (248) 670-6712 3301 John R Road
kristy_lowell@comcast.net
Show Chair ............. T.B.D.
Big Beaver Rd. Metro Pkwy.
Website .................. Todd Renshaw, (see below)
John R Rd.
Dequindre Rd.
Exit 67
Director, 3-Yr. Term ... Bette Gay, (248) 515-1732
rgay@voyager.net
Ste
.
Rd
ph
en
ster
Director, 2-Yr. Term ... Todd Renshaw, (248) 585-9916
so
webmaster@mababonsai.org Roche
nH
wy
E. Maple Rd. 15 Mile Rd.
.
Director, 1-Yr. Term ... Jimmy Whiteley
(248) 608-2478
jimantique@aol.com
Director, 1-Yr. Term ... Guy Vitale, (734) 558-2024
guy_vitale@hotmail.com
VISIT THE CLUB WEBSITE AT WWW.FOURSEASONSBONSAI.COM
Four Seasons Bonsai Club Place
913 Hendrickson Stamp
Clawson, MI 48017 Here