CLUB OFFICERS:Co­Presidents .................................... Bill and KarlVice President ............................................... Mary Treasurer ........................................................ Gary Web Master / Newsletter ............................ WayneLibrarian ......................................................... DerekRefreshments ............................................... Elaine

Inside This Issue• President’s Message ........................... 1• Maker's Faire ....................................... 2• Support MABA ..................................... 4• Sampling of Suiseki books .................. 4• Show 'n' Tell ......................................... 2• Other Bonsai Events & Info ................. 3• 2020 BBS meeting ideas...................... 4• Jan­2020 Dinner & Dues Reminder..... 1

President’s MessageDecember­12th meetingAre you tired of combating insect pests sucking the life out of your trees? Did your teenage next­door neighbor forget to water your trees while you were on vacation? Did the deer and rodents make a meal out of your best bonsai? Did the Japanese beetles defoliate every bit of green on your Siberian elms?

Friends, there is a solution to all these problems – ROCKS. They require no watering or fertilizing; they require no pruning or wiring; they are unbothered by aphids, spider mites, scale, and all other insect pests; they never become pot bound; no worries about over­wintering; and best of all, they are impossible to kill. Now, any rock will do, but it is far, far better to have something ‘artistic’.

Our December meeting will feature everything you need to know about suiseki – artistic rocks.

If you Google books on suiseki, you will be amazed at how many books have been published on the subject. YujiYoshimura, Vincent Covello, Willi Benz, Kemin Hu, Manette Gerstle, and many others have all penned works about viewing stones. (See some books on page 4 ... and an overview of suiseki from Bonsai Empire.)

Cookies !!! Our December meeting also features our annual cookie­fest. No one should feel obligated to bring any cookies – there are always way more than we need – but, if you are so inclined, we won’t discourage you.

By the way, there are still some opportunities for 2020 officers ... particularly President! — Karl

Annual Dues ... are coming due !Dues are due for the coming year. You can pay Gary at the December meeting — which remember is necessary to attend the ...

January Dinner Our January Dinner will be held at Imperial Garden Restaurant on Jan­9­2020. You can order from the usual menu and separate checks will be provided.

So, do not come to Olbrich on January 9th – there won't be any bonsai action at Olbrich that night.

Badger News | A Publication of the Badger Bonsai Society | December 2019

Next Meeting Date:Thursday Dec­12­2019 | 6:30 to 8:00pmOlbrich Botanical Gardens3330 Atwood Avenue, Madison, WI

AGENDA:Suiseki, 2020 Program Ideas, Cookie­Fest

Dec­2019 Badger News | A Publication of the Badger Bonsai Society page 2

Show 'n' Tellremember, bringing something related to bonsai to the meeting to show & tell about, will get you an additional ticket for our meeting door prize drawings!

The November show and tell was once again very interesting. Ralph brought along the same small Chrysanthemum that he showed at the Oct meeting, but it was in bloom now (incidentally this was from Kings Mum club purchase years ago); Caden showed and discussed his efforts on Jade plants; Ron and Mary discussed scale control for tropicals. ... Thanks for sharing!

BBS at Maker’s FaireA big ‘thank you’ to Derek and Wayne for manning our bonsai booth at this years Madison Mini Maker’s Faire on Sunday Nov­24th.

There is always a lot of interest in our hobby from people attending the Faire. Sounds like some new connections were made, and even potentially some re­connections with prior club members.

The display is shown to the right.

NOTE that a prominent display banner could sure enhance the club's appearance ... let's discuss this as a possible investment.

Derek convinced Wayne to do a brief demo on a small (4" diameter pot) Procumbuns nana Juniper ... this was inspired by a YouTube video ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwX0hxAdL4A )by Jason Chan of Eastern Leaf ­­ a bonsai retailer ( https://www.easternleaf.com ). NOTE: There are many good "time­lapse" bonsai styling videos on Jason's site ...

BEFORE AFTER

Dec­2019 Badger News | A Publication of the Badger Bonsai Society page 3

Other Shows and Conventions or Societies:

Winter Silhouette Bonsai Expo

Sunday, Dec 8, 2019

Kannapolis, NC.

Free admission. Demos by William Valavanis, Rodney Clemons, Tyler Sherrod and Owen Reich.With 2 rooms of vendors.

For more info see: www.winterbonsai.net

Northern Virginia Bonsai Society Spring Show

Apr 11 – 12, 2020

Merrifield Garden Center,

12101 Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA (map)

Potomac Bonsai Association Festival

May 1 – 3, 2020

United States National Arboretum,

3501 New York Ave NE,

Washington, DC 20002, USA

Bonsai Vision 2020

May 14 – 17, 2020

Drury Plaza Hotel San Antonio North Stone Oak, 823 N Loop 1604 W E, San Antonio, TX 78232, USA (map). Lonestar Bonsai Federation Convention

For more info see: www.sanantoniobonsai.org

Brussel’s Rendezvous

May 22­24

Olive Branch, MS

National Bonsai and Penjing Museum

3501 New York Ave NE, Washington, DC

Bonsai Global Seminars Oct. 8­11, 2020. Kellogg Conference Hotel and the U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC. Hosted by: American Bonsai Society, National Bonsai Foundation, Bonsai Clubs International, Potomac Bonsai Association. This could be the most significant bonsai event many of us could ever attend. Please watch for updates.

Info provided by ABS (American Bonsai Society).

Tentative 2019 Calendar forBadger Bonsai Society meeting & events:

(date is 2nd Thursday unless noted differently below)

See page 4 for 2020 meeting and event ideas.

Jan­2020: Annual Membership Club Dinner

2020 Mid American Bonsai Alliance:

Insights Into Bonsai

June 25­28, 2020 at The Four Points Sheraton Milwaukee North Shore (8900 North Kildeer Court, Milwaukee, WI).Hosted by the Milwaukee Bonsai Society.Additional information is being added frequently. Guest Artists: Francis Jeker ­ France Ted Matson ­ California

our website: badgerbonsai.net

REMEMBERNo meeting in Jan­2020 ... instead we have our annual members dinner.

Details can be found on page 1 of this newsletter, and will also be posted to the BBS website ASAP.

ALSO remember ... that BBS annual dues for the 2020 year can be submitted at the December or February­2020 meetings.

click image for link

Dec­2019 Badger News | A Publication of the Badger Bonsai Society page 4

A sampling of books on Suiseki ...

Ideas for 2020 BBS meetings / activitiesHere is a listing of what members would like to see and do in 2020. From the Nov­meeting, and are not arranged in any particular order.

• Workshops

• Piggyback with other area clubs to secure visiting artists

• Hold public seminar sessions

• Conduct beginner class(es) – through Olbrich,or UW, or Klein’s, or Rotary Gardens etc.

• Root­over­rock program or workshop

• Air layering

• Nursery and/or collecting trips

• Slab workshop

• Bonsai Styles with member show and tell

• Discussion of Dos and don’ts of bonsai design

• Problem tree – ideas from other members

• Repeat of three simultaneous demonstrations

• Team styling event – Club would purchase raw material; then teams of 3­5 people would collectively style their tree; with finished trees auctioned or raffled off

I only got about a half dozen cards returned to me at the November meeting. So, if you turned in some suggestions it is possible the card didn't find its way to the front. Don't hesitate to offer other ideas. ­­­ Karl

regarding MABA 2020 ...

The Milwaukee Bonsai Society is hosting the MidAmerica Bonsai Alliance (MABA) convention June 25­28, 2020.

Registration from Jan­5th to Feb­29­2020 is $195; then the price will go up. This is a great deal and tremendous opportunity right in our back yard to see world­class artists and acquire some unique trees and supplies at a very reasonable cost. You as a BBS member are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. We need to support this effort. Sixteen workshops, many demonstrations, lots of beautiful bonsai on display, and more. See the MABA/Milwaukee 2020 website for more information.

At the Nov meeting, RonF gave an overview of the artists and demonstrations and workshops and vendors that are currently scheduled for MABA­2020.

More details and links to this event can be found on page 3 of this newsletter.