Warminster Bonsai Club

I give you all a chance to have a closer view of these unique and inspirational creations.

The December meeting is our AGM and Decorated tree competition, the AGM usually doesn’t take much time we end it when we can hear snoring or members start throwing things at us.

This year in a break from tradition it was decided we would have a Christmas themed Penjing competition and the winner to be presented with the much coveted trophy.

So it was with many thanks to Amelia who scoured the materials for the Penjing that as soon as we wrapped up the AGM there was a rush to pick your pot, tree or trees, rocks and assorted tasteful? decorations.

And the design juices were allowed to flow ( I noted how quiet the room went ). See below the intense concentration this art requires.

And finally see how the many years of studying and workshops on bonsai produced such high end results easily worthy of exhibiting in an exclusive London gallery. I let you decide.

Competition result

Winner of the Tree Of The Month Competition

Well done Geoff

And the one you have been waiting for the best Penjing

Awkward time of year for trees many have turned and colours fading and some have dropped their leaves but lots of rain making compost sodden so not much brought in to work.

Still we had a chance to talk about the Decembers meet which is our AGM and how we have an alternative to the now famous decorated tree competition.

TOTM

Due to commitments that cropped up during the year only four of us could make the date so we filled our cars with trees, two reasons Lee can work through trees at an amazing rate and this is an opportunity to have your trees assessed for styling and refinement.

I have recommended to club members even if you think your trees are not good enough just come along as an observer you will learn so much about each species, control of pests, styling and refinement in just one day.
You also learn more about how the Japanese grow and develop their trees and how Lee has to adapt these methods for our climate,

I must try to encourage members to pop in on the next Saturday we have Lee, he should not be missed.

Needless to say we all enjoyed the day and never stop learning.

This is one of my Junipers I took in on the workshop but had to work on it at home.

This is its initial styling, it will now be aloud to develop the live lines to the remaining branches, then repotting and further refinement carving next year.

Busy meeting good time to reassess both mature and newer tree surprising how mature trees change requiring some form of restyling over the years.

TOTM

We had booked this Saturday workshop with Dan very early in the year and had looked forward to this for quite some time especially as Dan had offered to bring along his potters wheel for anyone to try out.

We were able to lay out the ten tables one for each person and an area for the wheel, Dan started off with the basics of rolling out a base, rolling out the walls, the preparation to score the surfaces to join each together.

He also covered free forming a thumb pot and how he makes feet for his pots.

Some of us had already had measurements and even a plan of the particular shape they had in mind for a particular tree or trees. some decided to go down the art pottery route and why not.

This included not only more formal pots but a slab for a forest planting and one member wanted a crescent pot ( thats the one which had to be shaped upside down in the photos ).

With that Dan assisted by his partner Carly lets us loose on the clay, between them they circulated amongst helping, advising throughout the day and credit to them everyone achieved the pots they had in mind.

I had a large pot in mind and as Dan advised you can lose 10% shrinkage in firing it did come out very large in its raw state and did I take some flak for this with comments like is this your new bath/hot tub and which end are the taps going and the drainage holes look like they will take a bath plug to mention just a few but I rose above this as I like my pot Polly ( named because of all the derogatory comments ), only hope Dan can get it in his kiln and more importantly I get it in my car.

After making our formal pots we all then went free form on the clay left over.

Dan provided everything needed for the pottery workshop he took away our pots and will carry out any finessing, he will glaze and fire the pots hopefully no failures and we will meet him to collect the results which I hope will be another posting later on to see how they all turned out.

We all thoroughly enjoyed the day I have never known our group so quiet concentrating,many thanks to Dan and Carly for a brilliant day.

I have included many photos of the day

Start of the day

During the day

The wheel ( disappointment Michael McIntyre could not make ) and no one feel off.

Finally the results of our artistic talent ( eat your hearts out Great Pottery Throw Down ) no clay was harmed in making these pieces of art.

Busy meeting with trees having a final thinning out before autumn, trees being wired to start their styling and some raw material also starting their styling.

TOTM

Bit down on numbers some members away and I forgot to pack one in the car ( poor excuse I know )

We are always pleased to put on a display at the Corsley Fayre we are allocated enough space to put on a good display stand plus sales and demo area and the people attending are always friendly.

More of our stand.

Derek also had a stand with his Cacti and Succulent display, unfortunately he could not attend so his team had to set up without him and achieved an excellent stand.

We will be at Corsley Fayre this Saturday along with Cacti and Succulent display by Derek’s club, if you attend do come along for a chat all welcome.

This was a varied meeting because Sally and Amelia brought in a mixture of raw material, that consisted of Larches, Lonicera and Pyracantha.

Members could purchase them at a nominal cost but on condition they worked on them this evening.

This selection of material was ideal for members new to the hobby to learn the basic principles of starting off your tree, the more experienced members would give advise on how to approach raw material with wiring and selective pruning.

This proved to be an entertaining evening both for those new to the hobby and the members who have been in the hobby for longer and I hope all got more out of this ( we might do more of this during next year.

Members trees

Our raffle tree

TOTM

Only three entrants and yes I forgot to put my tree in.