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Posted in Meetings

March 2025 Meeting

cleveland March 22, 2025

We’re knocking on spring’s doorstep now and the 2025 bonsai season is kicking into gear. 

We put together a really nice silhouette show earlier this month, much thanks to those that came and helped out! 

The topic for our meeting this month will be repotting. I’ll be working on a short presentation and then I would like the meeting to become a community repotting session. If you’re new and have never repotted a bonsai tree, or maybe you just need an extra set of hands, bring in your tree and supplies and get assistance from some of our experienced members! Repotting a tree is always an adventure and we can all benefit by seeing and experiencing more. Keep in mind that any tree you repot will need to be protected from cold weather for the remainder of winter/spring.

Saturday March 22nd, 9:30am at the Rockefeller Park Greenhouse.

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Posted in Meetings

January 2025 Meeting

cleveland November 23, 2024
This Saturday January 25th, we welcome Young Choe back to Cleveland for another kusamono learning session and workshop. Kusamono is the Japanese term for potted arrangements of plants/grasses for display.
 
While an art form unto itself, they are often paired with bonsai displays to add the context of season or environment. With the instruction and guidance of our guest instructor, members will have the opportunity to build their own kusamono plantings.
 
Soil will be provided. The club is purchasing a supply of plant material which will be available for purchase. We are waiting on final freight charges but the plants will likely be $2/each. A list of plants will be included below. You should bring your own tools and pots although there will be some folks bringing pots to sell as well. 
 
There is no cost to participate but you MUST be a current dues paid member to take part! We are now collecting dues for 2025 so either renew your membership through our website beforehand or bring $25 in cash or check to the meeting this Saturday and give it to Marian.
 
We will be meeting in the classroom at Rockefeller Park Greenhouse at 9:30am. It will likely be a full house so please do your best to make room for everyone.
 
See you there!
 
-Adam Shank
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Posted in Meetings

September 2024 Meeting

cleveland September 5, 2024
Our September 28th meeting will feature a special guest artist and workshop.
 
Jennifer Price, based in Chicago, is celebrated for her innovative approach to bonsai, which seamlessly integrates the elegance from her background as a former ballerina with the meticulous artistry of bonsai cultivation. Her expertise spans a wide array of tree species, including Japanese maples, beech, pines, junipers, and elms, each carefully sculpted to highlight their unique characteristics.
 
Email cable2001@gmail.com for more details and to register. 
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Posted in Meetings

June 2024 Meeting

cleveland June 19, 2024

Coming up this Saturday we have a special event. Bonsai artist Sergio Cuan returns to Cleveland! The meeting will start with a presentation followed by a bring your own tree workshop. Non-participants are welcome to stay as silent observers during the workshop portion. There is one spot still remaining in the workshop, write me back if you’d like to claim it. The plan is to hold the meeting in the back greenhouse as the classroom will be too cramped for this event. However, with the heat continuing into the weekend, I don’t know if the greenhouse will be too uncomfortable. Stay tuned for location updates. We will start promptly at 9:30am and the workshop will continue until 4pm.

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Posted in Meetings

May 2024 Meeting

cleveland May 23, 2024
This Saturday, May 25th at 9:30am we have a club meeting to discuss final preparations for our annual Bonsai Show which is scheduled for the following weekend: June 1&2. 
 
Club President Rob will also be bringing a collection of pots that were donated to the club to auction off.
 
The meeting will take place at the Rockefeller Park Greenhouse at 750 E 88th St, Cleveland, OH 44108. We cannot meet in the classroom so we will be meeting in the back greenhouse where we have held workshops in the past.
 
We will be sending out the signup announcement for the Sergio Cuan workshop tomorrow so be on the lookout for that. 
 
See you Saturday!
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Posted in Meetings

March 2024 Meeting

cleveland March 19, 2024
 
We’ve got a fun meeting coming up this Saturday! Ken Huth will be bringing maple seedlings(for purchase) and examples of all the future bonsai creations you can make with them. Bring your own soil, training pots, forest trays, interesting rocks, supplies, etc and create something cool with us!
Saturday March 23rd, 9:30am at Rockefeller Park Greenhouse. We’ll be working in the classroom but we’ve been granted permission to spill out into the main lobby to make sure everyone has room to work.
 
See you there!
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Posted in Meetings

January 2024 Meeting

cleveland January 15, 2024

Our first meeting of the year is Saturday January 27th at 9:30am. We have a special presentation lined up. Member Martin Reuben will give us a tutorial and demonstration on photographing bonsai at home. Tips and techniques will be shared for getting the best results using natural light and cellphone cameras so this will be accessible and useful for all. Some basic editing will also be shown. Members are invited to bring a tree to be photographed during the demo. The meeting will take place in the classroom at Rockefeller Park Greenhouse.

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Posted in Meetings

November 2023 Meeting

cleveland November 21, 2023
A quick administrative note: Beginning in 2024 we will start collecting annual dues in January instead of June. Anyone who joined or renewed in the last 3 months of 2023 will have their membership rolled over into 2024. Dues can be paid through our website or in person at a meeting. If you need to mail a check, please ask us for Marian’s address. 
 
This Saturday will be our final meeting of the year and it should be a lot of fun! First, we will get to see all the finished products of our accent pot making workshop. I’m told that all of them survived the glaze firing!
 
Second, we have a couple boxes of pots and misc. items that were donated to the club that Rob will be auctioning off. These are mainly low end smaller pots so if you’re just starting out or are growing out young material you should be able to get some good deals. 
 
Third, since we didn’t get a chance to talk over wintering last month, we will try to fit that in as well. 
 
There will not be a meeting in December. 
 
If we don’t see you, I hope everyone has a safe and restorative holiday season and look forward to another year of bonsai with you. 
 
-Adam Shank
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Posted in Meetings

October 2023 Meeting

cleveland October 24, 2023

Coming up this Saturday will be the follow up to our accent pot making workshop. Those that made a pot last month will have the opportunity to paint their work with glaze ahead of the final firing. This work should require much less explanation so we can also have some general discussion about the limits of fall bonsai work and winter storage strategies. So bring your questions, share your experience and if you’ve got a tree you’d like to share, bring that too!

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Posted in Meetings

September 2023 Meeting

cleveland September 18, 2023
Fall is knocking on our door and there’s still lots of bonsai to do! Make sure you’re fertilizing your trees! Think of them as hungry bears preparing for hibernation!
 
Our meeting this month and next will be a special accent pot making event. David Bennett will be leading a group of 12 members through building their own accent pots using slabs of clay. The workshop is full but I’ll be bringing some balls of clay to provide opportunity for others to make pinch pots as well. I want to devote as much time as possible for the activity but it will be hard not to discuss the recent U.S. National Exhibition in Rochester. I counted at least 20 Cleveland Bonsai Club members who made the trip to see all the amazing trees and shop the massive vendor area!
 
We will start the meeting promptly at 9:30am so don’t be late!
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