NABF Newsletter #6

President's Message

We owe a debt of gratitude to David Rowe and his co-editor John Biel for introducing us to the bonsai wonders of the northern part of North America. Most of us in the Lower 48 have never had the opportunity to learn much about the bonsai activities in Canada and Alaska, and this issue of the Newsletter provides many wonderful revelations.

In continuing with NABF's objective of celebrating the pioneers who made the art of bonsai flourish in North America, Norman Haddrick describes in Feature #1 of this issue how the Toronto Bonsai Society was formed in 1962 by Mamoru Nishi, and notes the early influences of Frank Okamura from the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and of John Naka. His article underscores how the efforts expended by the members of the TBS in putting on an international bonsai convention raised the "creative artistry" in the area to a "new pinnacle." Other clubs in and around the Toronto area seem to be thriving, as the Kitchener-Waterloo Bonsai Society described in Feature #2 has "the most beautiful show" at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, the Matsuyama Bonsai Society addressed in Feature #3 has one of the best bonsai newsletters in the world, and the Misetto Bonsai Club in Feature #4 provides a very good shot of their annual show.

For those who relish collecting their bonsai material, this issue is a testament to the benefits of residing up north and may result in many of us living in the Lower 48 trying to find a friendly local contact in Canada or Alaska. In his article on "Native Trees as Bonsai" in Feature #12, John Biel provides a useful guide to what's available to collect in Eastern Canada -- don't miss his gallery showing such finished bonsai beauties as his Larch and Jack Pine. The 13-member North Bay Bonsai Society reports in Feature #5 that they have "excellent sources" for spring trips to collect "Larch, Black Pines, Cedars and other native trees." The Bonsai Society of Winnipeg mentions in Feature #6 that it also has a "spring dig" for native trees. If that time of the year does not suit you, read David Rowe's piece on "West Coast Collecting" in Feature #13, in which he expresses his amazement at his 90-percent success rate collecting outstanding specimens in the fall.

And the price is right if you want to go collecting in Alaska. In his report in Feature # 7 on the largest state in the U.S., Paul Marmora says that there is this standing offer for bonsai people: "If you come to Alaska, we will take you on a dig, but we will expect you to teach a workshop." Paul's article should also make a lot of us stop complaining about our long winters; in Alaska, he points out that winter is 8 months long! (Moreover, he observes that spring can be as short as 3 weeks and that fall normally lasts only 2 weeks.) This long dormancy period can make it tough to overwinter temperate trees, but Paul wryly notes that you can rent greenhouse space for $30 per month per bonsai.

Back down "south" in British Columbia, there is much bonsai activity to report. In Feature #9, Randy Clark and David Rowe describe the Vancouver Island Bonsai Club, providing many excellent shots of their spring show. They note that this club will host the 15th Pacific Northwest Bonsai Convention on September 17-19, 2004, so make your plans now to attend. In Feature #10, we hear from Tak Yamaura, a disciple of Toshio Kawamoto who is the President of the BC Bonsai Society and the owner of one of the largest bonsai nurseries in Canada -- "Japan Bonsai." In Feature #8, addressing the Kelowna Bonsai Club and others in the southern interior of B.C., I was surprised to learn of the wide range of climatic zones -- from USDA zone 6 to alpine areas. Feature #11 introduces Vancouver's Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden which is the first full-size classical Chinese garden outside of China.

This issue ends with an update, in Feature #14, on the planning for the 5th World Bonsai Convention to be held in Washington, D.C. on May 28-31, 2005. Co-Chair Glenn Reusch introduces the outstanding line-up of speakers and workshop leaders. I am also happy to report that Jack Sustic, who many of you know as the Curator of Bonsai at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum in Washington, D.C., has become Glenn's Co-Chair. Chris Yeapanis, who had been the Co-Chair, resigned due to health reasons, and we thank Chris for all of his efforts on behalf of the 5th WBC Committee and wish him well.

Thanks to all the correspondents and photographers who made this issue possible.

Felix Laughlin