Introduction to Bonsai Design

at the May Annual Meeting

            More than 40 members attended the May meeting of the garden club, enjoying a wonderful buffet luncheon, and a highly-engaging speaker on the basics of Bonsai design.

Teddi Scoba, from New England Bonsai spoke of how bonsai can help us develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of the natural world and of our fellow human beings. She explained that bonsai is an art that requires patience, diligence, creativity and awareness. By practicing bonsai one can see how our behavior can affect a tree. If you let the soil get too dry the bonsai dries out and dies. There is a very direct consequence of our actions. If we take good care of the bonsai it will thrive, look beautiful and live longer. Teddi gave an overview of basic design types and demonstrated taking a plant from nursery pot to bonsai container. While she cleaned the roots of a juniper; she explained the importance of root pruning in keeping the bonsai small. Teddi also helped us understand the importance of line in shaping and wiring the bonsai plant; we watched her carefully examine and prune each branch to the desired form. She warned about clipping off too much in the early years of a plant. Teddi believes the most important factors in the survival of bonsai plants is watering and keeping the plant healthy. Many questions followed from club members, with a lively discussion of the differences between topiary and bonsai making. Members were reminded of the up-coming “Outdoor Bonsai Basics” workshop at Joan Donovan’s garden on June 1^st.

Janet Lynch was the hostess for the wonderful buffet luncheon; and Cindy O’Meara designed a lovely arrangement of pink peonies for the buffet table and Marie Ricci, using bleeding heart and azalea, created beautiful centerpieces for the members’ tables. Jan Clifford conducted a short business meeting prior to the program.