Out on a Branch—Thoughts from your President
Ken Ellis - February 2010
Your 2010 Bonsai Board and program chairpersons are planning to make your return to MBS
this year worth your investment of time and effort. We are currently shopping for a new public
address system that won’t cut out at will; one that will provide clear amplified sound to fill our
large meeting room. We are searching for future masters that will give us direction and inspire
both beginners and advance bonsai growers. We are looking to offer a Mother’s Day Bonsai
display at Como and an even larger display at the State Fair. Both of these are two-day shows
providing all MBS members an opportunity to show their best bonsai.
We are also gearing up for workshops, both “Beginner Workshops” for first timers and “Club
Workshops” for those members that have completed the “Beginner Workshop” and are now
ready to work with a master. Be aware! You don’t need to be a master to work with a master;
you just need to be willing to bring nursery stock or something that you have already started,
and be willing to listen and learn as he or she guides you toward success. The final finished
bonsai will likely be something to anticipate in the future. You will need to nurture and refine
that bonsai. That is where MBS can answer your questions, whether it is in the “Bonsai
Basics” monthly meeting or in our larger general meetings.
Our Board is looking to make our organization more efficient and also to make changes where
needed to offer you, our MBS members, the best experiences possible.
You will be asked to make some changes. We often expect others to make this a successful
organization, where what we really need is for you to step up and to do your part. Here is a
starting list:
Last night, while reading one of my koi magazines, I was struck with a quotation from the
founder of a large Japanese koi club (All Nippon Airinkai Club). Mr. Takeo Kuroki said, “The
one who gets rewarded the most is the one who volunteered.”
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Ken Ellis - February 2010
Your 2010 Bonsai Board and program chairpersons are planning to make your return to MBS
this year worth your investment of time and effort. We are currently shopping for a new public
address system that won’t cut out at will; one that will provide clear amplified sound to fill our
large meeting room. We are searching for future masters that will give us direction and inspire
both beginners and advance bonsai growers. We are looking to offer a Mother’s Day Bonsai
display at Como and an even larger display at the State Fair. Both of these are two-day shows
providing all MBS members an opportunity to show their best bonsai.
We are also gearing up for workshops, both “Beginner Workshops” for first timers and “Club
Workshops” for those members that have completed the “Beginner Workshop” and are now
ready to work with a master. Be aware! You don’t need to be a master to work with a master;
you just need to be willing to bring nursery stock or something that you have already started,
and be willing to listen and learn as he or she guides you toward success. The final finished
bonsai will likely be something to anticipate in the future. You will need to nurture and refine
that bonsai. That is where MBS can answer your questions, whether it is in the “Bonsai
Basics” monthly meeting or in our larger general meetings.
Our Board is looking to make our organization more efficient and also to make changes where
needed to offer you, our MBS members, the best experiences possible.
You will be asked to make some changes. We often expect others to make this a successful
organization, where what we really need is for you to step up and to do your part. Here is a
starting list:
- Pay your membership dues for 2010
- Attend our monthly meetings
- Read our newsletter “Minnesota Bonsai”
- Go out of your way to make new friends and to welcome visitors and new members
- Call past members you don’t see at the meetings, urging them to return and to participate
- Support our local vendors (they are a major value to our organization)
- Volunteer when the call goes out
- Sign up to display at least one of your bonsai for each of our shows – and, we need
everyone showing to sign up ahead of time - don’t forget or think YOU don’t need to
do that - Sign up to assist as a greeter/worker for our shows; members of all levels of
experience can help here. Please sign up for the hard to fill openings and not just for
the choice start-up and close-down hours - New programs in the planning will need volunteers - watch and sign up where you
can lead or assist
Last night, while reading one of my koi magazines, I was struck with a quotation from the
founder of a large Japanese koi club (All Nippon Airinkai Club). Mr. Takeo Kuroki said, “The
one who gets rewarded the most is the one who volunteered.”
Back to Home Page
I had an uplifting experience a few days ago
as I was watering my tropical bonsai in front
of one of my large south windows. I have
one of those 50-foot coiled hoses that I keep
permanently connected to the water spigot
next to my indoor pond. Pulling it around our
small house, I’m able reach all the plants,
both in the south windows as well as those
in the coldroom (38 degrees) in my enclosed
north porch.
I use the attached spray nozzle and was
spraying my olive tree that has deadwood,
that I recently restyled as suggested by last
fall’s master, Rodney Clemons. To my
amazement a big fat robin landed on the
heated bird bath on the other side of the
window … it drank, and drank, and drank for
several minutes as I was spraying on the
inside. What a treat in January! What do
robins eat in January? It definitely wasn’t
malnourished.
as I was watering my tropical bonsai in front
of one of my large south windows. I have
one of those 50-foot coiled hoses that I keep
permanently connected to the water spigot
next to my indoor pond. Pulling it around our
small house, I’m able reach all the plants,
both in the south windows as well as those
in the coldroom (38 degrees) in my enclosed
north porch.
I use the attached spray nozzle and was
spraying my olive tree that has deadwood,
that I recently restyled as suggested by last
fall’s master, Rodney Clemons. To my
amazement a big fat robin landed on the
heated bird bath on the other side of the
window … it drank, and drank, and drank for
several minutes as I was spraying on the
inside. What a treat in January! What do
robins eat in January? It definitely wasn’t
malnourished.