Bonsai Clippings

Happy April- Man, it's Spring now! Buds are popping, trees are begging for new soil, and even the nursery is exploding.

And just when we need the most time to stay at home and work, up pops many gotta see events.

I hope as many as possible are headed to MidAtlantic this coming weekend. It's a great show.

We also need the volunteer support with many duties requiring attention.  Find me when you arrive and let's fill in the sign-up sheet for volunteers for raffle ticket sales, exhibit set-up, registration desk and exhibit security. You'll find me Friday afternoon in the exhibit rooms signing in trees and setting up the show. See you there.

Others can share in the benefits of Hatsuji Kato's visit to the club on Monday, April 18th. There's an afternoon workshop and an evening demo, time and location on the schedule of events. There's still a spot left for the workshop so call 860-849-2323 or email me to reserve you chance to work with a great Japanese Master. Members of ours and other clubs- Please tell your fellow club members that Hartford will welcome all to this meeting, Springfield, New Haven, China Trade, Yama Ki, Rhode Island and anyone else with a sincere interest in bonsai and desirous of seeing a world renowned master. Mr. Kato's bio below.

Hatsuji Kato - Japan

Mr. Hatsuji Kato, who was born in Japan in 1942, is one of the present day Bonsai Masters. He is the eldest son of Bonsai Master Saburo Kato. While Mr. Kato is following in his father's footsteps, he is an accomplished artist in his own right. He has received several awards in the Sakufu Bonsai Ten professional exhibition, including the exhibition's first prize. He has traveled extensively throughout the world teaching Bonsai. He currently manages the family's Mansei-En Bonsai Garden in Omiya. Additionally, Mr. Kato is acting as the President of the Japan Bonsai Association. Mr. Kato will perform one lecture/demonstration on Saturday and one lecture/demonstration on Sunday using a Cryptomeria and a Juniper respectively. He will also perform a critique of the Exhibit material on Saturday, and a Bring-Your-Own Bonsai material "Open Workshop" on Sunday. Translation will be performed by Ms. Mieko Kubota from Miami, Florida.

Please review the Schedule of Events as I've included more events happening around the area through-out the year.

There's alot going on all around us despite our already busy club schedule. If I must, I'll say it again, " You can't learn bonsai by attending one club meeting a month!" So, get out to some other events and let us all know what you saw.

At the last meeting we passed out copies of the newly revised Constitution.  For those who didn't attend, I've included it here. Please review it when you have time as we will vote this constitution into effect (or not) at the May meeting.

Other than making this document reflect real time practices, please notice the changes of the calendar year to a January to December format. If voted in we would need to make allowances for a changeover to this fiscal calendar as we currently observe a June to July fiscal calendar. Not a big deal but more on that later at the May meeting and May newsletter.

Since I've now given you plenty to read, I'll sign-off and go get things prepared for MidAtlantic.  I hope I see you there. T