2010, Issue 4

April, 2010

of Greater Clearwater and the surrounding areas

澄んだ水盆栽会

Sundamizu Bonsai Kai

We have exciting news! Our next meeting will be at Moccasin Lake Nature Park and it is beautiful!

It is located at 2750 Park Trail Lane, Clearwater. (See map, directions, & parking are on page 4 of

the newsletter) The facility has a wonderful 9 foot by 9 foot wall mounted screen, audio equipment,

visual equipment and so much more. Truly a great opportunity!

We have been made to feel very welcome, both by Elizabeth Minor, programming director for

Clearwater, and Cliff Norris, the director of Moccasin Lake Nature Park.

Moccasin Lake Nature Park is an Environmental and Energy Education Center providing residents

and visitors to beautiful Clearwater with a natural retreat from the concrete and asphalt setting of

the urban environment and offers a change of vistas from the famous white sandy beaches. This

is a place where you can enjoy a small piece of Florida's natural history. Come walk the nature

trails where you might visually encounter egrets, ospreys, butterflies, turtles or the occasional alli-

gator.

See you at 10:00am on Saturday, April 10th!

Sundamizu has a new home! Meeting location 1

April Meeting 1

Featured Article—

Azaleas

1/2

“Insights” corner 2

March re-cap 3

Area events &

Events Schedule

3

General Info 4

Inside this issue:

Beautiful Moccasin Lake Nature Park

Please join us for lunch

on Saturday if you’re

available! It’s a great

way to continue to

create friends and still

talk about bonsai if

you like!

Azaleas by Clif Pottberg

In addi-

tion to this month's program

on azaleas, here is an over-

view of how azaleas can be

used for bonsai, and a sam-

pler of some of the many color

forms available.

Perhaps the most important

aspect of the use of azaleas

for bonsai is their extreme

versatility and multiplicity of

uses.

Azaleas are often used as

frameworks for displays of

flowers more than the form of

the bonsai tree. When one

sees an azalea bonsai in full

bloom, one can understand

why. There are few more

spectacular sights in any form

of horticulture, They vie for

Japanese honors with the

other plant grown as a "quasi"

bonsai, the chrysanthemum,

which is grown as a cascade

bonsai specifically for display

of bloom.

However, the chrysanthemum

April Meeting - A Profusion of Azaleas

Clif Pottberg will be bringing in scores of azal-

eas in bloom so we can see their actual flower

sizes and colors.

Then we'll follow up by looking at many other

azaleas in bloom from the databases of the

Azalea Society of America in a PowerPoint

program.

Concentrating on the tribes that the Japanese

most highly prize for bonsai, kurume and sat-

suki, we'll then have a talk on their cultural and

training considerations by Marian Borchers.

We'll also have books of photographs of still

more azalea varieties from Japan, and a dis-

cussion of how to find the varieties you might

happen to fall in love with.

...and, of course, we'll have a raffle of some

lovely small flowered multi-colored blooming

azaleas to take home.

Afterwards, we'll meet for lunch at a very

nearby restaurant as usual.

Nachi No Tsuki

A trail at Moccasin Lake Nature Park

2010, Issue 4 Page 2

“Insights”

Corner While it always helps to amend your soil for

a particular plant it isn't always necessary,

even for those plants known to have par-

ticular wants. Azaleas and Rhododen-

drons, for example, are known to have a

desire for somewhat acid soils and more

water holding capacity but a general pur-

pose bonsai soil seems to do perfectly well

to grow them. We don't do anything differ-

ent for them. Of course, using pine bark

makes a somewhat acid background any-

way.

Buttonwoods, growing on the south Florida

limerock flats, are known to want a some-

what alkaline soil, again, with plenty of wa-

ter holding capacity. However, we normally

don't put limerock in or on our soils and

they seem to do very well. Of course, in

either case, adding a little sulfur for azaleas

or limerock for buttonwoods would be good

insurance. Then one can add more pine

bark or other water holding capacity compo-

nents with impugnity (as long as they are

well sieved of course).

Whether pines, gingkos, Japanese flower-

ing apricots, tropical guavas, or others

thought to need special soils, there seems

to be little need in most cases. However,

again, to learn what the plant does best in,

gives us the opportunity to provide some

additional insurance for the health of the

bonsai.

If you acquire a plant and don't know what

its particular needs are, there are a plethora

of knowledge sources available. All the

way from more experienced club members,

to a quick websearch (Davesgarden.com is

a good source, for example). So go forth

and don't be afraid to experiment. If you

follow these simple rules, you may lose an

occasional plant, but it won't be for reasons

of preparing a bad soil mix.

Azaleas by Clif Pottberg is not a true bonsai for it cannot be grown

as a tree with indefinite lifespan; its inter-

est is only temporary. The azalea,

however, can be just as showy, can

be grown in any style of bonsai and

will endure; there are many master-

piece azalea bonsai over 100 years

old

Another positive aspect of the azalea

bonsai is that there are many tiny-

flowered forms and which, while still

able to fully cover the plant with

bloom, are very much more in scale to

the plant as large tree.

Given the fact that there are so many

different azalea flower colors and forms, it

is no wonder that the azalea is the most

popular form of flowering bonsai in Japan

- and elsewhere.

In addition to their flowering capacity, the

azalea offers an easy to style material for

bonsai. Some are extremely flexible and

so very easy to wire (the satsuki azaleas,

for example) and others do better using

"clip and grow" methods (the kurume

azaleas), though they may be wired also.

And they lend themselves to

just about any style of bonsai as well,

excluding the "literati" high mountain thin-

trunked conifer style. Otherwise, excep-

tional bonsai have been created in every-

thing from formal upright to full cascade

and multi-trunk plantings.

Many azaleas also have long lasting

bloom, though some are grown for their

immense impact no matter how short the

period...and there are many different

blooming periods as well.

the mountain azaleas bloom quite early

(here in the south), and then the small

flowered kurumes follow. Blooming at

about the same time are the stately (and

often huge) southern garden azaleas, like

the venerable Formosa types, and bel-

gian indica hybrids. Others follow, includ-

ing the beautiful Gable and Backacre

azaleas, and much later the satsuki azal-

eas, the other tribe that is so beloved by

the Japanese, especially for bonsai.

And for blossom size? How about the

tiny pink unzen tsutsuji, often called the

Wild Thyme azalea, with flowers less

than 3/4" across? Or the purple or white

kiusianum azalea with tiny leaves and

even tinier flowers, each less than 1/2"

across? Or the brilliant and tiny flowers

of the bright red amoena coccinea or the

deep rich purple of amoena superba,

again with flowers less than 1" across?

Then there are such rich colors as the

kurume varieties like Ward's Ruby, the

most intensely rich red of any azalea,

again 1" or less, and the many multiple

colors of small kurume flowers like ezo-

nishiki, itsukushima, aya kanmuri,

daphne, pink pearl, coral bells, apple

blossom (Japanese names available on

request)

And then there

are other hy-

brids of in-

tense color

variegation

like yama-

boshi hime, yoshimi gatake and Ben Mor-

rison.

Among the satsuki, usually with larger

flowers we can count such show stoppers

as sakuragata (white with a purple sur-

round), wakaebisu (rich peach and per-

haps the most flexibly wooded of all azal-

eas) Yama no hikari and chiyo no homare

where the flowers range from pure white,

to pure rose, and some with flecks of

rose, or sectors of rose, some pink, some

rose flecked pink, and so on.

Then there are other flower forms, like the

spidery strap petals of shojuho or koromo

shikibu, and all the hose in hose flowers

(coral bells) or fully double (rosaflora),

and other leaf forms like the curled leaves

which the Japanese highly prize and call

"rinpu", one particularly delicately colored

one is tsuki no shimo.

These are a few pictures of some particu-

larly nice blossoms, but we'll go into

many many more at our meeting. What

aren't available locally we'll discuss

sources for if you're interested.

Sakuragata satsuki

Wakaebisu kurume

Aya Kanmuri

Wakaebisu satsuki

2010, Issue 4 Page 3

Last month you

missed a good

primer for re-

potting bonsai.

Many thanks to

Robert Yarbrough.

We also had the opportunity to purchase

some “previously loved” pots at some un-

believably low prices. The proceeds were

donated to the club.

And of course we had our regular

monthly raffle.

Be sure to join us this month, you

won’t want to miss out on any of

the fun!

March Meeting Re-cap in pictures

offering all sorts of wonderful plants,

garden supplies and decorations and

good food and drinks.

Enjoy a beautiful day outside in the gar-

dens. Stop by the Hukyu Bonsai Club

table and say hello. And if you happen

to find something you like, please pur-

chase because all proceeds support the

mission of the USF Botanical Gardens.

Call the USFBG at 813-910-3274 for

more information. - - - For more infor-

mation, visit the Botanical Gardens Web-

site at http://www.cas.usf.edu/garden

Just a reminder that the Annual USF Bo-

tanical Gardens Spring Plant Festival is

coming up soon. Saturday April 10

(10am-4pm) and Sunday April 11 (10am-

3pm).

The Gardens will host over 70 vendors -

USF Botanical Garden Plant Sale—April 10/11

Did you know we now have a

flier for the bonsai clubs in

the Tampa Bay area? Check

out page 5 of this newsletter.

Share it with your family,

friends and co-workers.

2010 Schedule of Events

Now— May 16: Epcot Flower &

Garden Festival with Bonsai display

April 10: Club Meeting

April 10/11: USF Plant Sale

April 10/11: Winter Garden Spring

Fever:

www.springfeveringarden.com

April 10: 50th Annual Sakura Ma-

tsuri Japanese Street Festival, Wash-

ington, DC. www.sakuramatsuri.org

April 24/25: Green Thumb Festival,

St. Petersburg

May 14: Club Meeting

June 11: Club Meeting

June 12/13: US National Bonsai Ex-

hibition, Rochester, NY

It’s free! No gimmicks! No

obligations!

Join the Meet-up Website for

the Sundamizu Bonsai Kai.

There will also be posting from

the other area clubs. It’s a great

tool to get your questions an-

swered and tell others about

your Bonsai learnings. You can

even post photos.

Some of our new friends

Pots! Pots! And more pots! No one walked away empty handed

What do we have here?

Photos courtesy

of Dave Collom

side by side, so they have room for

people to come in under the tents to

observe bonsai trees that members

have brought to display

The festival runs 9-4 on Saturday the

24th and 9-3 on Sunday the 25th. It’s

held at the Walter Fuller Park, 7891

26th Avenue N, St Petersburg. The

park is on 26th Avenue North and 80th

Street. (Avenue’s run East and West,

and Streets run North and South.)

Now in its 24th year, the Green Thumb

Festival features environmental and

horticultural exhibits, vendors (with

every kind of plant imaginable), the

Garden Club of St Petersburg Flower

Show, a grow and share program, a

diagnostic clinic (bring soil and water

samples), a recycling rally, free mulch,

plant auction, more than 2,000 trees

for sale for $3, free butterfly plants

(500 each day), tool sharpening booth,

entertainment, and a food court. The

Suncoast Bonsai Club has two booths

Green Thumb Festival, St Petersburg —April 24/25

Marian with trees & pots for raffle

Sundamizu Bonsai Kai means Clear Water Bonsai Club

(Pronounced soon”da mi’ zu)

澄んだ水盆栽会

Sundamizu Bonsai Kai

Annual Membership is $24 per individual or

$36 per family and includes:

● Monthly meetings, hands on

● New friends

● Lost of fun

Lois Powell: 727-742-3301

Clif Pottberg: 353-424-6000

lopowell@yahoo.com

clifton@pottberg.com

Meets 2nd Saturday of each Month at

10:00 am

of Greater Clearwater and the surrounding areas

2010, Issue 4 Page 4

Directions to Moccasin Lake Nature Park

From Southbound US 19 or McMullen Booth Rd (CR 611):

turn west on SR 590 for 0.8 mi

turn left on Calamondin Ln for 0.3 mi

turn right on Edenwood St for 364 ft

turn left onto Beachwood Ave for 0.2 mi

turn right at Park Trail Lane

From Northbound US 19:

turn east on Drew St for 407 ft

turn left on Fairwood Ave/Park Place Blvd for 0.6mi

turn left at Park Trail Lane

Proceed to the back of the parking lot. This is closest to the

classroom. If you have large material/plants you are bringing,

we will open the gate for dropoff and then you can return to lot

to park.

Welcome to the gentle and fascinating world of

Bonsai

We hope you enjoy this display of the ancient Japanese art

There are many bonsai activities that go on in the greater Tampa Bay area, and groups which regularly come together to study and enjoy the art of bonsai: in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Clearwater. To learn more, here are some people who can help you:

Tampa: Hukyu Bonsai Society (meaning “everlasting”)

meets in the USF Botanical Garden building, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa

every 3rd Saturday of the month at 10 am Palmer Ogden: PROgden3@aol.com or 813-486-9374 Dave Collom: davecollom@gmail.com

St. Petersburg: Suncoast Bonsai Society meets at the Seminole Community Library, 9200 113th St N, Seminole every 4th Saturday of the month at 10 am Doris Burns 727-343-7992 Joan Lindsey 727-823-6894

Clearwater: Sundamizu Bonsai Kai (meaning Clear Water Bonsai Club)

meets at Moccasin Lake Nature Park, 2750 Park Trail Lane, Clearwater every 2nd Saturday of the month at 10 am Lois Powell 727-742-3301 Clif Pottberg 352-424-6000