June Wiring and Styling Class and May Event Reminders

The bad news first. The tentative June 9th wiring class is not happening due to events beyond our control.

The good news next:

The June 23rd wiring class is happening IF enough members sign up. We need 10 members to sign up by contacting Tony George for a spot in the class. First come, first serve with waiting list in case anyone cancels. Tony's information is at the very bottom of the blog.

Details:

What: Bonsai wiring class
When: June 23rd from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
Where: Huntsville Botanical Garden, Boeing Education classroom (this is where we normally meet).
Who: Carol & Lee will offer the class to LABS members.

May Event Reminders:

May 19th Worksession at the Whites home, 2 p.m until 6 p.m. If you have a dessert or snack to share, feel free to bring it. Otherwise, just come as you are with your bonsai.

May 26th Railroad Garden Cleanup 9 a.m. - NOON

May 1st 2007 Meeting

36 attendees were present for the May 1st meeting, including several visitors and new members. Welcome, Essie, Wesley, Norma, Juliana, Rachael, Thomas, Catherine and Stacey!

The door prize was a pair of bonsai trimming shears-remember that you have to be present to win and we always have something related to bonsai for a door prize or member give-a-way.

Minutes of the previous meeting and the Treasurer's report were approved by members.

Old Business:
Review of the LABS Show was discussed including the Treasurer's report presented by Olga regarding income from the show. Dennis Coad said there is no excuse not to have an entry next year. You have one year to develop your bonsai for the 2008 show or buy one to enter before next year.

New Business:
Carol and Lee Bates will offer a 4 hour workshop June 9th and June 23rd (tentative dates) on wiring and styling bonsai. The workshops will be first come, first serve to LABS members. The workshops will be at the Huntsville Botanical Garden in the same room LABS uses for monthly meetings. More details will be announced closer to the event.

Reminder by Phil that LABS is responsible for keeping the Huntsville Botanical Garden Railroad Garden area clean. Next workday is May 26th (Saturday) from 9 until NOON.

Joyce (Maam) and Bob continue their LABS work sessions at their home on the 3rd Sat of each month thru the summer. Please contact Maam for directions or more information. An officer will be happy to get you in touch with the Whites. See the officer e-mail information at the bottom of the blog.

Program:
John Mullins gave an excellent presentation regarding styling bonsai. He went over the basic 5 types (formal upright, informal upright, cascade, semi-cascade and windswept) and touched on literati that defies an easy category. He talked about the rule of thirds plus how eye-pleasing triangles are for bonsai stylists. He shared the Intro to Bonsai, A Course Syllabus 4th Edition by Thomas L. Zane which delves deeper into the subject.

The June meeting will be a work session - bring anything - since The Bates will have the wiring/styling classes in June.

LABS Future Programs and Events:
May 19th Worksession at the Whites home, 2 p.m until 6 p.m. If you have a dessert or snack to share, feel free to bring it. Otherwise, just come as you are with your bonsai.

May 26th Railroad Garden Cleanup 9 a.m. - NOON

June 5th LABS meeting at Huntsville Botanical Garden

June 9th and June 23rd (tentative dates) Carol and Lee Bates present wiring and styling bonsai workshops at the Huntsville Botanical Garden.

For more information regarding bonsai, visit our blog: http://livingartsbonsaisociety.blogspot.com/ . You will find several links to other bonsai-related sites there as well as bonsai events in the Southeast