Future Meetings

February 17 - Suiseki Program - Chiara Padrini (Italy)
March 4 - 11 - Exhibit Sitting - Philadelphia Flower Show
April TBA

It’s not too early to begin thinking about the Philadelphia Flower Show, March 4-11, 2012. The theme for this year is "Hawaii, Islands of Aloha". It looks like there will be some interesting changes in our exhibit, both with location and design.

Linda Brant is always looking for volunteers, new or experienced, to help act as docents for the exhibit. A brief three hour period is all that is needed. Tickets to the Show are provided for you and a guest (have you checked the cost of admission this year? $25+!!!). We have to cover the exhibit for the entire show, so lots of help is needed. Contact Linda by phone (610-948-6380) or email (lbrant@comcast.net) to volunteer, or sign up at our meetings.

President's Notes

It is hard to believe that the biggest problem the trees have faced this winter is watering. Be very aware that trees that are wintering in enclosed areas can dry out very quickly. Keep your eye on those stored outside also, as there has not been much rain in the last few weeks. There have been a couple of wind storms that caused concern as branches could fall on winter storage areas, but so far so good. My personal long term weather forecaster (the cashier at my Giant grocery store) assures me that we will pay big time in February, so we will wait and see,
Even if you are not working on a tree, please plan to attend the workshop in January. You can learn so much by watching and talking with those who are working on trees. The Flower Show exhibit is going to be very different this year. The Hort. Society feels that the PBS exhibit needs an update, so plans are to change the exhibit each year. The moon gates will be used, but in a different configuration. It will be interesting to see how the changes are viewed by the public.
It is not too soon to check out the web sites of our local bonsai artists, and sign up for spring and summer workshops. Chase Rosade's class schedule should be out soon and Jim Doyle's (Nature's Way) classes are already listed. Other professionals such as Howard McNeal and Jim Gillespie work more one to one rather than holding classes, so you could set something up with them when you see them at a meeting. Sitting with someone and getting a different perspective of your trees is very valuable.
Please call or email me to get on the Flower Show schedule. I still have many empty slots. See you at the workshop.
Linda

Weather Related Meeting Notification

Over the years, we have had very few cancellations due to the weather, but sometimes we get caught in a storm. If we are faced with a cancellation, the following procedures will take place.
A. If you are on the email list for newsletters - you will receive cancellation notice by email.
B. If you are not on the email list, then check the web site. Cancellation notice will be posted prominently on the home page.
C. If you do not have computer access, a board member will attempt to contact you by phone.
D. We will also try to place a notice on KYW radio.
E. We will attempt to notify the Community Center.

If you are in doubt about a meeting taking place, be sure to check before leaving home.

MidAtlantic Festival

Please mark the dates on your 2012 Calendar for the 2012 MidAtlantic Spring Festival to be held on April 20-22 at the Grantville/Hershey Holiday Inn.
This month's focus will be on our featured artist, Mr. Isao Omachi, from Japan.
Mr. Omachi studied bonsai as an apprentice of Mr. Takeo Kawabe for five years beginning in 1992. (Mr. Kawabe had been an apprentice of Mr. Kimura). In September of 1999 he became a member of the prestigious Japan Bonsai Kyodo Kumiai. In Sept. 2006, he was certified as a bonsai instructor by the Japan Bonsai Association. In December of 2006 he won the coveted Prime Minister’s Award at the 32nd Sakufu-Ten bonsai exhibition. He first visited MABS as an assistant to Mr. Shinji Suzuki in 2006 and so impressed the attendees that he was invited back as a headliner in 2009. Among his professional activities, he travels to Korea every year to maintain the spectacular Sumsund Bonsai Collection.
In March 2011, Mr. Omachi’s home and nursery were swept away by the tsunami which struck his home in Sendai, Japan. While his family is safe, he lost his entire collection. It is with great pleasure that MABS has invited Mr. Omachi to join us again in 2012 to share his deep and stimulating understanding of bonsai.
Mr. Omachi and his assistant will present lectures/demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday. He will also conduct a critique of the MABS Exhibit trees. Mr. Omachi's translator will be Ms. Hideko Metaxas, who has worked with MABS many times in the past.
Registration forms will be sent out shortly - some problems arose with one of the scheduled speakers and some revisions were necessary before the forms could be mailed out.
Raffle tickets for the February drawing of a full MidAtlantic registration will be available at the workshop.

Directions to the Greater Plymouth Community Center

From Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276)-Take Exit 333 (Norristown - old exit 25). At the end of the ramp, turn left onto Plymouth Road. At the light, turn right onto Germantown Pike West. Continue approximately one (1) mile, through five (5) traffic lights. At the sixth light, turn right onto Jolly Road. The Community Center is on the right at 2910 Jolly Road.
From Blue Route (I-476)-Take exit for Germantown Pike West (Exit 20). Continue on Germantown Pike west for approximately one (1) mile, through six (6) traffic lights. At the seventh light ti right onto Jolly Road. The Community Center is on the right at 2910 Jolly Road.
From Route 202-Follow Route 202 to Germantown Pike. Travel EAST on Germantown Pike, through five (5) traffic lights. At the next traffic light, approximately half a mile, turn left on Jolly Road. The Community Center is on the right at 2910 Jolly Road.