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The Cape Fear Bonsai Society: meets in the New Hanover County Arboretum at:
6206 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC. 28403
 
 
 
 
 
2024 – Meetings are typically on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 2 PM. Dates and times change as necessary.
 

 
 
 
January 21
 
 

 
 
Presentation & Workshop on Parson’s Junipers with Ed Lauer of the Triangle Bonsai Society.
 
 
When: Sunday, January 21, 2024, 11:00 AM
Where: Educational Center at the New Hanover County Arboretum, 6206 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403
What: Parson’s Juniper Workshop – Ed will give a talk about Junipers and various styling options. He will then work with members on the workshop trees. The Junipers we selected will be challenging but have great potential for several bonsai styles. There will be a $50.00 fee which includes the tree (Juniper’s in 3 Gallon Containers) and the workshop.

 
 
* 2024 Dues are due: Individual Member $40 Family $45 at the meeting or, Checks payable to Cape Fear Bonsai Society (CFBS) may also be mailed to Mark Rushwald, 1804 Hartefield National Lane, Wilmington, NC 28411. Please *note in memo area that the payment is for 2024 Club Dues.
 

 
 
 
February 18
 

 
 
BYO(T)rees: Spring Preparations
 
 
When: Sunday, February 18, 2024, 2:00 PM
Where: Educational Center at the New Hanover County Arboretum, 6206 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403
What:Spring Preparations including Repotting
 
 
This month we will focus on the needs of our bonsai to prepare them for another year of healthy growth. Bring in trees that you want to work on. Spring is just around the corner. 
Topics will include:
-Regimen of spring preparations for your trees-
-Timing for repotting, wiring, pruning, fertilizing, insect and pathogen control 
Repotting will be a point of attention. Bonsai soil will be available for purchase.
– Soil preparation from locally accessible ingredients 
– Online sources to purchase pre-mixed bonsai soil mixes (and supplies)
*Azaleas that were part of last March’s workshop with Michael Ring –  If you have not yet repotted your tree, trust me it needs it! Bring them in for this session and get advice on root pruning and repotting. This is a challenging repot with a lot of tangled roots to sort out. Let’s take care of them! Give me a call if you have one of these azaleas (717 513 8883)
*The Parson’s Junipers from last month’s workshop need root attention as well.
So bring in trees that you want to repot or need advice with pruning and wiring. This is a “hands on” work session!
 

 
 
 
March 10 – Second Sunday
 
 

 
 
Guest Artist – Young Choe – Internationally Renowned Kusamono Artist
 
 

 

 
 
When: Sunday, March 10, 2024, 11:00 AM
Where: Educational Center at the New Hanover County Arboretum, 6206 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403
What: Kusamono – Lecture, Demonstration and Workshop (Lecture and demonstration in the morning; followed by a workshop in the afternoon for 9 participants. (workshop is full). Kusamono is a Japanese botanical art form. Kusamono are potted arrangements of wild grasses and flowers in unique pots or trays selected to suggest a season or place.
Workshop Fee: $95.00 send checks to: Mark Rushwald, 1804 Hartefield National Lane, Wilmington, NC 28411 (please note “Kusamono Workshop” on your check.)
The Lecture and Demonstration at 11:00 AM is Free. Non-participants are welcome to stay and observe the workshop for free.

 

 
 
 
April 21
 
 

 

 
Bonsai Auction
The Cape Fear Bonsai Society Welcomes you!
When: Sunday, April 21, 2024, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Registration and Preview of items begins at 1:00 PM
Where: Educational Center at the New Hanover County Arboretum, 6206 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403
What: Up for Auction: All Things Bonsai Pre-bonsai starter material & CFBS member’s styled bonsai trees
Featured – Outstanding Young Choe Kusamono arrangement potted in an early (1999) wood fired Ron Lang container
Bonsai Pots – American handmade bonsai pots by: Ron Lang, Sharon Edwards-Russell, Lynn August, Bob Pruski, Sara Rayner – plus a variety of commercial imports from Japan and China
Bonsai Accessories including tools, wire, soil, books, magazines

Payment by cash or check only (made out to CFBS) no credit cards.
Thanks for supporting this most important CFBS Fundraiser.
 
 



Kusamono Planting by Young Choe in Ron Lang container
View 1 – Inset bonsai container by Sharon Edwards-Russell
View 2 – Inset bonsai container by Sharon Edwards-Russell



Bonsai Pot by Sara Rayner
Woven Container by Pauline Muth
Bonsai Pots by Lynn August
 

 
 
 
May 12
 
 

 
 
Tree Preparation and Refinements for June 2024 Exhibition
 
 
When: Sunday, May 12, 2024, 2:00 PM
Where: Educational Center at the New Hanover County Arboretum, 6206 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403
What:Display Preparations
 

 
 
 
June 15
 
 

 
 
Cape Fear Bonsai Society Annual Exhibition and Sale
 
 
Set-up: Friday, June 14, 2024, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
When: Exhibition Opens to the Public on Saturday, June 15, 2024, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Where: Auditorium at the New Hanover County Arboretum, 6206 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403
What: Annual Exhibit of bonsai trained and maintained by club members
Sales of bonsai, pre-bonsai trees, bonsai pots, books and tools
Auction – Silent Auctions of bonsai related materials
Live Demonstrations and Q & A – will be conducted throughout the day
Free and Open to the Public – Attendees are encouraged to vote for their favorite bonsai (The People’s Choice Award)
(Cash and Checks only for sales)
 

 
 
 
July 20
 
 

 

Annual Club Picnic / BBQ – Cancelled
 

 
 
 
August
 
 

 

No Meeting this month
 

 
 
 
September 15
 
 

 
 
Bald Cypress Forest Workshop – FULLY ENROLLED
 
 
When: Sunday, September 15, 2024, 2:00 PM
Where: Educational Center at the New Hanover County Arboretum, 6206 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403
What:Club Workshop
 

This meeting will be an action packed, hands-on, Create your Own Bald Cypress Forest
Utilizing young cypress saplings (see image below) participants will assemble a forest style bonsai using at least 7 trees. A presentation will start off the workshop with illustrations and discussion of the various possible positioning of trees for different interesting visual effect.
There are 10 spots available.  Fee $95 includes at least seven trees, oval plastic container and soil. Wire and lender tools are available. Advanced members will be on hand to assist where needed.
Act fast– first come first enrolled! Send a check for $95 (made out to CFBS) to our Treasurer, 
Mark Rushwald, 1804 Hartefield National Lane, Wilmington NC 28411
 





 

Bob Pruski –
Bald Cypress Forest Planting
Bald Cypress Forest
Bald Cypress Seedlings
– for workshop
Bald Cypress Forest
 

 
 
 
October 6
 
 

 
 
Guest Artist – Jennifer Price – Renowned Master Bonsai Artist – Chinese Elm Workshop, Lecture and Demonstration
 
 


 
 
Jennifer Price
Price – Literati Styling
 
 
Sunday morning, October 6, 2024, 9:00 AM: Chinese Elm Workshop: All spaces have been filled!
Sunday afternoon 1:00 PM: Lecture and Styling Demonstration of a large Crape Myrtle bonsai
(the styled tree will be raffled after the demonstration)
Where (new venue): UNCW’s Truist Hall, 680 South College Rd, Wilmington, NC 28403
 
 
Workshop material: 9 Chinese Elms offering great design potential. Multi trunk, clump style, grove stand, double and single trunk possibilities.
2 trees are a bit larger and reflect the higher fee. Workshop $90 for the 7 smaller trees and $120 for the two larger. Specify if you want one of the larger trees. First come – first gets them!
 
 
Examples of Small ($90.00) Chinese Elms (7 available)
Two Large ($120.00) Chinese Elms
 
 


 
 


 
 
Sign up for the workshop by sending your check made out to CFBS
to: Ron Lang, 797 Toney Dr, Boiling Spring Lakes, NC 28461
(*note Elm Workshop in memo)
 
 
Jennifer discovered Bonsai after retiring from the stage as a professional ballerina. She is struck by the line and form within Bonsai and the ability to use the tree’s natural flow of movement. She has studied with numerous artist such as Jim Doyle (who introduced her to the art of bonsai) as well as Mauro Stemberger, Will Baddeley and Ryan Neil.
Her ongoing apprenticeship continues to this day with mentor Walter Pall. She has taught workshops and given demonstrations throughout the United States and worldwide. While in Germany she was a part of Generation Bonsai and went on to represent America at two international bonsai conventions both in Shanghai, China.
 

 
 
 
November 17
 
 

 
 
When: Sunday, November 17, 2024, 2:00 PM
Where: UNCW’s Truist Hall, 680 South College Rd, Wilmington, NC 28403
What:Annual Club Elections
     Current Slate of Officers
Ron Lang – President
Ryan Bradshaw – Vice President
Mark Rushwald – Treasurer
Ann McBeth – Secretary
Hank Gross – Member-at-large
 
 
Gary Miniter will discuss a recent trip to Japan and show bonsai he has documented at the Hoshun-in Temple Bonsai Garden in Kyoto (The first bonsai garden within a temple grounds).
Brian VanderMey will bring a large Kingville Boxwood as the topic for design and container discussion.
Open Discussion – Bring in a tree if you would like feedback from the club.
 

 
 
 
December 15
 
 

 
 
Club Holiday Gathering
 
 
When: Sunday, December 15, 2024, dinner begins at 5:00 PM – come early – around 4 “ish” for drinks and tour of Trinity Landing
Where: 5450 Trinity Landing Way, Wilmington, NC 28409, (off Masonboro Rd, Myrtle Grove)
What: Holiday Dinner in the Jetty Dining Room
Menu & Bar: Provided at the restaurant / You may bring your own wine
Payment: Checks only ! / no cash / no card / Checks only ! at the restaurant.
RSVP – LIMIT 24– text or call Ann McBeth 570 690-5198