For our April 4th, 2001 meeting, 16 club members participated in a much anticipated workshop on buttonwood bonsai.  President Paul Weishaar, on one of his cross-country jaunts, visited Homestead, Florida where he made a stop at Miami Tropical Bonsai and picked up 16 fine pre-bonsai specimens.

Picture # 1

Picture # 2

Because of the extensive variety of specimen that Paul was able to acquire, members were able to design a vast array of different looking bonsai, from informal upright to cascade to literati style.  Preliminary pruning, wiring, and styling were done during the course of this meeting.  Observers and other club members not styling their own tree were actively involved in offering suggestions and giving feedback to those involved.  Participants will finish any additional carving or styling at home, then in June, we will repot the trees into bonsai pots and apply lime sulfur to bleach the deadwood on the trees.  All in all, everyone seemed to have a challenging, yet enjoyable, time - both participants and observers alike.

Picture # 3

Picture # 4

Picture # 5

Directory of Pictures

1. The nursery specimen acquired for our buttonwood workshop

2. Cascade style- designed by ?

3. Informal Upright style - designed by Alexander Choi

4. Another specimen - designed by ?

5. Literati style - designed by Michael Turley, Webmaster

Our thanks to the "unofficial" club photographer, Simon Feng, for his assistance in providing us with a photographic record of our buttonwood bonsai workshop.

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