Here we are, at the end of another year with the Midori Bonsai Club, a time to reflect on what we have experienced or accomplished in our lives. I hope everyone can say that they have grown and have come to appreciate the world of bonsai more fully this year, and have developed a better understanding of its beauty and complexity.

The nights are going to be cold in the mid 30’s and ideal to set good flower buds on fruiting trees. We had little rain in November so I hope we get some storms this month.

A volunteer call for the Mammoth Auction and Sale, plus a show tree highlight.

I was truly impressed with the variety and quality of bonsai trees that were on display at our show this year, and now I want to learn more about how they all came about.

It actually seems like fall is here. Cooler days and nights. Growth is slowing down.

A highlight on contemporary bonsai inspired porcelain sculptures and some show highlights.

I want to take this time to thank the many club members that volunteered to make our show happen this year. We have many new club members that stepped forward this year to help even though they had never experienced a bonsai show before.

In late October, as the deciduous trees turn color, they signal that the tree is cutting off contact with the leaves.

Show photos and many volunteer opportunities in the bonsai world.

With September here, our club's show is now but a few weeks away. Every year it sneaks up on us, and I'm really getting excited since we finally get a chance to show off our bonsai trees we've worked so hard on.

Take out your cell phone. Put in a new reminder for the same time and day each week: “Check Trees for Weeds and Needs.”

Some letters to the editor and highlights from the REBS show in August.

We are now only two months from our annual bonsai show at the Cupertino Quinlan Community Center on September 30th. I'm getting very excited, as we all should!

When working on trees that you will want to show this year (September 30th) remember that it takes a number of weeks for cutting back to produce new shoots and a few more to have them harden off.

An invitation from BSSF to Adam Toth’s styling demonstration.

I hope everyone is now prepared for the warmer weather the Bay Area is headed for now that July is showing its true colors with 100 degrees temperatures predicted.

Now is a good time to think about which trees you want to show for our September 30, 2023 show.

This month, we have a feature photo of Marin bonsai artist Jay McDonald’s garden.

What a joy it was to see our beginners program kicked off this past third Thursday’s meeting.

This month, Ray Stagner will work with our beginners showing them how to approach a young juniper sapling and making it into a pre-bonsai that they can be proud of and take home that evening.

Tree tips for us as the weather starts to get hot.