Page Title

Text Box: Nice to see everyone again after a July’s non-meeting month. We were off to a somewhat bumpy start but the evening turned out just fine. Thanks to both Leo and Bryan we received some informative and entertaining information about bonsai. Leo brought a beautiful Crepe Myrtle he had purchased at Brussels Bonsai Nursery. One of the best Crepe Myrtle bonsai I have ever seen. We did a “what improvements would you make to this tree” discussion. We took an early break and enjoyed a great spread of food thanks to Brian and Milissa. After the break Brian gave us a great talk

Text Box: about the Desert Rose plants he brought to the meeting. His “off the cuff” talk and Q&A certainly held t he attention of all ACBS members. This guy is a natural at giving a talk. We will look forward to the next time he presents a program. It makes me wonder how many of our members have something great to share with ACBS but are reluctant to commit to giving a program. We must have members that are willing to present programs if ACBS is to serve it’s purpose for existing. I know our President Joe Kuhn is working every day to set up our slate of activities for t he fall, winter and spring. .

Text Box: ACBS President Joe Kuhn will ask ACBS members to suggest programs for 2007 and members willing to present programs during 07 at the September ACBS regular meeting. We will also set up the host and tokanoma list for 2007. Joe Kuhn has said without members willing to give programs we could just put a list of programs, dates that would be given into a hat and require members to pull out a card and present the program listed on the card. Sounds good to me. All and any program suggestions will be appreciated. Joe Day

Text Box: The addition of Lava Rock seems to make the mix dry quicker. Something that could be an advantage with Pine, Azalea and Camellia species. They need a soil mix that does not promote root rot during the very wet periods of the year. I find a mixture that has more than 50 % of Turface the Turface tends to clump. My Maples did very well in the 50, Turface, 50 Pine bark mix. I used

Text Box: Hydite is changing. The manufacturing location now will not allow pick up trucks loads to be purchased. Only commercial dump trucks are loaded with a minimum of 12 tons per load. My experience with Turface has been good. A mix with 40 to 60 percent pine bark works well with all species. A mixture using half Lava Rock and half Turface to make up the granular in a soil mix works very good.

Text Box: Turface as a top dressing when the spring drought became a summer drought. I placed it on top of my normal mixture. It does a good job of moderating the drying cycle of the mix. It will tend to float off when you water or get a thunder dumper. Hydite does a good job as a top dressing and it stays in place but….where will you get a supply of hydite? Even lowly old Pine bark mulch isn’t easy to find now days. Joe Day

Text Box: The August ACBS Meeting

Text Box: Mobile used lava rock, New Orleans used Hydite and Atlanta used small granite rock. For Mobile Lava Rock was hard to find, Hydite not available and granite rock was both hard to find and made a very heavy soil mix. Some years back we found a product called Turface. High fired clay broken into small pieces.

Text Box: Available and at a reasonable price Turface will probably become the rock in our bark and rock soil less, soil mixture. Hydite is also a high fired clay used mostly in construction and the manufacturing of cinder block. The word from the Louisiana bonsai world is the availability of

Text Box: Discovering the fact that bonsai grow best in a soil less, soil came in the 70’s. The mixtures of bark and a rock type granular became popular with the English bonsai artist when it was discovered that this mixture would not compress the roots when the winter freeze came. The increased air space allowed the ice crystals to expand into the empty space.

Text Box: I glance over to the right of my car as I sit waiting for the light to change. The car in a small compact Neon, some wreck damage, some primer and sporting on the right rear one of those small doughnut spare tires. The lady at the wheel was short, plump with various colors of hair dominated by gray streaks. One arm out the window to allow the cigarette smoke to spiral upward with the heat updraft. The light snaps green and she quickly pulls away to take advantage of natures air conditioning. On the rear window is a bumper sticker. It reads “My son was inmate of the month at the county jail” Brought a quick smile to my lips but...Was it a Joke?