bournmouth2009

It was truly a great day to look forward to. Dragon Bonsai have a warm and long relationship with the Wessex Bonsai Society and because of this receiving the invite to the Wessex Show in Bournemouth is a day that is waited for with great anticipation. Well unsurprisingly we received our invite and the plans for the show soon gathered momentum. We have had quite a few new members this year and for some of them it is the first opportunity to visit or indeed participate in all the activities that revolve around it. The detailed work that Dragon put into the preparation for attending a show is quite extraordinary to say the least, but this probably say's a lot about the passion that the members have for Bonsai.

It started with the initial communication to members of the outline plan. The date, the venue, the time etc. with a view that we can get some sort of idea on numbers that want to attend the show, we can then get cracking on the logistics.

Then the process of tree selection for the show based on the space we have been given, and as there is at this show the opportunity for individuals to enter trees into varying categories of competition who wants to have a crack so to speak.

So numbers and logistics sorted, trees sorted, it was time to have a bit of a dummy run.

We are at Dragon very fortunate with the facilities we have as any of you reading this will be aware of. So it was time to unpack the backdrops, display table covers and display stands etc and involve anyone and everyone from the society to have some input into how the final display will look. This activity is led by our elected Show Committee namely Chris Thomas, Jerry Wheeler and Bob Hill. Although these guys are the most experienced and I would say talented amongst us they do not take anything for granted and turn this process into a learning exercise for those of us that are new to this area of Bonsai. Its great fun and turns into a fascinating insight into this niche of the art. I would say in my opinion that none of them bind themselves to the traditions as it were which is great for the members new and old as this attitude has always tended to encourage members to have input and share their thoughts and views quite freely. It's a very open and relaxed session with lots of ideas ( some really off the wall ) lots of banter and nobody gets to feel embarrassed or put down.

So now we have got the trees selected and checked all the display stuff we need, we are ready to go.

I must say at this stage that the process probably sounds a bit slick, but believe me there are usually one or two hiccups along the way. ‘ Best laid plans ‘ and all that !!

The day has arrived and it's another very early start for the convoy heading South. We all have a bit of a laugh over the early start and keep telling ourselves as consolation ‘ Well at least there will be no traffic to contend with ‘ And sure enough there isn't. We arrive at the venue in plenty of time to set up. Or so we think ? But first things first, it's a gathering around the cars and vans for coffee and breakfast. It's a glorious day weather wise which the Southern boys keep rubbing into us is the norm for this part of the world. Well breakfast finished we are led to the area where we are going to display.

I must digress a little here to tell you about a very young member of the Wessex Society. I am a little embarrassed that I have forgotten his name and apologise profusely for doing so.( please get in touch and put me straight ) I do know that his father is a member of the Wessex Society and he was there to help the exhibitors out. He was one of the most helpful and courteous lads I have met in a very long time. He helped us park our vehicles, led us to our exhibition area, showed us where the competition area was, helped us resolve a problem over space and made us all feel very special indeed. He is a credit to the Wessex Bonsai Society and his Parents.

So there begins a little bit of discussion around the plan of action to set up the Society display, who is doing what etc then off we go to collect from the van all the display equipment. Remember me saying ‘ The Best Laid Plans…….'

We have the trees, the table material, the backdrops, the backdrop material BUT no bag with the fixing equipment in aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Or so we think !!!!!!!!

I suppose it is at times like this when you really find out how well you all get on together and this was surely going to be an acid test. Well nobody panicked ( I don't think ? or if they did they certainly didn't show it ) nobody apportioned blame, we just drew breath and discussed what we needed to do. It turns out that Bob the Builder ( Bob Hill ) came to the rescue. He just happened to have a bagful of bits and pieces that was going to do the job. I said as part of the Show Committee they were the most experienced and this is a good example I suppose. I bet Bob was saying quietly to himself ‘ seen it, done it, got the tee-shirt ‘ Panic over the display is completed and Bob and Myself set off to display our own exhibits in the individual competition. By the way we later found the bag of equipment.

It's the first time I have ever exhibited a tree in a Show. I entered Bonsai as many many others as a hobby I suppose. I had no aspirations to enter competitions or shows. I just wanted to learn and understand Bonsai and create images for my own personal indulgences if you like. Being part of a Society is helping me towards achieving those goals but has as a by product introduced me to many other aspects of Bonsai that I never knew about or thought I would be interested in. So here I am entering my tree in a show for the first time. Both Bob and I have entered into the ‘ Self Styled ‘ category. I know that entering competitions or shows is not everyone's cup of tea, and to be honest it wasn't mine a couple of years ago, but the boys at Dragon have been chipping away at me and others to just have a go and experience the feeling of showing your tree outside the comfort of your own home or society. Well they succeeded and the feeling of pride and achievement was worth it. If you haven't already, give it a try, I will certainly do this again.

John's White pine

John's acer

Bob's larch

By 10.00am we are all set up and can relax and enjoy the rest of the day. There are many Societies and Traders around the venue, so it's a quick recce to get your bearings before we set off to explore, discuss and marvel at what's on display. It's amazing what you learn at shows like this. There is such an awesome array of different styles, techniques, interpretations etc on display and everyone you speak to is only too willing to discuss things with you. You find yourself having to make numerous rounds of the displays to try and take it all in, and just when you think you have seen everything, discussed everything you wanted to discuss, up pops another question. So back you go again and again. And so the day progresses with a short interlude for lunch and a couple of tea breaks ( the homemade food on offer in the café is awesome by the way ) when we all get back together to share our experiences. We decide that we will all meet up at our display mid afternoon and set off as a society group to walk the show and have a short critique of each society display and take in the competition hall. It's a great way of taking back a lot of learning and a great opportunity to network with individuals or societies and good fun along the way.

By 4.00pm the camera is full, your brain is beginning to creak with so much information, your legs feel like lead and like you have walked two marathons, you cannot eat another homemade cake or drink another cup of tea and your throat is sore from so much discussion, but……. What a great day

And to cap the day off Bob has won first prize in the ‘ Self Styled ‘ category of the competition

To Wessex Bonsai Society. Thank you for your invite to the show and congratulations to you all on organising such a fantastic show with such warm hospitality.

View more pictures from the show.
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