|
A very good question.
After all it's going
to cost me £25.00 a year. So what do I get ?
Well here is what you can
expect !
Members.
We have a double
digit membership figure but there is always room for one more. The members
ages range from the modestly young to the positively ancient.( cannot name
names though as I would definitely get into trouble ) With this comes a
whole range of experiences from the pure ‘novice' right through to the
seasoned' enthusiast. Everyone in the Society is there for similar
reasons. They are passionate about the Art of Bonsai and irrespective of
experience everyone still wants to learn more or share what they already
know with others. If you are new to the discipline ? Don't worry. You will
never be made to feelintimated or even feel ‘ out of it ‘ every single one
of us has been where you feel you are and will be eager to buddy up with
you and share what we know to bring you up to speed to make Bonsai
enjoyable for you. If you have been in the discipline for many years ?
then that is great news. We don't pretend to knoweverything and are always
open minded. We believe everyone has something to bring to the party. ( so
to speak )
Workshops.
We hold
workshops every Sunday between 10.00am and 4.00pm and in addition during
the Summer months each Wednesday between 4.00pm and 9.00pm at Bonllwyn
Aquatic Centre.
Chris Thomas the Owner is a Bonsai enthusiast of over
20years. ( well, enthusiast is definitely an understatement but if I let
him write a description you would be here all day reading it ). The
workshops are held in a very large dedicated polytunnel that Chris
generously allows us to use unreservedly and has done sofor many years, so
no worries when it rains or there is a gale blowing.
The day usually
runs with members bringing in various pieces of material in all different
stages of development or refinement, so you can usually see someone
performing a technique that you can study or practice for yourself. The
sort of thing you can expect to see or participate in are discussions
about styling a tree, wiring techniques, pruning, feeding, general
horticulture, repotting, display techniques or the general sharing of
knowledge and experiences. There is always a fair amount of fun filled
banter so it's not always serious and feels nothing like being in a
classroom if that is what you may be thinking. You can come and go as you
please. There is no obligation to be there all day and no obligation to be
there every week.
You use the workshops to suit YOU.
There is always plenty of tea and coffee
available and Chris's wife Julie treats us every single week to a huge
plate of freshly cut sandwiches and it's not uncommon nowdays for a member
to bring in some delicious home made cakes or other treats, so if you are
looking after your weight watch out !
Materials.
If you are
thinking ‘ well I have no material to use ‘ or I only have a ‘ stick in a
pot ‘ etc then you need not worry.
Alongside the Aquatic Centre and on
site is Chris's own Bonsai Nursery. Chris has an enormous amount of
material of varied species suitable for the ‘novice ‘ right through to you
experts out there. From Raw Material through to Developing and Refined. If
you have your own pieces then just bring them along.
There is also
available a vast range of Pots, Composts, Tools, Wire etc. Handy when just
at the wrong moment you have run out of wire or broken that precious pot
in the middle of repotting.
Then of course it's not uncommon for
members to bring in and share out things like pots they no longer have use
for or offer some of their own trees around to other members. There is
always someone who is having a good clearout, whether it be their pots or
trees. So keep a lookout !
Field Trips.
Dragon Bonsai
Society holds a Legal Collecting Licence. As you are probably aware it is
illegal to collect a wild tree without the owners consent. Our Licence
entitles us to collect certain material from designated areas. Great if
you have some material already you can add to your collection , even
better if you are just starting out and need some material to work
with.
We organise throughout the Autumn and Winter, Field or Collecting
trips as we like to call them. They are great fun. You get to spend the
day with some great company and outdoors battling the elements ( and the
trees ) in some really spectacular local locations. And with a little bit
of luck, the right knowledge and the right tools you may come back with a
really special piece of material.
Some of the material you may be able
to collect and style such as Larch, Hawthorn, Blackthorn are renowned
around the Bonsai fraternity. So keep your eyes peeled for that very
special tree !!!
Shows.
We visit numerous
National Bonsai Shows, Exhibitions and Trade Shows throughout the
year.
Members have the opportunity to travel to these events in
transport arranged and subsidised by the Society.
Dragon Bonsai Society
also exhibits trees in some of these events and Members are encouraged to
develop their trees to a standard to represent Dragon Bonsai. We also put
on our own display and exhibition in a dedicated marquee at the Game Fair,
Golden Grove. This is an opportunity for all members to exhibit ‘ their
pride and joy ‘ and all members are encouraged to do so. It's not
compulsory so if you feel you and your tree are not ready yet, then don't
worry there's always next year or even the year after…..
And if you
feel showing trees is not for you, well just go along anyway. You get to
oggle and study some marvellous trees and always leave with some extra
knowledge,or have met someone new, picked up a bargain and always leave
more inspired.
Seminars.
We arrange
throughout the year to go to as many seminars as we can. We subsidise the
travel cost.
These seminars are a wonderful opportunity to learn from
the ‘ Best of the Best ‘ Here them talk in their field of expertise,
demonstrate a whole raft of techniques, give real hints and tips on all
aspects of Bonsai from their own real experiences and answer that question
you have been trying to get answered for the last 20 odd years even. Take
a notebook otherwise you will return home with the inside of your head
spinning like a top!!
Website.
Join in and
contribute to the content in any way you feel comfortable to do. Jerry our
‘ Webmaster ‘ is always looking for content and anyone who can inspire him
to produce the best Website in the Bonsai World.
Not Only a National Bonsai
Society.
Dragon Bonsai Society is well established in it's own
right, but there's lots more. There are centuries of experience within the
society and over the years the society through Shows, Exhibitions and
Seminars has built up an enviable network of contacts in the Bonsai world.
Many of the Best Talented Bonsai Artists in Europe are on first name terms
with many of our members. What a privilege eh !
GET INTO BONSAI . BE PART OF
DRAGON BONSAI.
A new
addiction - A new members
thoughts.
Morea Pubben's
Dutch/Welsh story - Writing about her adventures in Wales .
| 
