Bodhi`s monthly meeting on the 14th December 2013.

    We had a wonderful inter active secession today at Spaces in 
Beasent Nagar. The demo by Ms. Molly Cherian on Fusion of trunks
 and talk about the bonsai Clubs in Singapore by Ms. Satyabama ,
were very informative. The meeting was well attended.
Thank you very much, Molly and Satya. Thank you Dr. Yogesh for the refreshments...

From the secretary`s desk..

PRACTISE FUSION BONSAI

A potted plant becomes Bonsai, when it attains the appearance of a mature tree.  Maturity can be achieved by adopting different methods.

One such method is Fusion Bonsai.

Here,  saplings or nursery plants of similar kind,  can be fused together to get a good girth for the trunk to create a Bonsai in a short  period of time.

OBSERVE THIS METHOD

ON  SATURDAY,  DEC. 14, 2013  AT  2 pm  at SPACES,  1, Eliot  Beach  Road,  Besant  Nagar,  Chennai  during  BODHI 

 Bonsai's  monthly  meeting.

GUESTS ARE WELCOME ON PAYMENT OF GUEST CHARGES.
 

Approach graft

        Trunk Fusion as a Bonsai Technique.
Trunk fusion is a method in grafting . In bonsai this technique is useful in making a comparatively large base trunk, in a relatively short time.The taper and style of the tree can be controlled from the initial stage itself. The size of the tree can decided early.
      Approach grafts are commonly used. Usually one can start with two or more rooted cuttings or saplings.They are secured together with tapes or insulated wires.As the plants grow and swell, the pressure of being firmly held together ,make the pieces fuse together.Once the fusion is achieved, the tapes and wires should be removed.
      Multiple approach graft involves ,securing cuttings or seedlings side by side to form a big trunk. 50 to 100 cuttings can be used.They should have a good root system to support them.Using raffia or fiber ropes , to initially secure the plants is good to prevent scars. Wiring can be done on top of this.
The plants should be placed close to each other, with out any space between them. Gaps will delay the fusion.While the process of arranging the trees is going on , care should be taken to see that the roots are not dried up. So constant misting is needed.  
       Once the whole process of arranging and wiring is over,plant the entire group into a growth pot, with well nourishing soil mix.Once the new growth starts, they should be allowed to grow freely. Bonsai training can start after one year of planting, when all the cuttings are fused together and the wires are removed.
       Always keep a few spare trees as reserve,so that they can be replaced for any dead ones, in case if there are any.
Plants suitable for this type of grafting are different types of Ficus trees, Jade, Schefflera Etc.

 The Chennai Bonsai Association Bodhi .... meeting for the month of December 2013.
Venue:  Spaces, No. 1 Elliots Beach Road,
Beasent Nagar.... 14th Saturday, December 2013...Time 2.30 to 4.30

A demo on Fusion of Trunks in Bonsai making,, by Ms. Molly Cherian.
Talk on the functioning of international Bonsai Clubs ,,by Ms. Satyabama.
Mini exhibition of bonsai trees,, correction of trees etc

All are welcome.                                         guest charge: 150/


Secretary`s Desk.

Controlling snail and slug

Bonsai  plants face a threat during the monsoon from snails and slug. Even though they are good in cleaning environment by consuming decaying matter, they damage  bonsai plants, vegetable and flowering plants, orchid, banana etc. They are active at night, causing severe havoc to the garden.

 

Control:

 

* Hand collection and destruction will be  effective.

* Cut pieces of papaya stem may be placed to attract and trapping snails.

* Use wet gunny bags and papaya leaves as a bait  to collect them.

* Lime or bleaching powder may be sprinkled on the infected area.

* Common salt may be spread on snails to  kill them.

* A small bowl of beer will attract and kill the slugs.

                                    Pine Trees and Junipers
Every Bonsai enthusiast would like to own a bonsai of a pine or a juniper tree. They are temperate zone trees and can easily conform to any particular bonsai style. Their advantage again is their needles in the place of leaves and not too vigorous root system.
Since these trees are not common in Chennai with our tropical weather system, we usually mistake both the types for each other.
                              Both Pines and Junipers along with their close relatives like Spruce, Firs, Yew etc belong to the genera Conifers.  Conifers are cone bearing plants and trees. they do not flower , but produce seeds in a structure made up of modified leaves called bracts, that later become cones.
                              All pine trees have needles,, but all needled evergreens are not pines.
A distinguishing trait of pine trees is that their leaves (needles) are bundled together in packs of two to five . Needles may be long or short, but if they are clumped together, it is a pine for sure
In Juniper and Thuja( common in Chennai),which are also evergreens, the leaves are replaced by needles. Again the shape and size of the needle (leaf) vary,but it is flat and overlap one another, like the shingles on a roof. The foliage may vary, in texture from soft to prickly, but all the Junipers have overlapping needle trait.
In the nurseries in Chennai we can get junipers and thujas. and rarely pines too.
So Bonsai Lovers try your luck with the evergreens..

Suseela Vergis..

Bonsai makes me feel peaceful - An interview with our Patron, Mr. Ponnuswami

Here is an interview Mr. M. Ponnuswami which was featured in BursaBonsai.com.

Mr. Ponnuswami is an International Consultant with the World Bonsai Friendship Federation, China. He is the Patron of Bodhi Bonsai, Chennai and he has helped us to learn advanced techniques and get an insight into the latest developments in the world of Bonsai.

 

 .

Here is an excerpt from the interview. You can read the rest of the interview here:

 

How has bonsai art impacted you as a person?

It is a fascinating activity and the plants are a joy to look at. Bonsai has increased my power of concentration, and cured me of my short temper and touchy nature. I spend over an hour a day tending to my bonsai and time flies by. It serves me as a form of meditation; it keeps me peaceful 

 

Bodhi the Chennai Bonsai Assocation, will meet on the 9th,, Saturday,November, 2013... at Children,s green Park. on Spurtank Road..
Time  2.30 to 5PM
Agenda... Demo on instant bonsai making ..Mr. Fredrick and Mr. Uday
                Talk on Micronutrients ...............Ms. Suganthy Aiyaswamy
                 Display of " Trees of the Month"
                 Correction of Trees by members.

All are welcome. Contact No.. 9884062210..Ms. Suseela Vergis

BODHI BONSAI - MONTHLY MEETING FOR OCTOBER 2013

Date:  Saturday,  October 19, 2013

Time:  2 30 pm

Venue:  Children’s Green Park, Spurtank Road ( Opp. Grand Sweets )

Suseela Vergis, Secretary has planned the following interesting schedule for the day:

1)  Briefing on the programs for next twelve months, this being the first meeting after the new office bearers have taken charge.

2)  Members are requested to bring rare specimen plants/trees or established Bonsai with flowers or fruits if there are. These would be exhibited as ‘Trees of the month’. This is going to be a regular feature hereafter.  There will be discussions too on these trees.

3)  Discussion on ‘Ethics of Bonsai’.

PLEASE BRING YOUR BONSAI PLANTS FOR CORRECTION, AS USUAL.

Guests are welcome on payment of Guest charge.

Bodhi Bonsai Members will meet on the 19th Saturday, October 2013 at,
             Children s Green Park,
            Spurtank Road, ( opposite Grand Sweets)
            Chennai..
Time...2.30 to 5 PM
All are welcome..

ANNUAL GENERAL BODY MEETING

Annual General Body Meeting of  ‘BODHI – The Chennai Bonsai Association (Regn No. 304/2009)’  was held on October 5, 2013 at Gandhi Nagar Club, Adyar, Chennai and unanimously elected the following office bearers for the new term:

President:  Dr. YOGESH BUVANESHWAR

Vice President:  UDAYA KUMAR MOHANDASS

Secretary:  SUSEELA VERGIS

Treasurer:  THOMAS GEORGE

This is in appreciation of Molly, Satya, Mahendra lakhani and Harini , the immediate past  Office Bearers of Bodhi Bonsai Association Chennai, who have done an untiring work ,for the last two years
in bringing Bodhi to the limelight and inspiring lot of Chennai- ites into taking it up as a hobby.
So three cheers to all of them.

Bodhi's monthly meeting on September 14th 2013

Bodhiwill meet on September 14th 2013 at  :

Children's Green Park

Spurtank Road (Opposite Grand Sweets & Snacks )

Chennai

 

Time : 2.30 Pm to 4.30 PM

 

Please bring your plants which need  styling .  All new members please make time to attend this meeting without fail

Bonsai enthusiasts are welcome to join the meeting as Guests on payment of guest charges of Rs 100/- . Guests are also welcome to Join Bodhi as members on submission of application form alongwith annual membership fee of Rs 1000/- . 

Our monthly meeting for August will be held on saturday the 10th 2013 at   SPACES , 1 Elliots Beach Road , Besant Nagar , Chennai .


The timing for the meeting will be 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm and theme as already announced will be group planting . Members are requested to bring plants and required material for group planting and our senior members will demonstrate and assist in making group planting arrangement

For new members who need directions to Spaces please use  the link below .

https://maps.google.com/maps/msie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=107468802600288190338.00047ca34c772862ee0ec

The venue is just behind Rajaji Bhavan and right opposite the Besant Nagar Beach Northern of Vilankanni Church .


Non members are welcome to attend as guest

Warm regards
Satya

Bonsai workshop at Dr C L Metha Sishya OMR School

“Bodhi Bonsai” conducted a Bonsai workshop for Grade 8 students of Dr C L Metha Sishya OMR School on 22nd July. This is a year long programme during which Jayanthi and Suseela will train the students in the art of Bonsai.  They used Ficus and Jade plants which are suitable for Chennai weather conditions. The students were really keen and they are at the right age to pick up the nuances of this living art. We appreciate the interest shown by the school management and teaching staff in bringing this initiative to the students.

  

The one day workshop, which was conducted by the members of Bodhi Bonsai association at Sisya School on OMR, was a great success. The students were from the Eight Grade and a few of the teachers were also part of the enthusiastic audience...
The programme started with a brief talk on the basics of Bonsai by Jayanthi Praksh . This was followed by a power point presentation on the various styles of Bonsai.
A simple demo to create a basic bonsai was done by Suseela Vergis.
The entire procedures were done in a very simple and easy way to suit the young minds.
Afterwards, the group was divided into two groups and each group was given a pre bonsai material to work on. They were showed wiring, pruning, and root management. The students did the repotting too.
They were instructed, how to look after the trees,, one a Jade and other a Ficus Benjamina.
The members will have to do a periodic check up on the progress of the trees.

July 6th Bonsai Workshop at Defense Officers’ Institute, Chennai

Bonsai Master Ravindran styling the large pre bonsai Casuarina into a twin trunk  Bonsai

 

Large pre bonsai Jade plant being styled

into a semi cascade Bonsai

Bonsai Master summing up

Few Bodhi Bonsai members with the Master

BONSAI WORKSHOP ON JULY 6, 2013 - A REVIEW

The Bonsai Workshop conducted by Bonsai Master D Ravindran on July 6  was well attended.  Mr Ravindran is an Advisor to Bodhi Bonsai.  This was the first workshop by Mr Ravindran  after the formation of BODHI – The Chennai Bonsai Association.

At the outset, Mr. Ravindran gave an illuminating talk on the various aspects of Bonsai creation.

Mr Ravindran then beautifully styled two Casuarina pre-bonsai plants brought by him into twin trunk & informal upright style Bonsai. He also styled a large Jade brought by a member into a semi cascade style.

There was a hands-on-session after lunch where  12 members participated. Each member was given a separate space to style their plant independently. Mr Ravindran went around and guided each member on how to select the right kind of pre-bonsai plant, discussed the style that suits their pre-bonsai plant and briefed them on pruning, wiring and every aspect of creating a pre-bonsai plant into a good Bonsai.

It was a rich learning experience not only to the participants of the hands-on-session, but even to others as they accompanied Mr Ravindran on his visit to each table and  valuable tips were picked up.

After seeing the post in our Blog, few non-members too attended the Bonsai workshop.  Four of them joined Bodhi Bonsai as regular members.  They said that they had greatly benefited by the workshop and the way it was planned and executed.

A big 'Thank You' to all those who made this workshop a success.

Way to Bonsai workshop venue

From Kathipara Junction to Defense colony:

Turn towards Porur (Bangalore rd). You enter St.Thomas mount.About a km from the jn you will see a mosque on your left. cross the mosque and turn right towards St. Thomas Hospital.at road separator made of metal. Cross the hospital and keep going till you reach the military hospital gate(M.H)---about 1/2 km from st. thomas hospital.From M.H keep going straight and you will cross IOB Bank on your right. Go a little further and you will see DEFENSE COLONY INSTITUTE on the right.(cream building with yellow borders).less than 1/2 km from M.H gate.

From Ashok pillar to Defense Colony:

Come upto KASI Theatre. after kasi theatre there is a bridge. Go BELOW the bridge and you will cross on a causeway over the Adayar river. at the end of causway take first right near AMWAY.you will enter KALAIMAGAL NAGAR .Here ask for Defense colony. end of kalaimagal nagar you will cross a barrier to prevent entry of trucks.after the barrier  you are entering Defense Colony. Drive straight  till the end of road and turn left. Go straight for about a km. and you will see DEFENCE COLONY INSTITUTE on the left. (cream building with yellow borders).

--

ONE DAY BONSAI WORKSHOP

BONSAI  LOVERS,  YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!

 

Day long opportunity to learn Bonsai techniques!!

Watch carefully the demos of renowned Bonsai Master D. Ravindran

at close quarters.

Pay attention to the methods adapted by the members of ‘BODHI BONSAI’

to create various Bonsai styles from mature pre-bonsai plants.

 

Closely observe, discuss, clear doubts & learn the art of Bonsai.  Join us:

Date:    SATURDAY, JULY 6, 2013

Time:    10 am to 5 pm

Venue:  DEFENSE OFFICER’S INSTITUTE,  Defense Officers’ Colony,

Ekkaduthangal, CHENNAI 600032.  (Near the Army Hospital)

Registration fees for non-members:  Rs. 1000/- per person  inclusive of working Lunch & Beverages

Early Registration Necessary

Contact: 9962574590 /  90003062129 / 9840039800

ONE DAY BONSAI WORKSHOP

Attention:  Bonsai lovers in Chennai !

BODHI – The Chennai Bonsai Association proudly announces a ‘ONE DAY BONSAI WORKSHOP’

by BONSAI MASTER  D. RAVINDRAN  of Nikki Bonsai Garden, Nagercoil.

DATE:  Saturday, July 6 2013

TIME:  10 am to 5 pm

VENUE:  Defense Officers’ Institute,

Defense Officers’ Colony,  Ekkaduthangal,  Chennai 32.  ( Near the Army Hospital )

 

LJMITED SEATS ARE AVAILABLE FOR GENERAL PUBLIC 

A rare opportunity to observe the demonstrations of the Bonsai Master as well as the ‘Hands-on-session’ of the members of BODHI creating Bonsai, at close quarters.

COURSE FEES:  Rs. 1000/- per person. Working vegetarian lunch and beverages included.

EARLY REGISTRATION NECESSARY  -  Contact 9962574590 / 9003062129 / 9840039800

Announcing  June 2013 Monthly meeting

This is to inform all Bonsai enthusiast  that Bodhi The chennai Bonsai association will hold the June 2013 monthly meeting  on

SATURDAY, June  8, 2013  between 2.30 PM  &  4.30 PM

at Children's Green Park, Spurtank Road , Chetpet, Chennai . (opposite Grand Sweets & Snacks )

Programme :

We will have a demonstration of sun loving plants like Jade and Adenium  by Suseela Vergis.

Harini will bring few flowering hybrid Adenium for 'Show & Tell' . She will also talk on propagation, manuring, watering and maintenance of Adenium.obesum.
  Members please do bring Jade and Adenium for hands on workshop under the guidance of senior members.

As Adenium grows well in Chennai, please do not miss this opportunity

Guest are welcome at a payment of Rs 100/- per member . New members are welcome to attend the meeting and Join the association by submitting  filled up Membership Forms and payment of Annual membership amount of Rs 1000/-

Bodhi will be dedicating the May 2013 Monthly meeting to all the New & Novice members  by conducting  a Special workshop for Beginners.

Date : May 12 from 2PM - 5 PM
Venue :  Gandhinagar Club , #73 4th Main Road, Gandhi Nagar, Adyar, Chennai 600 020 Telephone: +91-44-24414664

The Workshop will cover the following  :
2 PM to 3 PM Lecture session by Dr Yogesh Bhuvaneshwar

• A walk you through on Basic Bonsai Styles
• Aesthetic & Horticultural aspects of growing , Styling , Care & Maintenance of Bonsai Plants
• Traits to look for in garden/Nursery stock before selecting plant for styling into a bonsai
• Understanding the role of light, heat, water, nutrition and how each of these elements are best used and balanced to enhance the development of your bonsai.
• Planning for the seasonal requirements of your bonsai. 
•  Tools Required & choosing Bonsai Pots

3 PM to 4.30 PM

•  Hands–on styling session—Dr Yogesh & our Senior club members will assist New Members in creating their Own Bonsai (Attendees are encouraged to bring their own plants )

4.30 PM to 5.30 PM Tea & Networking
Bodhi Membership is mandatory for attending this workshop without charges.
Non Members are also welcome to become members of Bodhi at the Venue .
Those wishing to only attend the workshop can do so  by pre-registering &  paying an One-time attendance fee  by calling us on any of these nos : 9444144933/ 9840039800/9962574590/9003062129 . 

Article in The Hindu : A bonsai show that made you feel larger than life

Under the Bodhi tree

HEMA VIJAY
Published: April 26, 2013 in the Habitat section of The Hindu, Chennai Edition

Special Arrangement Members of the Chennai Bonsai Association with their collection.

A bonsai show that made you feel larger than life

An aged, fully grown banyan tree that stands three feet tall, tiny Peepal trees that twist artistically, casuarinas that sprout needle-like foliage in patterns, cascading bougainvilleas, jade shrubs with rockery conjuring up the image of a miniature forest… Well, this was an exhibition of Bodhi — the Chennai Bonsai Association’s collection of bonsai trees beneath the canopy of shady trees at Spaces on the Elliot’s beachfront.

Bonsai does make you feel larger than life, when you look at tiny but fully grown, old trees in trays. And then, taking in at a single glance the winding branches, sprawling roots and the spectacular foliage of so many trees is a visual delight. “Since bonsai combines gardening with sculpting, it confers a host of effects ranging from physical fitness to the joy of creation, meditative peace, stress relief, and a precious connect with nature,” says Molly Cherian, president, Bodhi. “It is especially relevant for urban life, considering our small flats and lack of garden space,” Yogesh, a senior member of Bodhi, says. The members of Bodhi meet every second Saturday of the month to exchange ideas and techniques for managing their collection of bonsai plants. Bodhi conducts workshops for interested groups. Bodhi’s members include bonsai enthusiasts from all walks of life, besides students and enthusiasts of bonsai art.

E-mail Bodhi at bodhi-the-chennai-bonsai-association@googlegroups.com or visit www.bonsai chennai.in

Keywords: Bonsai, gardening


Thanks to Hema Vijay of the Hindu newspaper for this encouraging coverage about our recent exhibition.

More views from SPACES

   With P S Govind Rao & Shri Sadanand Menon

 
Dr Yogesh's instant gift to the eminent visitor Dr Rudran

  Susheela Bonsai with lovely Red berries

The 20 minute landscape setup by Dr Yogesh

   The Cascade beauty from Jayanthi's collection

more photos of the Inaugural

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Views from Dr Yogesh's Camera