I plan on going to my first Bonsai show.

[edprocoat]

I seen that the Columbus Bonsai Society is having a Bonsai show on July 21st and 22nd in Columbus Ohio and figured I would go and check it out since it has two attributes that attracted me, the admission is free, and the parking is free! They also posted they will have vendors and I am a sucker for cotton candy, although these are probably Bonsai related vendors, but man I hope they have cotton candy. Besides I could use some soil amendments and some wire as well as the chance to see some neat trees. I plan on going there and saying things like, "Wow, look at that little tree in the pot" and "Do you hurt them when you cut off those branches and wrap wire on them?" and "Whats the risk of attracting a lightning strike with all that wire on your tree " of course I will have to saunter up to the best displayed one and ask the owner " If I bought that and planted it in my yard will it grow up to be a real tree"

Yup I am going to have fun ! The Columbus Bonsai Society states on its website that all the "Workshops, demonstrations and other activities are listed on their website" well someone forgot to list them so I will probably go on sunday and hope there is something interesting going on. I will try and get some pictures unless they have employed ninjas to keep their Bonsai secrets from getting out. Them damn buckeye bastards are a secretive group.

ed

 

[Adair M]

Ed,

Like yourself, I have been "doing bonsai" about 40 years.

The longer I am involved with bonsai, the more I realize there is so much that I DON'T know. Which makes it all the more interesting.

Have fun at the bonsai show. Take the opportunity to learn.

Don't be a jerk.

May I relate a little story? About 35 years ago, the Atlanta Bonsai Society used to have the annual show in Lenox Square Mall on the weekend of Mother's Day. We chose that weekend because usually the Satsuki azaleas would be blooming, and everyone likes to see azaleas in bloom. Since the show was in a mall, we did place "velvet ropes" as a barrier to keep people from touching the trees. And we stationed people around to enforce the "no touching" space and answer questions. Well, I just happened to be monitoring when some jerk loudly stated that "those were all artificial trees because EVERYONE KNOWS THAT AZALEAS ALL BLOOMED A MONTH AGO." So, I went up and politely told him that these were Satsuki azaleas, a different variety than he had in his yard, and these bloom later. They're from Japan. Unfortunately, he refused to believe me, and went on to point out a Wakeabishu azalea (which just happened to be mine) and he stated that we just stuck on some blooms with glue. I assured him that was not the case. He got louder, and said that "real azalea" have blooms all over, not just sprinkled around. I told him, yes, the azalea would have produced blooms all over, but I had removed most of them, leaving only a few. With that, he yelled, "You lie!", and barged thru the rope and grabbed my tree, and pulled off several blooms!

I managed to get the tree back from him, and he said something like, "Damn, it's real..." and ran off. Meanwhile, I was trying to see if the tree had sustained any damage, etc.

Please don't be that guy.

He may have thought he was being funny. He wasn't.

 

[Bill S]

Maybe if he justs asks if they were grown from seed.

Although I think he was kidding, except the cotton candy part, but usually those vendors don't seem to show up. But the good kind do, bonsai till you drop Ed, the shows can be good.

 

[Poink88]

...Although I think he was kidding, ...

I thought so too but w/o using any emoticons, it is hard to tell.

One of the "it is not what you say but how you say it" thing.

 

[Bill S]

Most here I find it best to assume they aren't hostile, but we all need to form our own opines.

 

[bougie nights]

Ed-
I may see you there - I will be the guy looking at little trees. The Columbus club is made up of really nice people and the meetings are always a nice refugia from the hassles of life.
You'll have a good time but alas, I have the feeling that Franklin Park Conservatory would frown on cotton candy.

 

[edprocoat]

Yes, I was joking. Us Buckeye bastards are a funny lot.

WHAT !!!! No cotton candy ! Oh well I will have to satisfy my palette with the gourmet of the senses all the displays will provide, and no, I do not plan on eating someones tree !, well maybe just one little bite.

ed

 

[edprocoat]

Ed-
I may see you there - I will be the guy looking at little trees. The Columbus club is made up of really nice people and the meetings are always a nice refugia from the hassles of life.
You'll have a good time but alas, I have the feeling that Franklin Park Conservatory would frown on cotton candy.

Bougie, I will look for you, I'll be the old fat guy looking at the little trees.

ed

 

[Dan W.]

Ed, I hope youre not entirely joking... I'd love to hear about the responses you get to those questions!

Here in WY we just have a small show...BUT...it's at the state fair so there is cotton candy...and funnel cakes....

 

[Bill S]

Carefull Dan, unless you have a guest room.

Gotta love a room filled up with bonsai to look at. Have fun Ed et. al..

 

[tmmason10]

Enjoy Ed, fill us in how it goes. I haven't actually been to a show yet but it is something I am looking forward to.

 

[edprocoat]

So I am not alone, I have never been to one either. I really had no idea there was even such venues until I started coming to this site. I know I will enjoy it, beleive it or not I am a very talkative person and will engage everyone at the place in conversation, but I do this wherever I go so it will business as usual for me. Seeing the trees in person that I would only have a chance to see online or in books will be a bonus.

ed

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Have fun, and feel free to use one of the best lines I've heard from someone at a show: (standing in front of some deciduous trees), "these are cute, but I REALLY like the actual bonzai trees" (pointing at a juniper). Usually, a good follow up line includes the insider's tip of being careful to get the genuine article by only buying those particular specimens from white vans parked at busy intersections...

 

[Ang3lfir3]

Have fun, and feel free to use one of the best lines I've heard from someone at a show: (standing in front of some deciduous trees), "these are cute, but I REALLY like the actual bonzai trees" (pointing at a juniper). Usually, a good follow up line includes the insider's tip of being careful to get the genuine article by only buying those particular specimens from white vans parked at busy intersections...

I gotta remember this one!!!

 

[JudyB]

Hoping to get to this one on Sunday..... Maybe see some one of you there.

 

[edprocoat]

Hoping to get to this one on Sunday..... Maybe see some one of you there.

I will be there sunday, look for the remarkably handsome , well rounded, or portly, gentleman who will be yakking to anyone who listens. I will have that , I want one of all those, looks in my eye.

ed