Bonsai Garden Forums / BONSAI / Social Chat

THE GARDEN SHED TEA AND COFFEE SHOP

Tuppence — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:16:08 GMT

Opening today! The Garden Shed Tea and Coffee Shop.

Hope to see you here sometime for a refreshing cuppa and a natter. I've dropped by for a cup of tea. It's just after 5 p.m. and I've come in from sawing a big branch off my Bramley apple tree. I was wary of climbing the steps to reach it after having fallen earlier in the year but made it without mishap.

A lovely sunny day, today, but the ground is so dry. We're in need of rain. Is it dry in your part of the country.

Hope you're soon feeling a lot better, Kath, and that the acupuncture and massage did you good.

Penny

Events Calendar 2009 - Monthly Meetings info etc

Kath — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 22:12:34 GMT

http://www.bonsaigarden.net/monthly_meetings.html

and/or

http://www.bonsaigarden.net/gardening_events.html

If you wish any entries to be placed in above, please let me know:)

Wish you all a peaceful and happy Christmas

Tuppence — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 19:35:45 GMT

A happy and peaceful Christmas, everyone.

Best wishes,
Penny.

Christmas Presents

Tuppence — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 16:55:30 GMT

:) I was given a "Grow Your Own Bonsai" kit by someone who doesn't know anything about bonsai. The seed packet isn't labelled as to variety so it's going to be fun seeing if I can grow it, and whether it can be identified.

Did anyone else get trees?

Funny farm

Stymie — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:44:25 GMT

Old friends will know that I can't live without jokes. What about putting some here?

Weather.

Stymie — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:44:21 GMT

With the warnings of gales and flooding ringing in our ears, I urge everyone to do as I have. I've lifted my trees off their pedestals and shelves and placed them where they will not get as much damage if they're blown over. The prospect of 80 mph winds can be expensive.

Black and white to colour.

Stymie — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 10:09:38 GMT

You mustn't miss this buddies. Have your sound turned on. =Don.

PHOTOSNOIRetBLANCetenCOULEURS

Puzzles

Stymie — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:55:22 GMT

I've been compiling a few crosswords about trees so I'm going to try to put them on here for you. All botanical names and the clues are anagrams - easy.

PS the various extensions are not permitted - sorry.

I can Email them if anyone wants to have a go.:blush:

Autumn colour

Stymie — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:20:25 GMT

The swans posed after a lot of cajoling

speckled wood butterfly

RoyH — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:19:04 GMT

this butterfly visited our garden today, never seen one before, but i think its a speckled wood butterfly. we then had a run out to Castle Howard Garden center & saw another one, amazing.

Weekend 20/21 September

Kath — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:35:55 GMT

Have a great weekend everyone, enjoy this beautiful weather, ideal for the Autumn tidy-up in the garden, and cutting back f.bonsai :)

Visit to Bristol University Botanical Gardens

Tuppence — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:17:41 GMT

The Bristol University Botanical Gardens moved in 2007 to Stoke Bishop and I went there with the U3A Gardening Group for a tour yesterday. It's original site was sold and the University made millions of pounds but only gave £800,000 for the resiting and rebuilding of the gardens. Work is still in progress. You will notice that more staging is needed in the greenhouses - not enough money to purchase any, yet - and that a lot of plants are still in pots awaiting siting. The Friends of the Botanical Gardens raised money by pushing in wheelbarrows, etc., large plants across the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

I enjoyed the Angiosperm Philogeny Collection, where beds are laid out with plants in order of their evolution, from algae in pools to the first flowering plant, a magnolia, and then on from the magnolias.

Wicker representations of pollinating insects were hidden among beds of plants grouped according to their pollination methods.

When you have a spare ten minutes or so on a wet day, you might enjoy the slideshow.

[url]http://good-times.webshots.com/slideshow/566477064ZoXlOT[/url]

Penny

Social Chat discussions

Kath — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 10:21:04 GMT

Goodmorning everyone,

I thought you might like a place where you can discuss other daily happenings, events, weather etc outside of bonsai.

So I'll start the ball rolling by asking 'When, when, when are we going to have a mild, dry, sunny day so we can have a bit of a tidy up to show off the 'soon to come' spring flowering bulbs.?', I need to get behind the spade and fork again, but ground is much too puggy atm :crying: and there's poor Carol 'down under' struggling to keep things going because of the drought.

Fuschias

Tuppence — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:43:40 GMT

[URL=http://good-times.webshots.com/album/564065569gqdqCc][IMG]http://thumb4.webshots.net/t/24/665/9/79/12/2415979120047132684TIGezJ_th.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

We saw these in Salisbury today. What a colour! Presume they're Fuschias.

Do you know whether Don saw my post about his PM box being full? He might wonder why I didn't reply to a private message he sent. I couldn't. He needs to empty some folders. :)

Bye.

Hello Don

Tuppence — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:56:07 GMT

Hello Don.

Thanks for your p.m. and good wishes. I can't reply as you've "exeeded your permitted number of messages". Apparently, you need to empty some boxes before you can receive any more private messages.

:) Bye

Bonsai events in the UK

Stymie — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:57:11 GMT

2008	EVENT



February 16 Sat	Swindon Bonsai Society winter image show, Coleview Community Centre, Towcester Rd, Stratton St Margaret, Swindon SN3 4AS See
February 23-24	Royal Horticultural Society Bonsai Weekend Wisley, GU23 6QB. Full info or Email:


March 16	Bonsai Boot Sale in aid of National Bonsai Collection. Birmingham Botanical Gardens 8am - noon. Details from:


April 27	Bonsai Traders Association event, Ryton on Dunsmore, Nr Coventry, National Bonsai Expo 10am - 3pm Admission Adult £3.50, Child £0.50 For more information contact Corin Tomlinson on 01158 205757
May 4	Wessex Bonsai Society annual exhibiton and open competition. Kinson Community Centre, Pelhams Park,Kinson, Bournemouth BH10 7LH. 10.30am - 5pm. Further details / competition entry forms:Brian Evans 01202 890021
May 17-18 Sat/Sun	North Devon Bonsai exhibition of trees at RHS Rosemoor Gardens, Sales, help and advice, demonstrations. See
May 18 Sun	National Scottish Bonsai Exhibition at Whitburn Academy from 11am - 4pm.
May 18 Sun	Solent Bonsai 30th Anniversary Show, Wallington Village Hall, near Fareham, Hants.
May 24	Exe Vale Bonsai Club exhibition and sales at Pavilion hall, Esplanade, Exmouth,South Devon. 10am, - 4pm 5 society displays, traders, potters. (Part of the Exmouth Festival)
May 24-26	Cardiff Bonsai Club exhibition at Dyffryn Gardens, near Cardiff CF5 6SU (also horticultural weekend)
May 30,31 - June 1	Bonsai at Gardening Scotland. Exhibition and Competition Stands at Ingliston Showground nr Airport, Edinburgh.
June 15 Sun	Midland Bonsai Society Annual Show. Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Glasshouses, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham. Entrance to the show is free.
June 29	Bonsai Traders Association event, Capel Manor, Middlesex. 10am - 4pm Admission Adult £3.50, Child £0.50
August 23-27	Bristol Bonsai Society exhibition at Festival of the Tree at Westonbirt Arboretum, Glos. Always an event and a place worth travelling to see.
August 31	Bonsai For All at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, site of National Bonsai Collection. Exhibition, Trade and Demonstrations. Contact Contact


September 20-23	Newstead 3 Bonsai Extravaganza at Newstead Bonsai and Garden Centre, Newstead Lane, Havercroft, W. Yorks WF4 2HW Contact
September 28	Bonsai Traders Association event, Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield 10am - 4pm Admission £3.50 For more information contact Alan Harriman on 01427 890434



	Sorry about the open spaces folks. This has been a bit time consuming. I may add more later. =Don.

Tea and Scones at Kiftsgate Court

Tuppence — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:32:04 GMT

I thought it was time for tea and scones at Kiftsgate yesterday. They were delicious. :)

Penny

A fuschia for Kath

Tuppence — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:14:41 GMT

Hello

I visited Hidcote Manor and Kiftsgate Court yesterday with a gardening club and saw this fuschia and thought of you, Kath.

Penny :)

Hurricane Katrina

RoyH — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:04:34 GMT

these pictures have been doing the rounds, i cant credit the taker of these amazing yet terrible pictures as i recieved them via e-mail.

this picture shows the tidel surge about to hit land

Some photos from my visit to Australia.

Kath — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:44:18 GMT

I visited states of Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. In respect of rain fall Queensland still looked 'green' but as I flew to Victoria and then later to South Australia you could then see the vast difference between these states. Some places I visited are now in their 8th year of very little rainfall. As you can imagine water restrictions are quite severe. eg whilst visiting the Botanical Gardens of Ballarat, inside a huge glass house things were still being watered, but outside, not the gardens, really the only thing surviving were the plants from the Crassula, Agave, Cacti families any of the drought resistant plants. Large trees are just managing to survive, but in some places it is clear to see that some of the ends of the branches are dying. Some trees are already dead, but luckily some are still thriving, how, I do not know.

Here's an example:

Toowoomba, Picnic Point, Queensland:

Outskirts of Adelaide, South Australia, view from an aeroplane, so dry.

also driving through South Australia another dry river bed.

and this is what I call 'moonscape'

I think what impressed me most, was the 'VASTNESS' of this beautiful country. The landscape and also the weather can change so quickly, unbelievable.

Taking a coffee break now, back later :)

Bradford-on-Avon

Tuppence — Sat, 17 May 2008 16:36:35 GMT

The day before I went to Devizes, I visited the plant sale at the Dorothy House Hospice in Winsley, which is just outside Bradford-on-Avon, and walked back into BoA, taking these photos as I went. The town has some lovely buildings.

[url]http://good-times.webshots.com/slideshow/563452012tVmSVa[/url]

:)

Photos of Devizes with New Canon Camera

Tuppence — Fri, 16 May 2008 20:01:05 GMT

Hello :)

I used the new camera on a visit to my sister in Devizes today. It was an overcast day so no "sunny" shots, but I'm pleased with the colour reproduction of the Canon, it appears natural.

[url]http://good-times.webshots.com/slideshow/563441029nQWcsO[/url]

Penny

New Camera Arrived

Tuppence — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:17:50 GMT

The Canon Powershot A560 arrived and I took some quick photos just to show you the amount of growth in the garden.

Looking forward to having a camera again. :)

[url]http://good-times.webshots.com/slideshow/563415804RviDSV[/url]

Penny

On holiday (Vacation)

keithmart — Sun, 04 May 2008 12:31:02 GMT

Just to let you know that I will be away until the 14th May.

We are going to Malta, and I hope to visit their bonsai club (the Bonsai culture club Malta) and with luck hope to bring back some photos.

Gardening weekend

Kath — Sun, 04 May 2008 16:16:47 GMT

Hi All,

Hope you are taking advantage of this 'dry' mild weather like I am.

Have started to tackle the perennial border down the left hand side of the rear garden. Oh dear, chickweed, old crocus leaves and dandelions/nettles more than 2'6" high :) but I'm winning :)

Even cleaned the little 'frog pond' and topped up the grit around the hostas to deter the snails. Also been dividing several plants and potting up same for the 'sales tables' at our local summer fuchsia/horticultural shows.

All in all a good Sat./Sun's. days work, hopefully it will stay dry tomorrow so that I can continue :)

Amazing results from a bit of training :-)

Kath — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 07:48:35 GMT

Birthday wishes

Carol — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 03:29:01 GMT

A very happy birthday, Kath. I hope you've been suitably appreciated!!;):D

Cheers

Carol

Visit to Devizes, Wiltshire

Tuppence — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 20:40:17 GMT

[url]http://good-times.webshots.com/slideshow/563046341EQKVct[/url]

I took a trip on the bus to Devizes to visit my sister today and took these photos, some from the moving bus.

:)
Penny

'Holiday of a lifetime' - as the saying goes :-)

Kath — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:14:06 GMT

Hi Everyone,

Tomorrow morning at 0400 I'm being picked-up by my son, Jan, and taken to London-Stansted, there I fly with Easy Jet to Schiphol-Amsterdam. Meeting a dear Dutch friend there, then we travel together with Maylasian Airlines to Brisbane, Australia, via Kuala Lumpur.

We are going to Australia to visit many of our dear 'Parchment Craft' friends' (my winter hobby) see here

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=13641777&uid=7133047

During a period of 5 weeks we travel from Brisbane to Toowomba then to Melbourne - Boronia - Frankston - Murray Bridge - Adelaide and then back home again.

Whilst I'm away you will all be taken good care of by our mutual and trusted friend Don aka Stymie :) thanks a million Don.

Take care all, and hopefully the weather will continue to improve into Spring -Happy Growing - Kath :)

ps. Yes, I have managed to do all the re-potting before I leave - hubby is now in charge in respect of watering and general care etc,etc,etc :D:D:D:D:D

For the love of trees

Stymie — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:31:13 GMT

I've wanted to share this inspirational stuff with you all for some time.

Thanks to Keithmart who came today with Wendy, his wife, This is the address where he put it. Exercise patience while it loads, it'll be worth it. There's music too.

http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/758170_5zzqh/fortheloveoftrees_060653.exe

Enjoy!

Live chat

Stymie — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:16:43 GMT

I've been updating my 'puter and am now running on 'Vista' which I hope will be more reliable.

In addition I've gone 'live' and anyone who wants to talk bonsai can contact me stymie@live.co.uk

Isn't science and IT wonderful?

A little game to keep you amused

keithmart — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:50:48 GMT

What level can you get to? Try this link

http://www.shockwave.com/gamelanding/patchworkz.jsp

message reply

RoyH — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 19:18:54 GMT

Hi all, is there a way that i can set my profile to (e-mail alert) me of all answers to my posts, or do i have to set this to each individual post that i make.

Another place.

Stymie — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:00:47 GMT

Regulars on here will know what I mean when I say that I have kept out of a discussion about membership charges on another site up to now. I have today added a gentle post directed at 'you-know-who' and there has been some input from the 'proprietor' if you wish to get up to date with the current remarks.

Aged Bonsaiholic

Stymie — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:59:31 GMT

According to my wife Mary, I have been around for Two hundred and ninety thousand two hundred and twenty days. Gee, I'm tired.

I think that she miscounted the thousands by one zero but she remembered the leap years.

Happy Birthday to Me. Thanks to all who remembered. =Don.