Hi all Ayrshire Group members. Our next scheduled meeting will be on Sunday 12th June 2022 at 1.30pm at Alloway Village Hall as usual. A lot has happened in the bonsai world since we last met and our trees are far more developed as the seasons progress. There are a number of matters that we need to devote time to, to discuss and extract benefits from, for the future.Firstly, we need to have feedback as regards the recent Scottish National which we again hosted at Troon. Much hard work, over many months, led to this event seemingly going well in most aspects BUT we cannot just assume that to be the case without analysing and discussing good and bad points that we each witnessed or have since given thought to. Please come prepared with your views. opinions and memories honed to present to the rest of us. Secondly, I would hope that feedback will be presented to us as regards the recent AGM of the SBA and as to how things currently look for the organisation and its immediate future. You will recall that over past months comments about SBA were often negative and at times somewhat concerning for all members. Has the phoenix risen? Thirdly, it is perhaps time yet again to discuss and consider our need to resurect our Group Open Day and try and reap some benefits from such an event? It is often stated that we have less involvements / events now than in the past -SO - do we need to get our fingers out and be more creative and demanding in that regard? Another topic that comes to mind is our need / willingness / ability to have more regular presentations / talks / workshops. Our income is now far less than in the good old winning awards days but that should not be a barrier to having good - free - cheap - affordable visitors that can inspire us and add to our overall bonsai knowledge. There is of course a huge in-house knowledge among our own group membership but are weappropriately harvesting and presenting that knowledge to the betterment of us all? There are so many topics that we need to encourage to blossom and better our future. As usual bring something for the display tables and we can be simply enthused and inspired by that action. See you then and there.

Sunday June 5th June 14.30-16.30pm Currie Scout Hall, Lanark Road, Currie

Bring along trees to work on, and find out about our exciting summer meetings! More to follow...

Junipers and flowering trees which have finished flowering can be worked on now.

Tea coffee and kitkats provided!

Bonsai Blether Sunday 3rd July 11am-4.30pm

Robert Porch workshop - FULL

We have invited Robert Porch to lead a workshop for our first Blether this year, which is fully subscribed, but we welcome observers so if you don't have a place please come along and watch. Only £2 for the day, bring your lunch. It's a great opportunity to see Robert in action working on trees

Tea and coffee provided.

Hi all,

Our next meeting is Tuesday 7th. June in our usual Mayfield Centre.

The theme is "Trees in Flower" but don't be put off by this if you haven't got one actually in flower, just bring along a tree.

Our Summer Sunday Schools begin again next month as well, time to look out trees to work on then.

See you all then.

Cheers.

R.S.

Hi all,

Our next full group meeting will be our AGM on Tuesday 6th. September at the usual time of 7.30pm.

We do have our annual Summer Sunday Schools in the Fankerton Village Hall on Sunday 26th. June and Sunday 21st. August, 1pm 'til 5pm, very informal, just bring along a tree to work on.

Cheers,

R.S.

Next meeting Tuesday June 14^th.

A good time for pruning of early growing conifers or late growing, or continuous leafing, deciduous trees. Deciduous trees, of suitable species, with dense canopies may be defoliated if sufficiently vigorous, or less stressfully partially defoliated by leaf cutting. Wiring can also be useully done on conifers, but be especially careful with junipers which have very delicate cambium at this time. All welcome.

Next meeting Sunday July 3^rd.

Joint meeting with Edinburgh at the Currie Scout Hall, 11am-4.30pm. A workshop with Robert Porch, an experienced and gifted bonsai practitioner. The workshop is £20 for the day. You’re welcome to come and watch, too, as there is always a lot to learn from everyone’s trees, £2 to cover tea and coffee etc. Bring your own lunch.