Dragon's Annual society show.

Dragon bonsai society held their annual members show at the Game fair over the weekend.

Bob Hill won the best in show with his cedar landscape.
Can't seem to get the pictures to load
Here is a link to the pictures.
Dragon's trees.

Some nice stuff there as expected/usual, Jerry. What was the public response?

btw I've started using Photobucket for uploading pics to this site as it seems a lot more reliable.

Entrance to exhibit & best in show (Bob Hill's cedar, Jerry's photo)...


Overview of one side (Jerry's photo):

Chris,
Thank you for your much needed help in posting a pictures of the Dragon's show..

I was so tired last night after the show, but was determined to get something up before I went to bed.
Not being able to post a picture here had me pulling my hair out, luckly I have recently grown a beard to pull.

Dragon wanted to change the feel of our annual society show in 2009.
We aimmed to make the art of bonsai much more accessible to the general public. So, no showboating major demos.

We not only had our members show trees displayed, but also a selection of trees in the early stages of traning, showing where this art starts.
The interest was huge. We hardly had a moment to ourselves, so many visitors had questions and wanted to try themselves.
We had a large selection of larch whips and bonsai wire for them to try.
Colin did a great job over the two days, helping the public first to wire and then shape a larch.
Many saw it was possible to create a basic pre-bonsai with some horticultural knowledge, a few basic techniques and some artistic input.
Most who tried, were surprised and pleased with the results. Some had a small glint in their eye of a new bonsai convert.

The only possible difficulty arising would be, If all who said they plan to attend our Wednesday and/or Sunday workshops turn up,
Chris will need a bigger car park.

Thanks fionnghal. It works.
Now to re-grow the patchy beard.

A closer look at Bob's Best in show cedar.

Jerry / Chris

Excellent show

Thanks for posting and see you at Burrs, patchy beard and all

Regards

Andy

Stone Monkey wrote:Jerry / Chris

Excellent show

Thanks for posting and see you at Burrs, patchy beard and all

I second that... looks great Jerry

Some very nice trees, thanks for sharing.

Thanks to everyone involved , the weather was good the company was great the show was a great succsess . Thanks to Jerry for posting
Regards Chris

uro wrote:A closer look at Bob's Best in show cedar.

This composition looks fantastic.

An engaging educational display...

Thank you all for your encouraging comments.

Andy, Tony
Hope my beard is re-balanced and styled by Burrs.

AlainK and Nik,
Glad you liked our display.

Chris C
Dragon made a decision last winter, that we wanted to fulfil our constitution Aims, to:
- Encouraging New membership into the Society.
- Constantly developing members skills and understanding.
- Making Bonsai Rewarding and Enjoyable.

We'll find out over the next week or two if we have new members.
I feel we went some way in increasing the publics understanding of the art of bonsai. Not just looking, but a little hands on.
Personal, I saw a great deal of joy over the weekend, from members and those attending.
This Wednesday Dragon will have a run through and filter the good from the great, ready for next year.

A few people pics

The boyz discuss Martin's snoring


Chris introduces our new members to the initiation ceremony.
Thankfully, they all survived.

uro wrote:
Dragon made a decision last winter, that we wanted to fulfil our constitution Aims, to:
- Encouraging New membership into the Society.
- Constantly developing members skills and understanding.
- Making Bonsai Rewarding and Enjoyable.

Great constitution Aims indeed, plus... from the above picture I realised that Glastonbury started early... you bunch of long haired hippies (except you Jerry... Long Beard )

uro wrote:Thank you all for your encouraging comments.

Andy, Tony
Hope my beard is re-balanced and styled by Burrs.

I know a few lads who might just be able to do that restyling,after a few in the brown cow

Dear Dragonboyzzzzzzzzzzz

The pictures of the show look wonderfull !!
And it is so nice to see some trees in training already looking so good!

Hello Gerwin ( Dutch spoken) , nice to see You again.

Bob , beautiful your landscape ,
but did i miss to see a heart-touching poem ?

Jerry, thank You for showing and posting,
Now i try and imagen how You look with a beard !!!

Chris , wonderful ! Thank You for the "Big Hello" through Brenda !!
The DRAGON is SMOKING !!!

Dragonboyzzz ,
if all goes well, i will visit Wales for holiday in July/Aug.
And YES ,i will visit YOU ALL !!!!!
Kind regards
Morea

[quoI know a few lads who might just be able to do that restyling,after a few in the brown cow te]

follow the shoe.

seriously though Jerry looks like a great show, congrats.

Ian.

Super display one and all

Cracking idea Jerry to show trees in various stages of development to a non-dedicated Bonsai audiance. I think it helps the public understand a little more that Bonsai is not a magic or dark art at all. Judging by the show our Club put on last year many people think that Bonsai trees are mystical beings that appear from the eather and don't grow!!

Don't laugh, someone actually told me that they don't that's how they stay so small
Just goes to show how little I know.

bonsai monkey wrote:Don't laugh, someone actually told me that they don't grow - that's how they stay so small.

I wish someone would tell my Hawthorns that. They've gone absolutely daft with new growth. I suspect they look a bit like Jerry's beard!

fionnghal wrote:

bonsai monkey wrote:Don't laugh, someone actually told me that they don't grow - that's how they stay so small.

I wish someone would tell my Hawthorns that. They've gone absolutely daft with new growth. I suspect they look a bit like Jerry's beard!

Must be something in the air Fi as my large Hawthorn has gone bananas this year. I'm sure it will get a short back & sides at Burrs

Morea wrote:

The DRAGON is SMOKING !!!

Must be a magic dragon...

Simon

Your tree will be suitably re-arranged at Burrs, probably after your initiation in the Brown Cow

Regards

Andy

The Grass Roots of our dicipline was what the weekend was aimed at, well that and fishing in the night, the reaction seemed different from the public this time, they were as interested as ever and with 20,000 plus for the two days it was it was hard to keep up with all the questions. So no change from the many shows that we have done before apart that is from what I felt was a genuine need to understand from the public. So this combined with the demos that Colin did all weekend made the show a joy to be part of, there was a majical buzzzzz in a that part of the Towy valley.
Hi Morea nice to hear from you and great to know you are thinking o visiting Wales
Regards Chris

Your best in show was truly the BEST. Congrats and keep it up.

Hi Jo
Bobs best in show is a great image, it was only 1 vote away from being the peoples tree at Newstead last year.
Bob has a great ability to match great trees within a very natural landscaped environment, he builds and displays fantastic landscapes (Jerry may be able to post a photo i will ask him at the workshop today)
Regards Chris

Hi Jo re-the best in show although a nice image, apart from adding a jin
and planting it in some stones Bob Hill had little to do with it, it was in fact
designed by one of John Hanby,s co-workers who,s name escapes me at his nursery in Newstead , the stand it is on was made by Bob, a tad too big!
swamps the tree a little but different !