Stroud Gardening Club: With John Clegg from Bonsai World in Cheltenham

STROUD Gardening Club held their November meeting at the Bedford Street Congregational Church Rooms, and chairperson Sharon Pellatt welcomed the members and visitors to an evening with John Clegg from Bonsai World in Cheltenham.

John had brought with him a number of bonsai specimens, which were quite impressive, together with a honeysuckle to demonstrate how converting any tree to bonsai can work.

He first took the honeysuckle, and trimmed some of the top growth after deciding how it would best be shaped, and then put training wires to hold the branches in the right shape.

The wires are twisted around each branch and left in place for three - four months.

The wiring allows the gardener to change the shape of the tree completely.

John then took the tree out of the pot and took off the tap roots completely using a sharp knife, and teasing out the finer roots, then potted it into a shallow tray, building the compost up on top of the roots.

Any fine roots still exposed can be removed.

John also explained that virtually any tree can be subjected to the bonsai treatment which miniaturises the tree, and can be done at any time of year.

Acers are best not done in the Autumn.

John also demonstrated putting a small Yew into part of an old tree stump, and then potting into a shallow trainer tray.

Questions and answers followed, and some bonsai were offered for sale.

At the end of the presentation, chairperson Sharon Pellatt, thanked John for a very informative evening, and a round of applause was given.

The Bulbs, pots and compost for growing to show in the Club's Spring Bulb Show in March were handed out by Mavis Wyatt, and this was followed by refreshments with cakes made by Jan and Sharon.

Sharon reminded members that our next meeting is our Christmas Party with a demonstration of Christmas Flower Arrangements by Beth Baker on Wednesday, December 14, 2016.