AusBonsai

The Wauchope bonsai group is hosting the inaugural Bonsai by the Beach weekend. This is a Top-style weekend of cameraderie, demonstrations, workshops and suiseki. It will be held at Bonny Hills, just south of Port Macquarie and 5 minutes walk from the beach.

The weekend will feature workshops and demonstrations by highly respected bonsai artists:
Tony Bebb (Bonsai Society of Queensland Inc)
and Brenda Parker (Illawarra Bonsai Society Inc)

You are invited to participate in the tutored workshops with two well-known bonsai artists; or bring your own trees to work on yourself; or you can join the woodies in daiza making.

A range of accommodation is available – bunk rooms, as well as individual cabins. Partners and families are welcome. You could also stay on for a few extra days either at the Centre , or in the nearby Port Macquarie/Hastings region.

When: Friday 28 to Sunday, 30 March 2014
Venue: Bonny Hills Conference Centre
2 Thompson Place (off Ocean Drive), Bonny Hills. NSW 2445
Enquiries: Steve 0413.585.116 (email wauchope.bonsai@gmail.com)

Registration details coming soon.

Here are the details.

PM me with any queries or use the contact details in the flyer.

Not long now till the big weekend at The Beach. People are starting to register, so download the brochure and join the fun.

There is a pub and a nursery across the road, so it is not all sand-in-your-cossies.

Today's beach report is:
Light SW-S wind early is producing clean conditions on the southern headlands. We have small waves early due to a big high tide but the waves will pick up as the tide drops and swell increase. The wind will swing SE during the morning. Main breaks around town will be worth a look for that late afternoon surf.
[And the bonsai are enjoying some belated summer rain.]

To check out conditions closer to the big weekend: http://www.coastalwatch.com/surf-cams-s ... -macquarie


And, BTW, Closing Date for Registrations: 7 March 2014

Oh what a wonderful weekend. There were lots of “colourbond” moments by workshop participants as a swan emerged from the mass of foliage and branches, and assorted shades of green (with envy) among the workshop observers. There were also lots of friendships formed or renewed; with the people on the north coast getting to know each other and their kindred spirits from Canberra and Sydney. The weekend included demonstrations by Brenda Parker and Tony Bebb, plus two workshops by each. The weekend concluded with a critique of trees by Tony and Brenda. Brenda’s demo was a beautiful saikei using privet, azalea and acorus grass. Tony’s demo was a radical restyle on an unhappy cedar that went to Canberra after the demo to reclaim its mojo with a good dose of cool climate frosts. The standouts from the workshops were a white pine and a couple of junipers. Meanwhile, George was busy with his mobile workshop helping several people making daizas for their suiseki. Lots of sanding and routing noise; and odd shaped bits of wood with grooves cut in them; then lovely stones mounted in their daizas. Again, another bunch of happy people. The other highlight of the weekend is what I nicknamed the Candy Store. This was the room filled with pots and assorted bonsai goodies for sale. We had 4 vendors happily selling to pots and trees to attendees; with some of the trees then being worked on in the workshop or the new pot being used for a restyled tree. Talk about bonsai happiness.

By any measure, the first Bonsai by the Beach was judged a big success by all of the 35 people that attended. They loved the setting; they loved the presenters; they loved the food (too much they cried); and they all want to come back next year. So, we have booked for March next year – put it in your diary.