The first workshop for 2017 was a great place to be! What a great start to the year! There were 38 club members in attendance all keen and determined to work on their trees in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

BSV has members ranging in age from 6 years to the venerable Max at 89 years young.Everyone worked on their trees resolving challenges, developing new skills, considering and adapting advice about styling as required. At the end of the workshop it was a delight to see the journey each person had taken to improve the material they had brought in.

We had many wonderful people to assist:Max assisted with wiring tuition, demonstrating trimming, styling and giving wonderful advice to our most recent members.

Rudi and Marlene expertly assisted members by teaching them how to maintain, style and develop their azaleas.Steve, Howard and Quentin utilized their skills and talents to assist our members with the skills and vision to develop a wonderful tree.

Wonderful Ray, what a club member, fed us with his famous party pies and sausage rolls and that fact that not a crumb was left, is testament of our appreciation of his consideration of us all.

The array of material brought in was eclectic. I spotted a protea; a wizened old Chinese elm that was reduced to a small and gorgeous tree; a forest group getting a major defoliation and wiring; a pine undergoing its first styling; azaleas transformed and readied for repotting. Memorable for me were the two bonsai brought in by our younger members.  They started these trees at a Yarra Ranges Bonsai Club children’s workshop 2-3 years ago. Imagine these trees in 10 -20 years’ time!!