GSBF Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt (BGLM) Garden Revitalization Opportunity (GRO)

The Story

The Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt opened its gate in 1999. Volunteers joined together through their hard work and generous donations to create a one-of-a-kind living art museum of legacy and master bonsai that is supported totally by volunteers and donations. Now we need help once again to revitalize the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt that is showing signs of its age and popularity. Please donate what you can to help us through the next phase of our journey together.

The Bonsai Garden has begun its GRO (Garden Revitalization Opportunity) project with funds from our reserves and a grant from the Golden State Bonsai Federation as well as contributions from organizations, individuals and bonsai clubs throughout Northern California. We also received a grant from the Walter & Elise Haas Fund that will help take us to our $100,000 goal, but we need your help to reach our goal. Please contribute online and come by to visit the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt to see how your contribution will help keep this museum open & admission free to the public. If you can’t stop by the Garden, please visit http://gsbf-lakemerritt.org.

Donate today!

Update:  Since January 2017, BGLM has raised 37% of its goal of $100,000. To date, new red cedar display benches and stands have replaced the original, worn out ones. Nearly two thirds of the new overhead water system had been completed. There are some ways to go yet. Installation of cement pavers for all the pathways and a new cul-de-sac is yet to be funded. And, more.

Wood rot on display stand
Poor design and wrong material used for display stand

Newly installed overhead water system
Come visit!

 

Demonstration on Olive Bonsai

On May 23, 2017, Redwood Empire Bonsai Society (REBS) held its monthly meeting at the Luther Burbank Art & Garden Center, Santa Rosa, California, featuring members John Roehl, Ned Lycett and Ivan Lukrich on the subject of Olive (Olea europea) bonsai.

John Roehl with the demo olive tree.
Ned working on the demo tree.

 

Specific Bonsai care guidelines for the Olive

Position: Place the Olive bonsai outside and at a sunny spot, this also helps to reduce the size of the leaves. Must be protected during the winter if temperatures get too low.

Watering: No specifics.

Feeding: Feed abundant, with a normal fertilizer monthly from spring to mid-autumn.

Pruning: Strong pruning is recommended in late winter. The olive will respond with vigorous growth in the following spring. For maintenance pruning, cut back to 2-3 pairs of leaves, and in very vigorous (and healthy) specimens you can use defoliation.

Repotting: Repot in spring before the buds begin to swell, every three or four years. Preferably use a bonsai mix with good drainage.

Propagation: From seeds and cuttings.

Source: https://www.bonsaiempire.com/tree-species/olive.

Ned working on removing large roots from the bottom of the root ball.

The olive is commonly found in Mediterranean countries, where it is a tree with strong symbolic importance. You can use cultivated varieties for bonsai (like the common olive) but it is often to use the wild olive (Olea europea silvestrys).

The wild olive is of greater interest for Bonsai as these develop tiny leaves. In many cases these possess much appreciated features like the presence of jin, shari and bark that indicate a high age and survival in hostile conditions. The Olive as bonsai is easy to care for and very strong so it is a suitable choice.

A medium sized Mediterranean tree which has been cultivated by men for thousands of years. Its trunks thicken very slowly, but the trees can become very old. The leaves are lanceolate Continue reading Demonstration on Olive Bonsai