11&12Jun22
Mid-Herts Bonsai Club 10th Annual Show
Kingsbury Barn, Branch Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire. AL3 4SE.
MHBC 2022 Show at Kingsbury Barn, St Albans This was the 10th Annual Show Mid Herts has held at Kingsbury Barn, but after a break of 3 years, the prospect was a little daunting, not knowing what to expect. Our venue is a 14th Century barn originally owned by the monastery attached to the Abbey in St. Albans and used as a grain store. After the dissolution of the monasteries in the mid16th Century by Henry VIII it has been used for many things, the last use before the current owners restored it was as a dairy. It seems very fitting to show an ancient art in such a setting, the old timbers and bricks a perfect foil for the simulated age and beauty of manicured Bonsai trees. There were 56 trees shown in total, some of which are pictured below. The Mid Herts show ‘Mission Statement’ is to highlight the ‘do-ability’ of Bonsai as a hobby, with trees developed from basic materials as well as the more sophisticated purchased trees. The theme chosen for 2022 explained the origin of the five basic Bonsai tree styles, with a poster showing the natural environments from which they are taken. Five specimen trees, one for each style demonstrated the bonsai equivalents. This proved a great talking point. Sales of pots, tools and wire were offered by club President Peter Shields, and sales of starter trees, Kusamono and accent plants were provided by club members. Refreshments were popular, drinks and home-made cakes were enjoyed in a newly acquired seating area where visitors and members engaged in lively conversations about our favourite subject! A record 260 visitors were logged over the two days of the show.
All photographs by Gareth Richards
Mid-Herts Bonsai Club 10th Annual Show
Kingsbury Barn, Branch Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire. AL3 4SE.
MHBC 2022 Show at Kingsbury Barn, St Albans This was the 10th Annual Show Mid Herts has held at Kingsbury Barn, but after a break of 3 years, the prospect was a little daunting, not knowing what to expect. Our venue is a 14th Century barn originally owned by the monastery attached to the Abbey in St. Albans and used as a grain store. After the dissolution of the monasteries in the mid16th Century by Henry VIII it has been used for many things, the last use before the current owners restored it was as a dairy. It seems very fitting to show an ancient art in such a setting, the old timbers and bricks a perfect foil for the simulated age and beauty of manicured Bonsai trees. There were 56 trees shown in total, some of which are pictured below. The Mid Herts show ‘Mission Statement’ is to highlight the ‘do-ability’ of Bonsai as a hobby, with trees developed from basic materials as well as the more sophisticated purchased trees. The theme chosen for 2022 explained the origin of the five basic Bonsai tree styles, with a poster showing the natural environments from which they are taken. Five specimen trees, one for each style demonstrated the bonsai equivalents. This proved a great talking point. Sales of pots, tools and wire were offered by club President Peter Shields, and sales of starter trees, Kusamono and accent plants were provided by club members. Refreshments were popular, drinks and home-made cakes were enjoyed in a newly acquired seating area where visitors and members engaged in lively conversations about our favourite subject! A record 260 visitors were logged over the two days of the show.
All photographs by Gareth Richards
View down the Barn
The Mame display
The 2022 Theme – Bonsai styles
The Tokonoma for a tree owned by the 2021 winner of the RHS Banksian Medal*, table made by club Chairman Geoff Conybeare.
The popular vote winner, a lovely Ezo Spruce
*The Banksian Medal is awarded by the RHS Annually for horticultural excellence. In Mid Herts, this is the member who gained the most points in the year from the monthly table show competition.
|