Doing club demos requires research and planning but the bring rewards to the membership and even to self. I recently had the opportunity to do a demo for the San Mateo club, SBBK, on the subject of tropical material. I introduced species many had not seen before. It is always good to help “change minds”, challenge concepts and drive the art of bonsai in new directions.
Popular demonstration on tropical trees.
This month I will touch an another taboo subject; Tanuki or phoenix graft. Some say that it is not bonsai, others disagree; and I consider it bonsai that tells a different story and should always be explained if presented at a show. It is less about the trick and more about they reasons why the graft was done.
Wolf's Birding and Bonsai Blog 