June Meeting Information

Meeting - Saturday, June 13, 11:00 AM

Workshop – to follow

Not Just Moss

Greetings, members.  A bonsai is a bonsai is a bonsai, right?  They are all more or less the same - just little trees in pots to dress up your desk until they inevitably die.  Well, that’s nonsense, of course, and those of us who love bonsai know that each one is a singular combination of species, style, and spirit to be appreciated for its unique characteristics.  I apologize if I briefly offended anyone by facetiously suggesting otherwise, but I did so to illustrate a point.  The exasperation we feel when the uninitiated fail to grasp the complexity and possibility inherent in the art of bonsai is perhaps akin to the feeling Annie Martin gets when people assume that moss is just moss.   On the contrary, the world of moss is every bit as vast and varied as the world of bonsai, and as with bonsai, there is a moss for every situation, soil type, and exposure (some even thrive in full sun).  Moss artist, entrepreneur, and educator Annie Martin, a.k.a. “Mossin’ Annie,” is on a one-woman mission to share the wonders of these fascinating plants with the world, and she makes a much-anticipated stop at the Bonsai Society of the Carolinas’ June meeting to convince us that moss is Not Just Moss. 

When speaking to Mossin’ Annie about her favorite subject, one gets the distinct impression she feels mosses get no respect.  After all, as she points out, there is not even a comprehensive visual field guide available for bryophytes, the division of the plant kingdom to which mosses belong.  Nor is there a major moss garden in the United States (a situation she one day hopes to remedy), and in botanical gardens where mosses are present, they are rarely labeled like the other plants.  Furthermore, in her assessment, the horticultural world focuses at least as much attention on getting rid of moss as on growing it, and the floral industry treats moss as a more or less disposable commodity.  Mosses, it would seem, are sorely in need of a champion, and by a rather circuitous route, Annie Martin has positioned herself in that role.  Martin’s background is in design, production, and marketing and her distinguished career in that field has included positions at the news department of WLOS in Asheville, the Museum of York County, the Blue Ridge Parkway, and Emory University.  However, throughout it all her passion for moss was always beckoning, and a year and a half ago she decided to pursue that passion full-time.  In 2008 she founded Mountain Moss Enterprises and began working with landscape professionals, land-use planners, and homeowners to reintroduce rescued native mosses into landscapes both residential and public.      

Annie’s love affair with moss began in childhood and has been a constant in her life ever since.  For her there is a spiritual aspect to working with moss.  “Because mosses transcend culture and religion,” maintains Annie, “they touch a universal spark within a person’s spirit.  You don’t have to be a Zen Buddhist in Japan to be inspired by a moss garden, you can be a Southern Baptist in the mountains of North Carolina.”  The juxtaposition of simplicity and complexity she sees in these plants and the colonies they form inspires in Annie a sense of connection to the universe similar to the feeling some get when gazing at the ocean or the heavens.  “Besides that,” she laughs, “working with moss is just plain relaxing.”

Over the years Mossin’ Annie has nurtured her interest in moss by educating herself on the subject at every opportunity. She is a member of the American Bryological and Lichenological Society and the International Association of Brylogists.  She is a certified plant gatherer and nursery operator, designations that are important to her because, in an industry where much of the moss sold is poached or stolen, she insists on operating legitimately.  She continues to take classes in horticulture and nursery management and is currently fresh off a weeklong stint at the Highlands Biological Station, an extension of the University of North Carolina, where she joined many outstanding botanists and biologists for a field program on bryophyte identification.  And in July she travels to Snowbird, Utah to make a presentation at the Botany and Mycology 2009 conference.    

Annie has prepared a program for our club which will touch on all aspects of moss, including identification, propagation, specific planting ideas, as well as its history and unique place in the plant kingdom.  The idea is that the more we know about moss and its characteristics, the more success we will have with mosses in our bonsai containers, and, if we dare, in our yards.  Club members are encouraged to bring powerful magnifying glasses or loops to study these plants up close.  And while you’re at it, bring some bonsai as well.  Following her lecture, Annie will lead a workshop in which she will assist participants in creating all types of miniature moss landscapes; from simply adding moss to existing bonsai, saikei, or penjing to creating brand new kusamono, accent plantings, dish gardens, or moss plantings on rocks or collected deadwood.  The cost of this workshop is $10 per person, and pre-registration is NOT required.  A selection of Annie’s rescued mosses and lichens will be available for sale a la cart at the workshop, as well as some rocks and deadwood on which to plant them.  Whether you want to spruce up a bonsai for an upcoming show, create an all-new moss planting, or just learn more about moss for either bonsai or landscape applications, this special meeting and workshop are opportunities not to be missed!            

Last Month’s Meeting - Recap

The May meeting, our annual member show and first annual bonsai styling competition, was a big success.  There were a lot of great trees on exhibit at the show and many new ones were created during the styling competition.  Thanks to all club members who participated in these events and also to our distinguished panel of judges.  Special thanks to Steve Pilacik of Matsu Momiji bonsai nursery in Fuquay-Varina and Randy Clark of the Bonsai Learning Center in Charlotte for donating the prizes for the styling competition, which added an extra level of incentive and excitement to the contest.  The judges had their work cut out for them in deciding between the entries for both events, but after much deliberation, they finally reached their decisions.  Here are the results: congratulations to the winners!  

President Wymer briefs one of the three show judges (name being held in secret) on the procedure for judging the show.

Member show

• Beginner Division 

1^st place - Emily Wagner, ivy

2^nd place - John Farrell, boxwood

3^rd place - Jay Wagner, trident maple

Only three trees were entered in the beginner division.  

• Intermediate Division 

1^st place - Chris Jenkins, Shimpaku juniper

2^nd place - Rusty Harris, Hinoki cypress

3^rd place - Rusty Harris, Kingsville boxwood

Honorable Mention - Kitty Craig, white pine

Honorable mention - Randolph Lewis, Saunders boxwood

Trees were displayed on tables set up in the garden at The Bonsai Learning Center.

Two shohin class trees on display... Including Martin Sweeney's First place winner.  

• Advanced Division

1^st place - Martin Sweeney, Satsuki azalea

2^nd place - John Dixon, white pine

3^rd place - Martin Sweeney, Korean hornbeam

Honorable mention - Mike Brawley, Procumbens juniper

A proud Martin Sweeney with his tree and his first place award.  

• Best-in-Show - Chris Jenkins, Shimpaku juniper

Chris Jenkins got best in show with his Shimpaku juniper planted on  a stone slab. 

Steve Pilacik generously donated the Trident maple in this photo as a prize for the winning tree.  Thanks Steve.  You're a nice guy.  

Styling competition

• Advanced group winner - John Dixon, who took home the impressive pre-bonsai Trident maple from Matsu Momiji. 
• Beginner/ Intermediate group winner - Rusty Harris, who received a generous $50.00 gift certificate from the Bonsai Learning Center. 
• Since the judges’ voting was very close in Beginner/Intermediate group, Honorable Mention was awarded to John Farrell. 

Presient Wymer congratulates John Farrell who won the styling competition in the beginner/intermediate group.  

Raffle

Raffles are an exciting part of each BSC meeting and the last few have been a big success, due to club member response to our call for donations.  Please keep up the good work by continuing to bring in good-quality bonsai-related items and plant material to entice club members to buy tickets.  Remember, raffle proceeds go towards funding the club activities and educational opportunities we all enjoy.  For questions about raffle item donations, please contact Raffle Chair John Phillips at sixgoat@bellsouth.net