This Saturday coming, February 4th will be the final Bonsai Chat community day here at Willowbog Bonsai. It is simply no longer viable to set aside the studio for an event not supported in any meaningful way.
The photo shows an earlier Chat with a typical turnout of enthusiasts although in truth many community days have seen even greater numbers attend, in the mid twenties often. Last year it averaged about three or four with a low of only two for December, the Christmas Chat that was always so well attended with the nursery supplying sausage rolls and mince pies to celebrate the festive season. We started this new year with a January zero turnout ! What with extra heating costs as well as other increasing overheads it is just not worthwhile anymore sadly. The community day has been going almost as long as the nursery, certainly twenty or more years, so the end of an era ! It will be useful for us the have the extra Saturday now available when the demand for workshops is higher. All good things come to an end unfortunately !
I suspect like many would love to attend but distance is the problem. Cost of fuel, time and a long drive is a barrier.
Had you considered doing sessions via Zoom? Just an idea…
Yes Claudia our location was always going to be an issue from day one but somehow we have kept going for 28 years now and continue to teach. Zoom ?? as far as I am aware that’s the noise a jet makes flying over !!
I am sorry to here the news Peter.I rang you in November indicating l could not come for a while as l was having an operation.It was agreed with you not to have the January 23 meeting.Some meetings there were quite a few people coming and going through the day nearly always going with a purchase.It is true that about 4 or5 stayed all day.A lot of Chat regulars have support Willowbog in a big way for over 15 years.We tried in vain to.convince you to keep it going to no avail.It is a shame that unless you want to attend a workshop you are no longer welcome at Willowbog.
I respect your views Malcolm but this is a business not a charity, of course people are welcome here when they want to make a purchase, why do you expect to be able to socialise here as well ? Yes, many folk have supported us over the years but how about the view that we have supported enthusiasts over those same years by bringing outstanding teachers within in reach of enthusiasts in the region, not always financially viable either ! what other nursery or club even has made the effort and the financial commitment to bringing a range of teachers, which at one time certainly was a whose who of European bonsai professionals ?
You set up all the workshops and schools to attract new customers to Willowbog along with the bonsai chat which was done for business purposes,which worked very well as you must of made a lot of money out of most of us.I have never heard anyone say you are a charity,l don’t know anyone who thought teen thought that.
Thats fair enough Peter – no reasonable person would expect you to run things that arent supported adequately or help your business when times are so tough.
As you say perhaps that makes more spare time for workshops which are great. Maybe some on specific practical subjects – eg repotting, deadwood creation/carving, etc or maybe some teach ins on say pot selection, fertilsation, soil mixes, etc
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Thats fair enough Peter – any reasonable person wouldnt expect you to hold events that werent adequately supported and that helped your business especially in such hard times
As you say perhaps there could be more time for workshops which I think are great.
Maybe workshops on specific practical subjects eg repotting, deadwood creation/carving, pruining etc or advice areas eg fertilisation, pot selection, soil mixes, etc
thanks Steve, the themed workshops are something Caz and I have talked about a few times without me actually doing anything about it, something to think about, cheers