Redbud Garden Club met at the Farmville-Prince Edward Community Library on July 22 with Jo Smith as hostess and Patsy Miessler as co-hostess.

Dr. William Shear, Professor of Biology at Hampden-Sydney College, gave an interesting program on Bonsai and brought four examples of Bonsai, each around 40 years old, that he started while living in Florida. Surprisingly, Bonsai originated in China and in Japanese literally means “tray planting.” His specimens are kept outside year round and minimally protected during the winter. Unless it rains, he has to water them every day and periodically does pruning to maintain the size and form and includes root pruning. Dr. Shear encouraged members to visit the National Arboretum in Washington D.C. to see some of the best examples of Bonai. Many of the Bonsai at the Arboretum were given to the United States by Japan.

Exhibits: “The Heat is On,” Blue – Janet Higgins, Ann Ligon, Sarah Schember; Red – Kate Shorter, Jean Taylor, Gail Thompson; “My Inner Geisha,” Blue – Ann Ligon, Sarah Schember; Red – Alice Metts, Kate Shorter; Yellow – Liz Dunn, April McBride, Sara Rutherford; “Horticulture,” Janet Higgins – 10 Blue, one Red; Alice Metts – Seven Blue, one Red; Gail Thompson – two Blue; Joyce Thompson – one Blue, one Red.