Occasionally I witness a beautiful example of why we do what we do in bonsai. I’d like to share just such an example, highlighted by the plant itself.
This is why we prune.
18 Saturday Aug 2018
Tag Archives: Bonsai
Bonsai Watering: Another Perspective
16 Monday Jul 2018
As an educator, I have always held a deep appreciation for a new or different perspective to understand an idea. I admit, when faced with a student who didn’t understand what was going on, I have repeated the exact same words I said a moment before (no doubt with more sarcasm than belongs in a classroom). I hope this was only at times when the student just wasn’t paying attention, because if the student didn’t understand something because of the way I explained it, they deserve an opportunity to hear it in a different way.
Virginia Pine Angle
14 Saturday Jul 2018
In the spring of 2017 I collected the Virginia pine, Pinus virginiana, pictured multiple times, below. I love the bends and curves in the trunk but have, to date, focused on its health and recovery and have not decided how to take advantage of those curves to make a nice bonsai. It has been doing exceptionally well so I thought I would give some consideration to the future design starting with the planting angle.
The Hottest Day
04 Wednesday Jul 2018
Posted in Bonsai
Have you heard the suggestion to “repot your ficus on the hottest day of the year”? Well, it was cooler today than the last few (only the low 90s F), but it was so brutally hot AND HUMID the last few days, I was not about to work in the garden.
Boxwood Bonsai Clean Up
28 Thursday Jun 2018
Posted in Bonsai
Can Bonsai Do Math?
24 Sunday Jun 2018
Posted in Bonsai
Tags
Bonsai, branching, decandle, decandling, jbp, pine, ramification
I don’t recommend asking your bonsai for help with your calculus homework, but if you treat them right, your pine branches sure can multiply!
Developing Deciduous Bonsai
17 Sunday Jun 2018
Do you ever have those moments when you learn something new and want to run right out to the garden to apply it? I finally got around to listening to the Asymmetry podcast with Dennis Vojtilla. If you have deciduous bonsai you should give it a listen! Dennis is a deciduous genius and he shares several concrete tips in his interview with Ryan Neil of Bonsai Mirai. Listening made me realize I have several deciduous trees that are due to be cut back.
One Cut
11 Monday Jun 2018
Quality Time at a Quality Site
08 Friday Jun 2018
Tags
I had the pleasure of spending most of the day at the U. S. National Arboretum and Bonsai and Penjing Museum. The task at hand was setting up for (helping vendors set up for) this weekend’s Potomac Bonsai Festival. Lucky for me, there wasn’t a lot of work every moment of the day.
During one of those quiet times, I had the pleasure of helping my friend LeAnn prep a couple of trees for the PBA member show. The odiferous task was applying Lime Sulfur to the deadwood on those trees. Some complain about the smell, but I rather enjoy the task. It’s pretty much painting a tree. What could be wrong with that?! Besides, I got to do the work here…
…among the plants and trees “behind the scenes” of the bonsai museum.
Of course I also found some moments to enjoy the collection.
All and all, a beautiful day. I look forward to more days like it this weekend. Come on out, see the trees, and check out the vendors. For more information, go to the PotomacBonsai website.
Crepe Myrtle – First Repot
29 Tuesday May 2018
Tags
Bonsai, crepe myrtle, how to, late, potting, repot, root pruning, styling
‘Tis the nature of bonsai that even after 20 years of experience you can have real uncertainty about a routine procedure like root pruning. In this instance it was over root pruning a dwarf crepe myrtle I picked up on sale last fall. The uncertainty was over the date. I don’t usually do root pruning and repotting this late in the year (except on tropicals). The only thing I had to go on was the one concept I have depended on for years… repot deciduous trees just as they start to push buds.
Bonsai Iterate 