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I put a 3 year old little nursery scots in the ground at my old house 7 years ago (so yes that means it's 10 years old). My kids nicked it a few times with the lawnmower so it has a barkless scar at its base. We moved 5 years ago in October and I transplanted it ground-to-ground to the current...

I have a Scots pine that I purchased at a local nursery as a 3-5 year old seedling about 4 years ago. It went directly into the ground at my old house, stayed there for a year, and when we moved it came with me - transplanted ground-to-ground in October (I didn't have any choice). It took a...

I noticed an interesting wiring detail on another thread and thought I'd share my technique for creating a guy line anchor point on a trunk. In this case I'm attempting to put a gradual trunk bend on a tall picea. I was able to use a tubing protected wire collar at the base with no danger of...

I'm having a fun time reading about Japanese bonsai technique for flowering quince in old (1950s-70s era) guidebooks. They have such a perfunctory and methodical approach: "In Japan, flowering quince are grown in ground for two years to develop a large stem, root-pruned to encourage rooting...

I wasn't smart enough to make sure I had a "before" image of this, sorry. I got this guy last spring and made a sketch in June. The seller suggested to chop it way low and grow it out, but I kept this sketch at my desk and looked at it for a few months (as well as looking at the tree). I...

No, not that kind. I live in a 'dry' state still. I'm talking about sprouts on my first air layer attempt. I decided to try it on an apple tree from my back yard. I girdled a select branch in the spring but by late summer it had only produced a bunch of root nodes, no actual roots. However the...

I bought a smaller foemina pre-bonsai this week with plans for a tall literati styling eventually. After work I stopped by a local nursery and they had five large three gallon needle juniper type trees listed as 'star power' junipers. At 4 feet tall and $40 each I couldn't resist. They are...

I've searched for what I thought would be a fairly common question but nothing. I have a nice fat eur. olive whose apex died off a couple of years ago. Since then I've been letting it grow and it is super healthy now. I'd like to gain some foliage a bit further back on the good branches and...

The first J maple (variety unknown) I got has a very curious habit that I've watched over three seasons now. It leafs out just fine but about this time of year - July/August - the leaves start to wither and die. The first season I know I had it in too much sun and wind, so started protecting...

As a four year newbie, I feel like I’m starting to see results and am trying to pay attention. But something happened this past week to cause me a bit of surprise. I’m pretty sure I know the answer but thought I’d toss it out for comment and advice. I suspect that my entire collection of...

i had a very weird dream recently about bonsai. Oh, I dream about bonsai a lot, but this one was just. Plain weird. One particular tree stuck with me and I was able to remember a lot about it when I woke up. I would call it some kind of either tanuki or massively carved "shari". The basic...

you use your branch splitter when the toenail clippers just won't cut it. Literally.

I would guess that the obvious answer is, if in doubt, wrap it. Or better safe than sorry. I have (an assumed) California juniper that I'd like to style. The bottom left branch in the first photo is the one in question. It is the size of my finger in diameter and very flexible. However I...

I have 2 JBPs currently. Both are from "northern" growers - one in NE and the other in MI. The one in question seems to be growing very well and healthy for all purposes but realized that what I thought was pale green needles in spring never turned out to be dark green needles in summer as I...

First time Bougie owner, glad to be here with you all. I have two questions if I may be so bold. Everything I read says that Bougies need to dry out well between waterings. Mine seems to want more water than that. If I dont, the leaves start to wilt and it doesn't seem as happy. It gets full...

Large honeysuckle tree collected late summer 2013. Moderate budding and some runners that fall. Moderate leafing in 2014, no berries or flowers. Very healthy growth this season, full flowering and berries galore. future plans are to get it down to about 12-18" of main trunk eventually. I...

I was tired of my trees sitting on low boxes and random spots all over the place so it was time for some simple benches. Inspired by a thread on here the other day, I sketched a design on Friday, bought lumber that afternoon. Built both benches Saturday morning, stained Sunday, installed last...

I've got a collected yew that's been in my care for almost 2 years. It's in a large 24"x36" box with its rootball in "native" soil from the collection site (urban restaurant landscape). It has had a couple of tough winters and about half its foliage has been lost. I'd like to reduce the root...

I admit I haven't researched this so I don't know if there is some kind of "earn your stripes" as it applies to putting a chop on a pot. However I started my first pottery class last night and the whole intent is to produce my own pots. I figure rather than scrawling my name on the things I...

Sitting and visiting with my wife tonight, sketching on the iPad using Paper app. We visited an historic mansion last weekend that was built in the arts and crafts era so I was a little inspired by the style.

UPDATED PHOTOS Recently got this very attractive olive from a Facebook bonsai auction. Ive been really drawn to the bark and leaves of the olea family so this was a must have for me. I know that keeping it happy in our short summers might be a challenge soi will be looking into artificial...

I bought a 10' x 12' metal shed, put it on a wood base in the side yard. I planned for the back 4 feet or so to be a cold frame. I built a metal wall with scrap from the shed kit, covered it with 1" R-5 rigid insulation board on all walls, roof, and floor. All seams got filled with expanding...

Noticed that it seems like every time I see a chojubai quince for sale online it's really expensive for the size and development. I admittedly don't know a lot about them. What gives?

I purchased this tall bunjin-y Pondo from Andy Smith early in 2014. it looked like this when I got it. A few months ago I did a little bending at the top to bring things together a bit. the vision i had was more bunjin, with foliage at the top. The other day, when replacing the tension...

Fun stuff on Andy Smith's site (Golden Arrow) For that "hey Fido, climb up here and help me out" moment in every bonsai grower's life. Scoop some up today!