Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
For me, bonsai is 50% tiny trees, and 50% the amazing people I get to meet. Today, I had the privilege of meeting Michael Balogh of Mountain Meadows Nursery. I happen to be a talker. Mike is also a talker. Two talkers meeting at a conifer nursery?! For me it was nirvana! Mike is super knowledgeable in all things conifer as well as east coast natives. I found myself taking mental notes of numerous cultivars with which I was unfamiliar. I love it when I see trees that I have never seen before!
Mountain Meadows Nursery is located about 20 minutes north of Asheville, NC. They do not ship, but are well worth the drive (at least for me) from several hours away. Make sure to check their hours ahead of time - they are open to the public Thu-Sat, but are generally welcoming other days of the week if you call ahead and set up an appointment.
I think I was there two and a half hours. I ran out of time and started to panic Too many cultivars, too little time All I can say is that I walked away with some awesome trees that I see a great future in. A blue shimpaku? A variegate? Uncounted hinoki cypress cultivars? Japanese white pine cultivars? Mike has them.
Walking into the nursery... FWIW in west NC right now the JWP are dropping their old needles, so it is pretty easy to see the JWP by their brown inner needles.
Dwarf conifer heaven...
Pics speak louder than words...
I got lost in the numbers of hinoki cypress cultivars. I have a soft spot in my heart for hinoki cypress and Japanese white pine... and Mike delivered!
No, those are not unhealthy Japanese black pines. Those are white variegate Japanese black pines... that are way past the dragon eye cultivars many of us are familiar with.
If you are anywhere in the area, I highly recommend a visit. Make sure you are driving an SUV at the minimum, or perhaps a pickup. This place is legit. A nursery for nursery lovers. I will be back soon!
Mountain Meadows Nursey
Mountain Meadows Nursery is located about 20 minutes north of Asheville, NC. They do not ship, but are well worth the drive (at least for me) from several hours away. Make sure to check their hours ahead of time - they are open to the public Thu-Sat, but are generally welcoming other days of the week if you call ahead and set up an appointment.
I think I was there two and a half hours. I ran out of time and started to panic Too many cultivars, too little time All I can say is that I walked away with some awesome trees that I see a great future in. A blue shimpaku? A variegate? Uncounted hinoki cypress cultivars? Japanese white pine cultivars? Mike has them.
Walking into the nursery... FWIW in west NC right now the JWP are dropping their old needles, so it is pretty easy to see the JWP by their brown inner needles.
Dwarf conifer heaven...
Pics speak louder than words...
I got lost in the numbers of hinoki cypress cultivars. I have a soft spot in my heart for hinoki cypress and Japanese white pine... and Mike delivered!
No, those are not unhealthy Japanese black pines. Those are white variegate Japanese black pines... that are way past the dragon eye cultivars many of us are familiar with.
If you are anywhere in the area, I highly recommend a visit. Make sure you are driving an SUV at the minimum, or perhaps a pickup. This place is legit. A nursery for nursery lovers. I will be back soon!
Mountain Meadows Nursey
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