I had a strong desire to post the smell of my garden today. I’ve been using more liquid fertilizer than normal this year. The result is that it smells more than normal. Watering can with liquid fertilizer There are many options for fertilizing bonsai, and individual varieties – and sometimes specimens – have specific requirements. […]
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Pine seed prep
Seeds, we know, are best planted in Spring. But when is Spring? In northern climes, it’s the season in which snow is replaced by rain. In the San Francisco Bay Area, it means highs of 64 degrees farenheit versus winter highs of 58 F. As is often the case in bonsai, specific dates for seasonal […]
Yaupon holly bonsai
Until recently, I’ve known Yaupon Holly by its less appealing botanical name, Ilex vomitoria. I took it for granted that the tree produced berries that were better left to the birds. Not so – turns out Native Americans made tea known as asi or “black drink” from the Youpon berries that were used in male-only […]
Balance
There are few concepts more central to bonsai than “balance.” The California buckeye below strikes me as a well-balanced composition. The foliage, ramification, trunk, pot and stand all work well together. California Buckeye – Aesculus californica The photos here are from the Bay Area Bonsai Associates’ 28th annual show. Like so many good exhibits, it […]
Accent plants
More from Bay Area Bonsai Associates’ 28th annual show – accent plants! Ajuga, fern, sedum I’ll note the varieties I recognize – corrections welcome. Rabbit foot fern in antique roof tile Grass in hand-made pot Fern and moss Fern-ish Sedum and fern Quince and moss Sedum and fern Lamium et al. See more accent plants […]