A few months ago, I brought a small Chinese quince into the garden. Chinese quince The tree is relatively refined, but the branch structure has a ways to go. The best way to fix it is to cut the branches back to short stubs. Before doing this, however, I want to make sure the tree […]
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Fall vacation edition – photos from Taikan-ten
I’ll be taking a break from the blog for the next few weeks, but new posts will return mid-December. In the meantime, here are some photos from the 2011 Taikan-ten exhibit. See you next month! Bunjin black pine Massive shimpaku Formal upright black pine Flaky bark Root over rock chojubai Accent with moss and selaginella […]
Fall color on satsuki azaleas
It’s not uncommon to spot fall color on broadleaf evergreen species like satsuki azalea. As azaleas focus their resources on newer foliage, the older foliage can turn orange, red, purple, or yellow. Most of the satsuki in my garden have dark green foliage, but some sport brighter colors. Shisen with green and yellow leaves I’m not […]
A small step: removing supports on a collected Sierra juniper
Toward the end of last winter I repotted a large Sierra juniper. Because it was planted at an angle, I used blocks to support the tree and keep if from tipping out of the pot. Now that the roots have grown in, it’s time to remove the supports. Sierra juniper – 32″ Support blocks After […]
Bonsai Development Series #12: Avoid growing trunks with straight sections
I’ve set a simple goal for a group of cutting-grown plums: avoid straight growth. The idea is to produce trunks with undulating movement. Each year these plums produce new shoots in spring. I typically wire these shoots in summer and then shorten them in fall. If I find anything straight, I shorten it or wire […]