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Dec 28, 2007 | 1:10 AM PST
Tags: bonsai , japan
My boyfriend and I have decided to go back to Japan to see more gardens among other things.
When we were last in Japan, we tracked down a rural bonsai nursery. It was an adventure.. We visited the tourist centre with some printouts from Japanese websites with maps to bonsai nurseries. They managed to locate one near us and we had to catch a train into the countryside and navigate our way through a country town. The map was in Japanese and I was relieved that I could remember enough Japanese to get there. Eventually we found the bonsai nursery and had tea with the owner who showed us books with
his bonsai at various shows. We discussed bunjae (korean bonsai) and penjing (chinese bonsai) as much as we could with my level of Japanese. It was a sort of pilgrimage for my boyfriend who is passionate about bonsai so we were happy! ^_^
This time, we're going to visit a bonsai community near Tokyo where he can admire the trees at various nurseries and buy some more bonsai tools/books. Last time we were there, my partner learned the kanji for 'bonsai' and was able to buy lots of books and magazines for me to translate. This time, I hope we can meet some more bonsai enthusiasts. I have tried to grow bonsai but I don't have the magic bonsai touch.. but I enjoy choosing the saplings and looking at the little accessories - bridges, fishermen, etc.
Nov 8, 2007 | 3:04 PM PST
Tags: Tomatoes , basil , oregano , sage , thyme , dahlia , hydrangea , radish seed , alpine strawberries , yellow rose , bees , Parsley , cotoneaster , Japanese Elm , Japanese Maples , bonsai , Storm
So we had an amazing wind storm not that long ago. We even cleaned up the yard and battened down the hatches, so to speak. Got all the potted stuff down in a protected spot (will be the winter spot too!) and all the furniture and our bikes nice and tidy and close...
Max is a dumb cat, I love him so but he is CRAZY. The wind started blowing HARD but it was not raining yet so I decided to give him some outside time. Nut job goes running around with the WILD KAT look in his eyes. You know the drill...run run run...mad dash...STOP! look around madly with flashing eyes.
He does not have that collar anymore, little jerk keeps losing them. This time was the worst as it had his license and a name tag. Jerk.
Then he did this and I was thinking 'Ain't he cute!'. As you can see all the brown in him, he snuck in as a regular cat and once he was established he is letting the Maine Coon out.
Then he FLEW over to one of the cedars and ran on the roof. Not happy. Wasn't happy a bit. He had no clue how windy it was, and how fast he could fly off! So I ended up standing in the raised bed while he teased me by coming to the edge when I was whistling and calling and finally came down so I promptly tossed him inside! Jerk. Cute, fuzzy, lovable jerk. My wife calls this shot 'fluffy butt'.
So, on to the destruction,
The dahlia. It took one hell of a beating...
My tomatoes, oh dear, my poor Black Prince...
The radishes I let bolt? So close to get my seed? Not a chance in hell. The wind snapped every single one of them and it was going so well. They would have had SO much seed. Damn. I had a fit and went ahead and cleared them out. They are now mulch. See all those seed heads? I don't even want to look.
So, upset as I was, daunted by the greenery that needs to be cut, tossed...all of the above, I started looking around. I have pretty much missed the nice fall foliage that so many are harping on as our nicely colored leaves have been passing us at about 90 MPH. I looked at my Bonsai and had to take another glance (and pictures!) as they are most gorgeous! Here is one where I took two different breeds and literally wrapped the Female around the Male to create a piece I call 'co-dependence'. hehe. Her color is amazing! He has just started to change a bit.
And one of my favorites, these are all about 4-5 yrs old. Such a nice yellow! Guess we have to keep our trees behind a wall in order to be able to see the colors!
The Japanese Elm has lost most of its leaves so gets to show off it's corkscrew nicely!
And the Cotoneaster is showing off it's berries, the wind took off a lot of them but it still has a few ;)
Then I notice the thyme and sages, how happy they are...it has finally cooled down enough for them.
And yes, I will get in there and weed them!
My herb pot looked a little unhappy, then I looked closer and changed my mind when I saw the flowers :D
The Parsley is happy finally, it does NOT like it hot-hot-hot, haha!
I come out of the garden area and see this, a cool little volunteer. One of the great things about a rental is you really don't know what is there so it is always a surprise
Yes, I know the buggers next to it have to go, lol. I *promise* LMAO!
Heading up the hill I see the dahlia in a different light...and that bush behind it? Never stopped flowering, it was leggy, like 8 ft tall and I cut the bejeezus out of it. So it flowered and has not stopped since early spring. Oh how the honey bees and bumble bees love it!
Then I look over and see that the yellow rose our youngest decided to trim this summer, with a toy sword *eek!* gave us something.
I look to the left and see fall colors on the hydrangea with a guest that really set it off!
Much better mood. What can I say, there is good in everything...I think. Excepting our present government, hehe. I decided to FINALLY plant the alpine strawberries that have been floundering and mocking me continuing to flourish despite my treatment of them. They will be great here, this spot is full of bulbs so is interesting for about 5 minutes then Blah.
So, we lost power, had to toss a blanket over the lizard cage. It was cold and windy, rainy and the power cut off while my non tv watching butt was in the middle of Grays Anatomy. I will not get radish seed this year from my crop. My tomatoes are a mess...the dahlia is half broken and the yard is a basic mess. A basic beautiful mess!
Oct 9, 2007 | 11:49 AM PST
Tags: Nigerian Coffee , bonsai
I put one of my Nigerian Coffee trees in the perfect pot. When I got them, they were suppose to be one, but they one ended up being seven...see all those trunks?
So I had to separate them!
So...I have to bonsai at least ONE of them...right?
Oct 8, 2007 | 10:27 AM PST
Tags: boxwood , bonsai
My mother was telling me about all of the changes she wants to make in her yard, plant this, mulch that, etc., and she says she wants to get rid of this one boxwood that she had planted to hide the oil inlet pipe used by the oil man to deliver the home heating oil. One whole side of the shrub had died, probably for two reasons. First, that side of the shrub was repeatedly exposed to the elements after shoveling all of the snow from around the oil pipe in the wintertime. Second, theoilman dragging the oil hose across the shrub to get the oilpipe would continually remove leaves and small twigs from the little bush. I asked her if she was throwing it away and when she said yes I asked her if I could have it. She said sure. So I'll now have a free plant to kill, er....I mean....try bonsaiing on. Cool! I'll post pics when I start.
Later
Sep 25, 2007 | 3:35 AM PST
Tags: almond , nashi , Asian Pears , apple , bonsai , flowering
Here are the first spring blossoms on my almond tree! The nashi pear, cherry, and apple trees also have blossoms which is very exciting as they my first fruit trees ever! I've spent a lot of time in Japan where they go to view the spring cherry blossoms and also the autumn leaves. My partner is into bonsai so he has been creating the same scenes in miniature! Some of his bonsai are flowering, and all of the deciduous bonsai are growing leaves again. You should have seen autumn in his tiny maple forest!
When a chilli or tomato grows from a flower, it's very exciting, so I look forward to the flowering of fruit. My avocado tree is extending its branches but it had an infestation of tiny white 'dots' - possibly aphids? I gave it a good spray of pyrethrum. I went to the hardware store to get some bird netting to protect the berry canes and couldn't resist getting some more spring onions (they were getting quite large!) I bought some planters to grow the chicken forage in too.
And is there any advice on fertilizing a herb garden? I haven't fertilized it for a whole year as I'd heard herbs don't need anything, but my partner was saying that they do need something. hmm.
p>
Jul 26, 2007 | 5:07 AM PST
Tags: bonsai , food dehydrator , preserve
We bought a larger fridge so that we can learn to
preserve our garden produce which is exciting. The extra vegetables
had sometimes gone to waste as we have been learning to grow things. My
little old fridge that I bought in 1999, which survived 4 share houses
and knew the eating habits of 24 people intimately, will be traded in.
Have any of you used a food dehydrator, and would you reccommend it? I
could sun-dry food just as well, just wondered how it compares.
I'm worried about my kumquat bonsai - I will have to ask Slimezilla for the pre-bonsai talk that I never had! Its soil is sometimes dry when I check it, and I have no idea how to look after it. If any of you remember the karate kid, the above pic is Mr Miyagi's bonsai room..
Jul 19, 2007 | 11:14 AM PST
Tags: Orange Tree , bonsai
Well, it has been a little bit of time and I feel great! Those first couple of days were hard. All I could say was OW, that was a lot...more than I anticipated. Those smug bonsai, the Japanese Maples...the Elm...that Cotoneaster, they didn't really tell me how MUCH was involved!
But now I am HERE! I look forward to the day I get my own special pot. I know my gardener will wait until she sees something very special for me and it might sit and wait but it will be all mine!
This is what happened, I don't remember it much because I was sedated but she
told me all about it.
First off it seems I had a little brother or sister so an emergency pot had to be gotten!
After taking out my sibling I got packed back in my pot. It will be at least 6 months before I get my own bonsai pot, I will be inside by then because I know the winters are a bit harsh here for my tender leaves!
Once we got done with that I got repotted and cut and wired...I am told that it will probably be a year, but then I get to be true bonsai, with my own special pot! It may be sooner, it depends on the rate of my root growth...I am gonna try REAL hard to grow FAST! Because I am a fast grower, I got a really loose coil for my first bend. I am happy about that I really don't want any scars!
Jul 18, 2007 | 4:34 AM PST
Tags: bonsai , mame bonsai , penjing , avocado
Slimezilla and I went to some bonsai nurseries in Sydney on the weekend. Bonsai is Slimezilla's hobby, and mine is the edible garden. I accompanied Slimezilla as he bought lots of starter trees and different pots.
I don't really know that much about bonsai. Although bonsai are cute, I have always been more interested in vegetables. Anyway, this time, I came across a kitchy little fruiting kumquat in their nursery! I could not resist it! I bought a few mame (tiny) bonsai pots to raise a few miniature fruiting trees from seed. I think it's very hard work and it's something I know little about, but still willing to try! I will also embellish my trees into little scenes, in a bunjae/penjing style! I bought some tiny scholars, contemplated pots with in-built lakes and will consider some stork or buffalo in the future!
That aside, I bought an avocado sapling and a red seedless grapevine. Still very much winter here, we have had terrible frosts and I worry for the peas I was so proud of in this blog! I can't wait for the days when I can stay outside as the sun sets, and not shiver into the house!
Speaking of my house, last night, some delinquents tried to break through my front door with some garden rocks and a butter knife. It was very scary, they stood back and tried to come inside until we turned on the lights. They managed to use so much force that the broken glass travelled several feet into the house. Anyway the garden has been violated, I am mourning for it, and I am thinking of redesigning the front yard to get rid of heavier things that can smash windows with.
Jul 12, 2007 | 8:31 AM PST
Tags: bonsai , japanese maple , repotting , bonsai tools , root hormone powder
Well, here I am in my new home! It was a quick operation for which I was grateful. I don't like being out of a pot long and this, well, it made me feel a little naked! First I got taken out of the pot and almost all my roots exposed (see me blushing!)...
Then they got CUT OFF..even my tap root...that was weird! I got root hormone powder on them to help them heal and grow again. There is not much room in my new pot but I don't mind, the Elm and Cotoneaster tell me it will just be 'Cozy'.
Then I got put in my pot and got some new soil (YAAY!) and a trim and some wire, it has been years since I got wired, this was a little one compared to what I have had done in the past!
One little coil was all I needed, I had a 'wild branch' that wanted to go one way and we wanted it to go the other way! This is 16 ga. copper.
And here I am wired, before being bent...
And here I am, done...I really like it in this pot, but I was told I can have a pot just like this one that will be more plain (I like the grapes design...but my gardener thinks they are hideous!).
Some people think you need REALLY expensive tools to do this with, but not really. You just have to have a few basic tools. My gardener uses these, predominately. A simple pair of hair cutting scissors (gets in nice to trim close in small areas), a pair of flat wire nips (no sharp edges), a pair of needlenose pliers and a ring winder like the one you saw above. Simple, and found at any decent craft store at minimal cost. That way you have more cash to play with for pots...soil...trees....LOL!
Jul 10, 2007 | 2:16 PM PST
Tags: Baby , ladybugs , Bonsai
They're HEEEeeeeerrrrrrrre! First of all, my little apple tree climbing buddy was born 19 minutes into the 4th of July. She's absolutely wonderful. Way cuter than my other arrivals.
That's right, there's more. I ordered 1500 ladybugs (smallest quantity available) about two weeks ago, and they came yesterday in the mail.
How cool is that? They were very eager to get out of the cup, and immediately went to work for me, crawling and flying to where the irritating and damaging bugs were making my garden a living hell. I'm pretty excited about them. I really hope they get all the bastards that have been obliterating my chamomile. It's too late for my cilantro, but . . . *sigh*
In other news, I've taken an increased interest in bonsai as of late. I actually went to a bonsai farm yesterday that I've seen many times from the road, but never stopped by before. The plants were beautiful, old, and very very expensive. To make matters more interesting, I was preached at (and even given a tract - of sorts) about Jueng San Do (an eastern religion) by the little old lady that owned and ran the farm. The religion sounded like a bunch of self-help, the end is near, my spirit is your spirit, and rather hopeless crap (to be perfectly blunt), but the experience was . . . interesting. I didn't buy anything.
I want to post a new picture of my bonsai (the one I bought a couple weeks ago), but it looks kind of silly right now. I have bread bag ties all over it, trying to train its growth. I'll post a new pic when it doesn't look so awkward. ;)
Jul 9, 2007 | 10:28 AM PST
Tags: weeding , baby trees , Bonsai , mole , sunburn , spaghetti squash , zucchinni , butternut squash , beneficial insects , beneficial nematodes , lacewings , preying mantis , lady bugs , Squash Vine Borers , cucumber , green onion , melon , straw , Brussels Sprouts , fabric row cover
Saturday was a great day. Hubby and I went out in the morning, great temperatures, light breeze and teamwork. Thats a recipe for a nice day. He mowed, I cleaned up and weeded. I took a couple of buckets of the weeds to the "dumping ditch". Its a low spot so anything organic that will decompose and help fill it in goes there. I had to weed carefully because there are baby trees growing amongst the weeds. Some of them are pretty and they will be great for pots and some people want them for Bonsai. All of the rains and the mole racing back and forth makes it easier to weed. Thats the only thing a mole is good for!! I got a sunburn on my back from leaning over and weeding, my shirt kept pulling up. That makes me think of those wooden cut outs I have seen in peoples yards, they look like a view from the back of a lady bent over. LOL At least I was sitting in a chair most of the time. Then we sat in the shade and enjoyed the breezed until I got too hungry to just sit there anymore.
All of the spaghetti squash and zucchini have been pulled out. We only got 3 zucchini and 4 spaghetti squash. Not very much for the amount of plants that we had. With all of the bug problems we had on those plants this year we have been doing some research to find solutions. There are a few things that we can try. The one that I think will help the most is to buy a beneficial insect pkg. It would have things like beneficial nematodes, preying mantis, lacewings and ladybugs. The nematodes will prey on insects that have a larvae stage in the soil. Some of the insects that we are having problems with do pupate in the soil, like the Squash vine borer. If we get a pkg. a little later in the summer and again in the spring I think it will bring the balance back to a better place.
The butternut squash is doing OK inspite of the onslaught of insects. The fruit we are getting isn't huge but they look good and the plants are still putting on more babies. Looking forward to making pies!
In one place that I took out squash I planted some melons. We should have long enough to get some before the fall. I also cleaned out one of the beds that can accomidate the climbers. I replanted some cucumbers with new seed. The last ones didn't do well at all. WE MUST HAVE CUCUMBERS! I also seeded some green onions where there used to be salad.
I spread out a bale of fresh straw under the pepper plants and in some of the aisles, in the areas where I had cleaned out all of the weeds. That should help to keep the roots cool in the coming heat waves. The chickens also got a good chunk of fresh have to scratch and in their nesting areas.
My next project for the garden is making some wooden frames that are about 12inches tall and maybe 3ft.x3ft. I am going to staple fabric row cover to them and seed some cool weather crops for this fall. Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts. Last year I had the cover over them in the hot summer. Part of it wasn't hooked down very well and kept blowing off of the sprouts. The ones that stayed covered grew much better. I took the covers off when the weather cooled down and they did well. We really like Brussels Sprouts and I think if I get more this year we can freeze some. I would like to have this done by the end of the week so everything is ready.
Oh, its raining again and the radar even shows us clear!!!
Jul 9, 2007 | 2:11 AM PST
Tags: Bonsai , tree seeds , stratify , germination , winter
So it's the middle of another ice-cold winter in tiny little Canberra. After a failed attempt at stratifying seeds the artificial way (after months of sitting in the bottom of my fridge i managed to murder all the poor emerging seedlings in the scorching summer sun!) I'm trying again. This time, au naturale!
This year i layered a bonsai pot in the following way: good quality potting mix, seed raising mix, seeds and then a thin layer of vermiculite. The plan is that the vermiculite will stop the seeds from washing/blowing away but still allow them to get suitably cold to feel like sprouting come the warmer months of spring. The potting mix down below hopefully means that the freshly germinated plants can stay there a while until i get around to repotting them!
The seeds i'm trying this year are pencil pine, japanese elm, snake-skin maple, chinese pistachio, pink bloodwood, persimmon, alpine snow gum, chinese windmill palm, myrtle beech, norway maple, weeping white birch, japanese cedar, bald cypress, himalayan spruce, yulan magnolia and japanese pagoda tree. I'm hoping that after a few years each of these will make potentially very interesting bonsai. The only bonsai i have grown from seed so far are banksia serrata, a few eucalypts and a chinese maple so this is all very experimental.
I have no idea yet what my success rate will be but hope after a few months in the cold and then some time on a heat tray that at least some of them will emerge!
Jun 30, 2007 | 12:13 PM PST
Tags: bonsai , baby's breath , celosia , lantana , sedum
So, the Mrs. and I went to the local gardening haven today. We had a bit of extra money, so we each picked out something we wanted. She got some baby's breath, celosia, lantana, and sedum for a hanging basket she's been meaning to to redo.
I got a Bonsai "Serissa Kyoto" that I intend to bonsai. Here's the thing: I've not done this. I don't know what to do really. Any pointers for care and/or trimming would be appreciated.
Jun 27, 2007 | 2:19 PM PST
Tags: Japanese Maple , Japanese Elm , Orange Tree , Bonsai
Well, while my brethren beside me, Orange and Japanese Elm, have their own things going this weekend, I get to do something VERY exciting!!! I Get potted! I get to have my very own bonsai pot. I have waited over 3 years for this to happen and now I get to have it!! YAAAY! I have been very compliant and a happy grower this whole time thinking 'pick me! pick me!' and now is my time. For the last year I have felt like a bonsai, I have looked like a bonsai...down to making sure I have a nice, natural mossy ground cover, but there was the 'pot thing'. I will make sure they get pictures for I am very happy I get my pot!!! After I get potted I will be getting a trim, but not to downplay Japanese Elm, it is nothing like that...just a few clips here and there!
Jun 27, 2007 | 2:14 PM PST
Tags: Japanese Elm , bonsai , Trim
Hi, I am 'Japanese Elm'. I was once just a regular tree but someone looked at me and said, Bonsai... you must be. Here I am and enjoying the new 'digs'. I have gotten a little happy though and been getting a tad 'leggy' so I am scheduled for a haircut this weekend. I am looking forward to it as I have been feeling a bit 'full' lately! I understand there will be a photo journal of my cut :D
Jun 27, 2007 | 2:08 PM PST
Tags: Orange Tree , Clover , Bonsai
Hi, my name is 'Orange Tree'. That's my new pal, 'Clover' behind me. I know this is a good home when someone realizes the importance of clover! I have been promised a glorious future. As my new owner, RKayne has taken note...I am taking very quickly to my new home, I love it here in this new pot that is SO much bigger than the one I lived in for so long. I know I don't get this pot forever so I am taking advantage of it and growing very fast, she put me in this pot about a week ago and I already have new growth sprouting all over. The ploy worked and she took notice of my very fine efforts. Guess what? I get to start training to be a bonsai this weekend! I am so proud, wonder what my parents would think. Maybe the old grove owner will see my progress and let them know! RKayne told me she would take a photo journey of my progress so this weekend you get to see what becomes of me, I know this won't be easy but I am eager to join the ranks of some of the finest trees on this planet, Bonsai!
Jun 22, 2007 | 1:47 PM PST
Tags: Orange , Tangerine , Key Lime , Lemon , Bonsai
Have to get pics, have more on the way...My Mom got me tree's for my Birthday! So far, I have an Orange, Tangerine, Key Lime, and BONUS Lemon. I say BONUS because I unplug it last night to pot it, and go 'Hm, that's odd'...and get an *emergency* pot...it had a little one next to it. So I go to plant it again, after potting the little guy. Think...'Hm, that's odd'...and get ANOTHER emergency pot. I have 3 Lemon tree's! WOO HOO! These are all bound to be bonsai.
I will put up pics soon as I take them!
Thanks Mom!
Jun 13, 2007 | 3:25 PM PST
Tag: bonsai
So I put this together during a class I took about a month ago. It is doing really well on my windowsill. It needs a trim, but I am going to let it grow out for a bit because
a) I always feel guilty trimming off what it worked so hard to grow
b) not quite sure what I want to do with it
Jun 12, 2007 | 11:08 PM PST
Tag: bonsai
This post has been edited by an administrator
I recently launched my website to teach people more about bonsai and also sell bonsai supplies and prebonsai trees to help further spread the hobby. I really like bonsai gardening.
Does anyone have any good bonsai care articles I can reproduce on my site? I'd provide credit where credit is due.
You can message me to get the address.
Jun 12, 2007 | 3:34 PM PST
Tags: Japanese Maple , Wisteria , Bonsai , Strawberries
So, tis the season for Bonsai to look great! Decided to have an update on how they are doing. 
Needs a trim, hehe...
One of the Wisterias...
One of my Favorite Japanese Maples (almost 4 yrs old)
Babies...and strawberries that are going in the ground tonight!
