New Book: "Growing Bonsai, a Practical Encyclopedia"

Just finished this book, I really enjoyed it.  A bunch of things I've read in other books, but really nice pictures, and step-by-step guides on basic things.  It also gave me some ideas for trees I have and want.  I think I might try some air propagation with my ginko bilboa.  Anyways a good book for beginners and novices.

R.I.P. Unknown Orange Shrub

This tree was my favorite so far.  I found it in the wilderness with my brother, and hiked it out.  I accidentally broke the main root when I was digging it out, but managed to wire it back together.  When I first got it home, all the leaves died.  I wasn't sure what to do with it, I thought I killed it, but I kept watering it, and a few weeks later new sprouts appeared.  It was a beautiful orange, but it died shortly after and never came back.  I did enjoy it while it was alive.  Here is a beauty shot of it.

R.I.P. Afghan Pine

This was given away at work for SPE Green Day or something.  We'll it said full sun, and look what happened.  I wonder, although the leaves are dead and it no longer looks green will it come back? is it dead?  Did i prematurely throw it out?  Maybe my next dead I'll keep around a bit.  Anyways, I have another one that I moved into the shade and it's doing well.  Smell you later piney.

Wait and the seed shall grow.

There's something to be said about analog hobbies.  Especially ones that don't involve instant gratification.  When I first got into bonsai, I thought it's all about cutting and shaping trees with scissors.  That excited me.  Taking an ugly tree and turning it into something beautiful.  That is not the life of bonsai, and I'm ok with that.  There's something about slow watering a plant and getting away from the keyboard and phone and internet.  Every day I spend 10 minutes watering my plants.  Some days those are the best 10 minutes of my day.  Standing in the sun and listening to the birds chirping, it's very zen to me, and I've been missing that at work, which takes up most of my time.  I wanted to start a blog to keep track of all my trees.  I have been at this for a little over a year now, and it's one of those hobbies that doesn't cost 1000 bucks to get started, and you get sick of it a month later.  There certainly is some testing of my patience from time to time, but It's a good thing and one I've come to accept.  Here is a current picture of my plants. (well most of them)

Loving the spring.