Spring!

There is something great about spring.  The new buds, the greenery, the change from dormancy.  This last week it's really become evident that change is upon my trees and plants.  I'm seeing change that I haven't seen in months.  I wanted to post a few of the pictures.

This is my Azelia.  It was dormant all last year, got for 10 bucks at the bonsai shop, she said, "it's useless."  We are still waiting to see.  I love the branches.  Will post a better picture soon.

A black pine has all sorts of candles growing right now.

Not sure what this one is, but it has red flowers, I dropped this planter and killed most of the plant, at one point the part you can see was like 10% of the plant.

I'm pretty sure this is an elm.  But it's got the tiniest little leaves right now.  Very cute.

The Gingko Bilboa is sprouting beautifully.

Watering Cans, The Hidden Winners

If there is one thing you should invest in, it's a great watering can.  As much time as you spend with your plants this gets you the most bang for your buck.  A 100 dollar pair of shears gets pulled out only a 2 times a year.  The watering can gets used daily.  It's funny where people spend their money.  For years I always bought the cheap zip lock baggies saving a dollar here or there.  It took me years to realize that for one extra dollar I could have saved myself an hour of cleanup and a stinky refrigerator.  In the same sense, you can't go wrong with a good watering can.  When I first started, I picked a cheap $5 can, without understanding the importance of it.  It didn't even have a sprinkler spout,  the water came out too fast, and made the daily task difficult.  It began to make the experience I had with bonsai become a negative one.  I luckily realised this quickly, and began looking online for some alternatives.  At first I was shocked to realize the cost of a good watering can.  I couldn't justify the 80 bucks, so I opted for a slightly more economical (cheaper) version, and I'm really happy with it.  I've learned that the watering experience is where you spend most of the time with your trees, so you should make it the best experience as possible.  I also advise getting one of with a spouts that make turn it from one stream to a bunch of little rain drops.  Here is my little watering can.  Makes me very happy, although I'm looking for an upgrade. ;)

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.