Bonsai trees

wtrhed · Post by **wtrhed** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 1:39 pm

Does anyone on here dabble in the art of Bonsai? I recently purchased my first tree and LOVE it. They are almost like the tank, I can't quit observing it. They are super cool and if you don't have one, check them out.

http://www.bonsaiboy.com/catalog/index.html

sb1227 · Post by **sb1227** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 8:26 pm

I had quite a few of them years ago.....like any hobby I went nuts with it.

I did a pretty cool stand of birch trees and a really nice Japanese Maple. When I moved here I gave them to a friend, and my oldest one to my mom who promptly killed it.

You can take a look at those scrub trees one the beach way out on Fort Morgan Road to get some good ideas. Azalea bonsai would do really good here too. What kind of tree did you get?

wtrhed · Post by **wtrhed** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 8:44 pm

I got a 10 year old juniper nana. It is still pretty young but it looks awesome. I have been reading a good bit on this hooby and was thinking of trying one or two of the local beach shrubs you suggested. The only thing is, you have to train there roots to a small pot for awhile before you can start the bonsai.

sb1227 · Post by **sb1227** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 9:55 pm

Wow, sounds great! It must have a good size trunk! It's really good to try a juniper for the first one you do from scratch, the branches are much more forgiving and you can set them up fairly quick, to learn wiring techniques. And they are cheap at any garden center. It's a little tricky.
I remember the first time I saw those scrub oaks the shape they had from being in the wind was really cool and would be a good template for something like that. Trees with leaves are really the trickiest because like you said they take time to train, pruning the roots to get the leaves to grow smaller to fit the size of the tree. It's amazing, I was never as good at it as I wanted to be. I worked with a guy who was, he had a 300 year old oak tree....it was awesome.
I checked the link.......and I'm not allowed to look at it any more.....because I know what would happen. And I have enough expensive hobbies.

wtrhed · Post by **wtrhed** » Fri Dec 17, 2004 10:05 pm

Yeah, it's kinda expensive but nowhere close to the reef. The juniper I got is already in bonsai form, it is not a start from scratch tree. Starting my own from scratch is something I would like to get into when I learn alot more on the subject. I would LOVE to see a 300yr old bonsai!!!! For me that is what makes them so cool, several people could have spent their entire lives caring for a tree like that passed down through the generations. I am with you, I am already wanting to go overboard with these things. I recently lost an auction for a KILLER juniper on e-bay that I would have loved to have. I kinda plan on getting the family and in-laws one for christmas. How long did you keep your trees??

sb1227 · Post by **sb1227** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 6:40 am

I had them for 7 or 8 years...the weirdest thing was the winters. I had a hard time keeping them outside when it got real cold, but they're trees and had to go thru the seasons like any other tree and it get's pretty cold in the Smokies. I was always afraid of the pots freezing, my friends laughed at me out putting blankets around the pots.

You mean they sell them on ebay???? I don't know why I'm surprised...

I've got a cool book from the directors of the Japan Bonsai association called the Masters Book of Bonsai. You're welcome to read it if you want. It's small but very informative and gives you a pretty good understanding of the different styles. It helped me alot and has some killer pics.