Originally Posted by CScott

I was taking digital pictures of my oldest tree photos and thought you might enjoy the changes as much as I did.

As a cautionary tale of over working a tree, one series is a little procumbens juniper, bought in 1985, the picture is from 1987. The second pic is planted over a rock in 2003, followed by the latest 2006 photo. It is about 3 inches taller than the original, and has always been in a bonsai pot. Not much has happened in 20 years.

The other series is what can be achieved when you pay attention to all the advice thrown at you from club members, books, and teachers. The first picture is an elm whip won at a club raffle for $1 in 1995. I air layered it a few years later, and both trees were planted in the ground. Twelve years later, the smaller one was once the base, while the larger, taller tree is the top 2 thirds. They are by no means great, but I am pleased with the progress.

What have I learned? It is fulfilling and fun to do it yourself, but it takes forever and life is short.

Buy better stock.

Carmen