FredL

In about 6 weeks, it will be two years since I returned to trying to develop bonsai of my own. Boy, has there been alot to learn! I really didn't appreciate what it took to develop decent material starting from scratch. It takes a lot of effort and a fair amount of knowledge. But one thing I hadn't really appreciated until I got into it with a significant number of trees and spent some time at it: the trees seem to want to help!

I'm finding that although things go badly from time to time: newly collected trees sometimes die as do repotted seedlings, Winter, and especially repeated freezes and thaws can take a toll of pots and trees, there is a learning curve for soil mixes, how to prune, etc., stc., on the whole, things go well and, despite everything, after a few months and ,still more, after a few years, the progress to be seen towards creating actual bonsai is obvious and exciting. And, the trees co-operate to an amazing degree!

I haven't been wiring branches yet. Seems hardly worthwhile with the need to develop decent rootage and trunks. Next Spring will be time enough to start on that with a few of the most advanced trees. But, yesterday, I did major chopping on many two or three year old trees as well as newly collected Elms and Wild Plums and the development of trunks is starting to be impressive. I keep chopping back the main trunks to allow small braches to become the new leaders; clip and grow, I guess, and unbelivably, it's producing actual bonsai-like trunks!

In my ignorance, I can only conclude that my trees know how to become Bonsai and if I'll just give them minimal help, they will succeed. I stand in awe!

Fred

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