[IBC] Book Recommendations

Jim Lewis

> James Harris wrote:
>
> >I have to second Craig on Amy Liang's book. I find myself
referring to
> >it quite often. It's available in hardcover and paperback. I
also like
> >the The Art of Bonsai Design and the Bonsai Survival Manual by
Colin
> >Lewis. For tropicals/ficus I would recommend Jerry Meislik's
new book,
> >Ficus, The Exotic Bonsai.
> >
> These are all good choices. However, growers in North America
should
> take Amy Liang's horticultural advice with _several_ grains of
salt.

This is true of virtually every bonsai book that wasn't written
in YOUR neighborhood. Jerry's Ficus book is an exception since
it talks primarily about growing indoors. And indoors is
indoors -- though here too there are differences, I suppose,
knowing so little about indoor growing.

But bonsai books are not gardening books. Authors seem to think
the hort info is required (it is not!), but 9 times out of 10 it
seems to have been copied from the LAST bonsai book the author
read. And then, of course, there is the fact that cultural
information from Great Britain or Japan, or South Africa, etc.
simply will NOT do for North Florida, South Florida or Sioux
Falls.

So it always helps if you have grown something before you leap
into bonsai. Even radishes in a home garden when you were 5
years old probably will help. ;-)

Bonsai Techniques -- wiring, root pruning, leaf stripping,
etc. -- usually are covered pretty well. But ignore advice on
watering and fertilizing, cuttings, air layers, seeds, etc. Get
a decent LOCAL or REGIONAL gardening book and learn from it. Or
learn from a local gardener (or bonsai club).

Jim Lewis - jklewis@nettally.com - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++
************************************************** ******************************
>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST@HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

Advertisement