The History of Bonsai. This is an in-depth discussion about the History of Bonsai in China 2300 years ago and how this unique art form spread throughout the world. This website offers great detail into Techniques, Tree Species, Inspiration, Courses and a Forum. Also, here is an additional link to the 6th US National Bonsai Exhibition (Click on blue link) with some stunning photographs.
This year’s 2023 Bonsai Show is on Saturday and Sunday, November 4-5. It will be held at the Berne Davis Park and is an Exhibit of Bonsai Trees, Sales, Demonstration and Workshops. See the full details on the attached PDF.
This month’s Newsletter is full of useful information about Root-Over-Rock styling with comments and suggestions from Richard Owens, and a YouTube video. We are also having a very special guest Laurent Darrieux in September, and there are two links to the skills and talents of Mike Lane designed specially for beginners. For those who are “Challenged by Wiring”, there is a link to a free tutorial at Craftsy.
Martha Goff has listed the trees available at Dragon Tree Nursery and identified the Zones that they grow in. Zones are determined by the low and high temperature throughout the year. Most of us in southwest Florida are Zone 9-11. The further south-Ft. Myers down to Naples-are in Zone 10. Below Naples, Zone 11 and 12 occur. Inland from Ft. Myers a short distance, we have Zone 9.
The reason identifying a plant’s growing Zone is important is because that is where the plant will thrive.
A little additional, necessary information: If a plant is listed as growing in Zones 4-9 and you live in Zone 9, you might think it will do well for you. It will if it is deciduous like elms or crepe myrtle. If it isn’t dormant during the winter, the Zone 9 is at it’s outer limit and can cause stress and a lack of thriving. I always recommend staying away from these trees.
On the other hand, if the tree is Zone 9-11 or similar, that plant will do well for us because the 9 is beginning of its response to conditions.
I say all of this, so that when you look over the list of trees available at Dragon Tree, you can choose wisely and choose only the plants that will thrive.
Don’t forget to meet us at the Garden Center on June 17th at 8:30 if you need a ride or you are a driver meeting passengers. We will leave promptly at 9AM. Also, remember to bring cash or a check, no credit cards.
This YouTube video is a superb presentation by Bill Smith about the anatomy of a tree. Recorded on Jan 16, 2021, it is exceptionally well produced and is full of graphics that make the understanding of a tree straightforward and easy to understand.
This is a link to a unique two hour Bonsai demonstration at Wigert’s Bonsai Nursery with Mike Lane, Erik Wigert and Jason Osborne. https://youtu.be/0Y_WYbNl59w For those of you who are not familiar with these gentlemen, they are world-leading experts in the art Bonsai. This session is not only replete with Bonsai techniques on growing and styling trees, but filled with humor.