Winter Silhouette 2020 – Awards and Critique
Once again, I know there weren’t any formal awards, but I enjoy adding my own even. The categories are as …
California Juniper Yamadori Trip – Collection
This was a great trip overall. We had more rain in the past month than we had in years for …
Siberian Elm Structural Wiring
This Siberian elm that I dug last winter is really coming into its own. It needed a first full structural …
How To Prune Fruit Trees
Some people choose not to prune their fruit trees. If you do choose to do so the main benefit is …
Siberian Elm Fall Update
This is what the midsummer pruning left me with after collection this last winter. I’m really growing to love this …
Training Fruit Trees
There are 3 different shapes that are mentioned when training fruit trees. The vase shape and central leader are more …
Why Your Yard Needs Mycorrhizal Fungi
A mycorrhizal fungi is a beneficial symbiotic relationship between a plant and a fungi. These fungi form strands of symbiotic …
Reasons To Plant A Tree
Incase shade wasn’t reason enough to plant a tree in the High Desert, I’ve found several additional reasons to plant …
Portulacaria Afra Styling
This little guy had a good amount of time to get set in the pot after the repotting session where …
Corkbark Portulacaria Afra #1
Corkbark Portulacaria Afra #1 Previous Posts: Progression Photos: I found this guy abandoned at a wholesale nursery in a 1 …
Siberian Elm Bonsai Summer Pruning
This is the progression of the Siberian Elm bonsai that I collected earlier that you can see here. I’ve been …
Misleading High Desert “Hardiness Zones”
In the High Desert we can range anywhere from USDA zone 8a to zone 9b. The 2012 Sunset Western Garden …
How To Correctly Plant A Tree
Properly planting your tree is critical to maintaining a healthy tree for years to come. Incorrectly performing one or more …
Emergency Repot
I recently watched a Bonsai Mirai video about post collection care with world renowned collector Randy Knight. He spoke frequently …
Pomegranate Plans
If you refer to my Pomegranate Splitting post you’ll see where this little guy came from. Initially I planned to do a …
Why Topping Your Trees Is Harmful
This is what your tree should never look like. This is the result of the abysmal practice of topping. Other …
California Juniper #1
California Juniper #1 Posts: California Juniper Yamadori Collection Yamadori Post-Dig Care California Collection Checkup Emergency Repot California #1 Repotting Progression …
Redwood Remodel
While picking up trees for a client I saw this a neglected semi-dying redwood tree on the end of a row. I asked about a discount on the tree for the condition it was in. They responded by letting me know that it was going to be thrown away and that I could take it for free. Â
Gopher Plant – Euphorbia Rigida
This plant has many names. I can be known commonly by Gopher plant, Milkweed, Gopher Spurge, Spurge, or Upright Myrtle …
Design and Critique #9 – Chinese Elm
Masculine vs Feminine: This tree is very feminine in many ways. The delicate branching with movement complements the movement in …
Fundamentals of Bonsai – Pruning
There are hundreds of questions on bonsai forums, at clubs, and across the globe about pruning. What to prune, when to …
California Collection Checkup
It is time to do a cleanup of the California Juniper that I collected. My goal here is to remove …
Design and Critique #8 – Flowering Plum
Focus: The focus of this tree is the trunk and the flowers. These two features are so stunning that they …
Chinese Elm Repot
This is my favorite little tree I have at the moment. I’ve been excited for this repot as it’ll finally …