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Post by fadingdaylight on Jul 26, 2021 8:02:46 GMT -5
Bonsai taught me patience. Unfortunately, I lost some old timers in the last couple years due to my own immobility. Get a few cheap nursery plants and do nothing but leave them in the sun, water them, and look at them when you're out smoking a pipe. Then, in a year, start to play with them. Any plants you'd recommend as good starting points? I really like the look and smell of junipers, but I'm not sure how newb friendly they are. |
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Post by terrapinflyer on Jul 26, 2021 8:22:04 GMT -5
Junipers are a common starting point, but are not the easiest to work with. Most things sold as landscape plants in your area will take to bonsai culture. Boxwood is slow growing, but somewhat forgiving. I might start with something deciduous. Barberry is a great one. Hawthorn. Pyracantha/firethorn. Beech. Cotoneaster. Chinese elm, which is semi-deciduous depending on climate. Mugo pine culture is different than other pines, which are more advanced. Mugos are a little more forgiving, but again, have different horticultural "rules."
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Post by fadingdaylight on Jul 26, 2021 14:15:32 GMT -5
Junipers are a common starting point, but are not the easiest to work with. Most things sold as landscape plants in your area will take to bonsai culture. Boxwood is slow growing, but somewhat forgiving. I might start with something deciduous. Barberry is a great one. Hawthorn. Pyracantha/firethorn. Beech. Cotoneaster. Chinese elm, which is semi-deciduous depending on climate. Mugo pine culture is different than other pines, which are more advanced. Mugos are a little more forgiving, but again, have different horticultural "rules." Thanks Emily. I may have to bug you a bit going forward on this one... |
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Post by Gypo on Jul 26, 2021 14:23:33 GMT -5
This has turned a very interesting corner that I know nothing about but am enjoying reading.
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Post by terrapinflyer on Jul 26, 2021 16:47:48 GMT -5
Junipers are a common starting point, but are not the easiest to work with. Most things sold as landscape plants in your area will take to bonsai culture. Boxwood is slow growing, but somewhat forgiving. I might start with something deciduous. Barberry is a great one. Hawthorn. Pyracantha/firethorn. Beech. Cotoneaster. Chinese elm, which is semi-deciduous depending on climate. Mugo pine culture is different than other pines, which are more advanced. Mugos are a little more forgiving, but again, have different horticultural "rules." Thanks Emily. I may have to bug you a bit going forward on this one... No problem! I'd love to help. I have some good references somewhere around here, too. I did a lot of workshops and an extended study with a shohin master. |
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Post by Silver on Jul 26, 2021 17:01:22 GMT -5
Wasn't expecting to read about bonsai here. Now, I hope to see more bonsai posts.
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Post by fadingdaylight on Jul 26, 2021 17:41:06 GMT -5
Thanks Emily. I may have to bug you a bit going forward on this one... No problem! I'd love to help. I have some good references somewhere around here, too. I did a lot of workshops and an extended study with a shohin master. [br That's awesome! This is pretty much what I have to work with right now, two books and the basic tools. Plus two 6x4 pots with trays, soil, fertilizer, and 10ft section of heavy branch wire.  ] |
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Post by Plainsman on Jul 26, 2021 17:46:07 GMT -5
What a fascinating topic! I hope we can watch this as it goes forward.
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Post by terrapinflyer on Jul 26, 2021 18:14:33 GMT -5
The book on the left looks familiar. Texts in English tend to talk a lot about refining trees more than growing trunks and good nebari. I was frustrated until I messed around for a few years and learned things by doing. It's tempting --especially looking at beautiful trees in books--to prune top and roots to look like the tree you envision. It's a much more gntle, slow process. I killed a few trees starting out. It's the price of admission, I guess.
It looks like you have a good start on tools. Let me find that book and see what good stuff is in there. Is the author South African?
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Post by fadingdaylight on Jul 26, 2021 18:47:17 GMT -5
The book on the left looks familiar. Texts in English tend to talk a lot about refining trees more than growing trunks and good nebari. I was frustrated until I messed around for a few years and learned things by doing. It's tempting --especially looking at beautiful trees in books--to prune top and roots to look like the tree you envision. It's a much more gntle, slow process. I killed a few trees starting out. It's the price of admission, I guess. It looks like you have a good start on tools. Let me find that book and see what good stuff is in there. Is the author South African? I don't think so, but the book is fairly thorough. The smaller book is really just an encyclopedia of plant species that can be used, and really doesn't cover the practice at all. |
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Post by Legend Lover on Jul 27, 2021 7:35:32 GMT -5
You're a talented guy. I wish I had that gift. I love art, but don't have the talent for it. Best I can do is photography, but even then I'm still way off being talented at it.
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Post by fadingdaylight on Jul 27, 2021 10:24:34 GMT -5
You're a talented guy. I wish I had that gift. I love art, but don't have the talent for it. Best I can do is photography, but even then I'm still way off being talented at it. Eh, if you get a closer look you will see that the boards on the bench don't flush up quite right. I'm just a lot a weird point in life where I'm trying my hand at different things. |
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Post by fadingdaylight on Jul 29, 2021 13:22:52 GMT -5
Headed for the nursery after work today, we will see what I can come up with.
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Post by fadingdaylight on Jul 29, 2021 16:08:56 GMT -5
I guess I am a little late in the season, as there wasn't a whole lot left, but I did find this dwarf boxwood that already has a bit of a gnarly trunk base going on, so I snagged it.  |
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Post by Ronv69 on Jul 29, 2021 18:09:24 GMT -5
I guess I am a little late in the season, as there wasn't a whole lot left, but I did find this dwarf boxwood that already has a bit of a gnarly trunk base going on, so I snagged it. I could kill that bush in one week! |
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Post by pepesdad1 on Jul 29, 2021 18:36:42 GMT -5
I guess I am a little late in the season, as there wasn't a whole lot left, but I did find this dwarf boxwood that already has a bit of a gnarly trunk base going on, so I snagged it. Spread the branches out and you can see what branches you want to save and then trim and wire the branches you want to work with. |
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Post by terrapinflyer on Aug 5, 2021 14:11:18 GMT -5
I guess I am a little late in the season, as there wasn't a whole lot left, but I did find this dwarf boxwood that already has a bit of a gnarly trunk base going on, so I snagged it. Sweet! You might find more selection in the fall or next spring. Ask away when you get to working it. Read as much as you can. Boxwood has an odd root system--no tap- or storage roots, just a big mass of spaghetti. I would avoid trying to wire any hardened wood, as it is rather brittle on Buxus spp. Keep looking at it and think about what you'll do next spring. Good luck! |
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Post by rdpipes on Aug 6, 2021 19:33:44 GMT -5
When do we get to see the finished knives Jason?
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Post by fadingdaylight on Aug 6, 2021 19:40:37 GMT -5
When do we get to see the finished knives Jason? Honestly Ron, the heat lately has kept me out of the garage. I think by the time we get into September, I'll be back out there working on stuff again. |
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Post by rdpipes on Aug 6, 2021 20:25:49 GMT -5
When do we get to see the finished knives Jason? Honestly Ron, the heat lately has kept me out of the garage. I think by the time we get into September, I'll be back out there working on stuff again. Been there done that, that's why my shop is air conditioned and heated my friend.
Too old and too tired to deal with it anymore. |
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Post by fadingdaylight on Aug 24, 2021 20:48:59 GMT -5
For the record, I'm pretty sure I killed the boxwood already.
Emily, if you want some bonsai tools, they are all yours. Me and plants don't get along. I'm a cat person.
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