Thursday, March 23, 2017

Bonsai and Moss

Today as I headed out to my hair appointment my hairdresser texted that she would be running late. What is a person to do when you get that message?  As a gardener on a cool spring morning you head for the nearest display of plants available. Yep, no self respecting nursery around here has much to offer this time of year but the local big box store has plenty of pansies and small shrubs etc. I must say I did succumb even though it was spitting rain. After all the weather watchers say we aren't going to have any frost for the next 10 days or so. 
While there I also picked up a magazine MINI GARDENS & TERRARIUMS.  I thought I could sit and read until called to the shearing chair. I just got started reading this magazine when I came upon a picture showing a small Japanese Maple in a box being trained as a bonsai. It had moss and rocks around it. 
Oh be still my heart. This reminded me of the small Japanese Maple that I nursed through last summer. When early winter came along I stowed the pot in the the window well that leads to our crawl space. I thought it might survive with a bit of protection. I couldn't hardly wait to get home and check on my little maple with it's mini hosta and moss.  As you can see the little darlings survived and thrived. This is the only tree in the garden with leaves. So I can say it is a bit warmer in there sort of like a greenhouse. 
With the picture in the magazine as an inspiration I wired the little tree into a cascade. It being so small it was easy to do. 
As you can see I added a small fern that I bought this winter that is supposed to stay small. It looks larger in the pot than I imagined I can always take it out if it gets too big.  
Have you ever tried bonsai?  I have always admired the small trees, plants, moss and rocks that all are part of the whole scene. I have no idea what kind of moss I have in there. The clump of moss that has the spore capsules is a dark green. It has been in the pot as long as the tree and hosta have been together there.  
The flat moss, which is larger and a lighter green, is a piece of moss that I collected not long ago. I hope it likes it's new home. Do any of you have an idea of what kind of mosses I have here?
  I would like to hear your thoughts about my little bonsai start. I don't know what I am doing even though I have read about the process. I decided to go for it. We will have to wait to see what happens now.

17 comments:

  1. I can never resist pansies, myself, in a big box store or anywhere else.

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  2. Ohhh boy you are just like me in the art store.
    I know a fellow star-eyed addict when I see one. LOL

    I love bonsais and there is an amazing collection of them in Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.
    I have had a few over the years but they don't like me as much as they like you.

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    1. Ha...star-eyed addict is a perfect description of me. It becomes quite obvious during spring.

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  3. That's lovely! I don't know my mosses, so I can't help you there. But I love the effect. Have never tried bonsai. You are so creative with the elements and the cascading Maple.

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    1. Thank you Beth. I too love the effect of moss. I am greatly attracted to them. I can stare at them for a long time.

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  4. Wow, Lisa! Central Texas Gardener's about to air a segment on bonsai philosophy and training. Would you be willing to send me a high resolution photo of your maple in training to include on the CTG blog? I'll link back to you. This is a major cool coincidence! llehmusvirta@klru.org. Thank you!

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  5. Love this! You can leave it in the pot which will restrict its growth, also root prune it. Since it's a baby size, I would think you can just play and experiment.

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    1. Yes, I am a little nervous about it. I have tried this before a couple of times and failed. I think it was because of winter damage. So just getting it through winter was encouragement to me. We will see what happens.

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  6. Love it! I've never tried bonsai, but Mr. P bought me a little bonsai conifer two years ago, which I killed within a year. He paid way too much for it, and I felt so guilty. I told him it had just gone dormant:)

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    1. Ha.. funny story Rose. I don't know how long this will last either. I stepped on it the other day and broke off one of the limbs. I was so sad.

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  7. I love looking at bonsai exhibits in Botancial Gardens--both places I lived --Brooklyn NY and Denver --had beautiful bonsai exhibits, and I've blogged about them. I've never attempted to grow any myself but my son raised a few bonsai trees for many years. unfortunately, all but one eventually died but I think it was because he moved often and their climates changed. Good luck with your pretty arrangement!

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    1. Thank you Pat. The whole thing is intimidating to me.

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  8. You make gardening so fun and creative ~ thanks ~ neat photos!

    Wishing you a Happy Week ~ ^_^

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  9. I adore your little tree Lisa. I love Japanese maples, and a tiny one is precious. We gardeners need something to do before we can really thrust our hands in the dirt.

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  10. Dear Lisa - your tree and bonsai arrangement are lovely. I have never grown this type before. As for the moss have lots of it in my woods but know very little about the types. Always fun to stop here and see what you are growing in the garden. Have a great week.

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