What a Difference a Cultivar Makes!

     I can't help but be intrigued by the differences that can exist within a single species!

These flowers are almost exactly equidistant from the camera lens.

The flowers in this picture are all serissa flowers. The plants that have produced them are of the same species, Serissa foetida. Both plants are healthy, the blossoms themselves are healthy, and the plants are sited only a few feet apart and get the same care.

Stolen Bonsai

     Two well-developed bonsai were stolen from Walter Pall's garden within the last day or two. One is a splendid trident maple, the other a dynamic European spruce (Picea abies.)

The signs point to the theft being the work of someone (maybe more than one) who knows Walter's setup and knew exactly where to find what they were after. Since selling such trees may be difficult -- those who would be interested might have heard of the theft already -- I wonder if someone is trying to put together a collection without having to do any work! The incident also smacks of betrayal of personal trust, which is even worse.

For Walter's post, and his pictures of the trees, please go to Walter's own blog post.

A Japanese maple was stolen from a gentleman named Johann Kastner, also in Germany, about the same time.

It is unlikely that any of these trees will show up on this side of the Atlantic, tho not impossible. In any event, the more people who know about this, worldwide, the harder it will be for the thief/thieves to move or to dispose of the trees, without getting caught.

Once the culprit is caught, then, we tie him to a post, give Walter a very dull set of pruners, and walk away!

:-(  :-(  :-(

"I rose, and found the shining dew ..."

     (With thanks to Robert Louis Stevenson.)

     This morning I made it up to the deck shortly after the sun was up. My attention was captured by the dewdrops on the leaves of one of my willow-leaf figs (Ficus salicaria:) they caught the sunlight in a way that was simultaneously subtle and fascinating. I hope you enjoy these pictures, even tho I admit they can't do full

Bonsai and Good Food; "What Could Be Finer?"

Dick, Jeff, Murph and Ed discuss one of Dick's pines.

    I think all the members of the Fort Wayne Bonsai Club look forward to our annual picnic. It's always a great time with plenty of delicious food, plants and pots and bonsai paraphernalia for sale, and a few hours enjoying the company of others who also think that, yes, fertilizer regimens and techniques to encourage back-budding are fascinating topics of conversation, thank you! This year and last, we have been joined by some members of the Michiana Bonsai Study Group in Elkhart. They're always welcome!

The club provides the meat, prepared by Jerry Kittle, our all-around man-behind-the-scenes. The rest of the food is carried in, and since we have some fine cooks among our members, there's always plenty and it's always plenty good.

Elevation, Light, and Bonsai

     By elevation, I mean altitude, elevation above sea level. At first there would seem to be little connection between altitude above sea level and bonsai care; but in fact there is something to keep in mind. (Actually, two "somethings;" but I'm focusing on just one here.)

Sun Screen, RPF (Root Protection Factor) 98.

     If you've been in bonsai for very long at all, you've heard and read warnings about allowing pots to get too hot. For any who don't know, a hot container means a hot root run: the heat is absorbed into the soil, and with the limited amount of soil in a bonsai pot, the temperature quickly climbs. Roots are not designed to resist heat like the above-ground parts of a tree; they're meant to live in the cooler environment of the soil. A dark-colored pot in direct sun, on a hot summer day, can easily get hot enough for root tips next to the pot's interior wall to be killed.