In my last post I said this: “The last push of sugar the tree pushes for preperation for winter is used to produce the next years crop of buds and it is this over abundance of sugar that makes the trees turn color. The better and more brilliant the Fall color, the better the crop […]

2018 I purchased this tree from a vendor at the 2018 Shohin Seminar. I have no idea why I bought it, because the branching on it was terrible and the trunk seemed fat so I’m sure that things look better at the show than they do when you get home and the excitement wear off. […]

2014 I became friends with Yoshio Fujimoto thru my association with the Akatsuki Bonsai Club and becoming a member. Yosh had invited me out to his ranch many times but work was always in the way with many things keeping me busy on weekends. One weekend in 2014 Chuck Nelson, also a Akatsuki member met […]

‘Kandy Kitchen’ was found as a witches broom in Pennsylvania by Joe Stupka of Stupka Nursery in the late 1990’s. This small upright shrub like tree boasts a wide array of colors, appearing first cherry red but then as the older leaves darken to maroon, new more pink leaves emerge at the tips. Intensely red […]

With El Nino the rain has come and the cool nights and warm days have been great for fall color. My maple is ablaze right now and while it may get better, it is always safe to take an early picture just in case the wind comes up and blows all the leaves off.   […]

It seems that the discussion forums are ablaze with how to do certain things to maples. I have read that pruning diciduous trees can be done in the fall and winter and also pruned in the spring and summer. The fact is this is true all year round. I have also been reading a lot […]

The weather turned cold again and everything slowed down. Many things that were already on the move stopped completely allowing Al to have a little more time. Most of the stuff I have done this week were things that could make it another year before repotting. Some of them were junipers that I always repot […]

2020 Make no mistake about it, I love Shohin Bonsai. My love for the trees has spilled over into the flowering world. This year I have included Crape Myrtle, Pomegranate and now Bougainvillea into the mix. I had not considered flowering species in the past due to the heat here , but now with retirement […]

2020 Make no mistake about it, I love Shohin Bonsai. My love for the trees has spilled over into the flowering world. This year I have included Crape Myrtle, Pomegranate and now Bougainvillea into the mix. I had not considered flowering species in the past due to the heat here , but now with retirement […]

2015 This purchase came by way of my good friend George Muranaka. when I go to the coast for relaxation, sometimes I will make an appointment with George to come by the nursery and see what’s new. That seems to always turn into a purchase or two. Though this was to be a Shohin sized […]