Got Cabin Fever? Click Here!

[brewmeister83]

With sub zero temps and spring still 3 months away (at least for me, might be longer or shorter depending on where you are) some of us might be developing cabin fever via bonsai deprivation. To rectify this, I propose this thread to combat the effects of being stuck inside looking at a landscape of white instead of green.

So post something that can closely or remotely relate to bonsai, be it inspirational or informative - doesn't matter if it's art or science, gardening or history, horticulture or cultural. Let's get our minds occupied and our gears turning so when spring does finally hit we're off and running with heads full of knowledge, inspiration and ideas.



I'll go first - I've seen mention of this book in various other threads, so I did a little digging and found an easily accessible online version. It's not translated, but even if you can't read Chinese, the images are still inspiring - Mustard Seed Garden Manual:

http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/17617/Mustard_Seed_Garden_a_Chinese_Painters_Manual/index/0/

 

[lordy]

Pretty sure there is a tree in this photo...Come on summertime!

 

[Don Blackmond]

look closely there's a sunset....

 

[Poink88]

Cabin fever? Got sun burned working on my trees for almost 8 hours today.

 

[Cypress]

Cabin fever? Got sun burned working on my trees for almost 8 hours today.

Well, we don't all live in texas, now do we?

 

[Poink88]

Well, we don't all live in texas, now do we?

Yes and you will be glad come summer.

 

[Cypress]

Bonsai where you least expect it.

Woahhh look at all those trees!!!

This is a photo I took a few years ago while i was working for the BLM in the southern california desert, imperial valley area. Pretty bleak huh?

But check this out. You see all those little shrubs growing, those are creosote bushes. I did some searches for creosote bonsai a while ago because I was curious if anyone had ever attempted to work with one. Have only been able to find this one example:

This tree was initially styled by John Naka! And is owned by Max Miller. Makes you think... where else are potential bonsai hiding in plain sight?

Info page on the tree as well as another picture:
http://www.phoenixbonsai.com/Display/Creosote.html


PS. Creosote bush colonies in the southwest are widely recognized as some of the oldest living organisms in the world, The creosote bush "King Clone" in Mojave desert is estimated to be 11,700 years old! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Clone

 

[Cypress]

Also, if you're living in colorado maybe you could start developing one of these:

 

[brewmeister83]

Yes and you will be glad come summer.

Don't know, I might be up for some dry heat in the summer... It sure would beat the sticky, humid mess that we've had to deal with in place of summer the past couple years up here...

 

[Poink88]

Don't know, I might be up for some dry heat in the summer... It sure would beat the sticky, humid mess that we've had to deal with in place of summer the past couple years up here...

Austin, TX may be more humid than you think. Imagine 100+ temps and humid!?!?

 

[Paradox]

look closely there's a sunset....

Pretty sure that lake doesnt look like that right now if its in Michigan.

 

[Poink88]

BTW, temps here are dipping again down to 27 tomorrow (like late last week). This is not good for the plants which started sprouting already. I am bringing more and more plants in when we are getting these sporadic freezes.

 

[Cypress]

BTW, temps here are dipping again down to 27 tomorrow (like late last week). This is not good for the plants which started sprouting already. I am bringing more and more plants in when we are getting these sporadic freezes.

Ohh yikes, well it's only hitting -4 tonight here, haha.

 

[berobinson82]

I'll tell you what. Last year at this time it was so mild that I was collecting by now. Then in March we had a wicked cold snap and 4 inches fell out of the blue. So the trees were all pushing new growth and then shocked with freezing temperatures. I'll take the cold as long as when it's over, it's over!

 

[Poink88]

I'll take the cold as long as when it's over, it's over!

I agree.

 

[Paradox]

Yes, this yo-yo trip of 20 deg, 40 deg, 10 deg, 40 deg every few days is nuts. The back and forth between dormancy temps and above dormancy temps is a bit unsettling. Hope the trees get enough rest.

 

[brewmeister83]

Yes, this yo-yo trip of 20 deg, 40 deg, 10 deg, 40 deg every few days is nuts. The back and forth between dormancy temps and above dormancy temps is a bit unsettling. Hope the trees get enough rest.

Hell of a year to start bonsai... well, if I can get my trees to make it through this then I think I earned my newbie stripes. Now I just have to worry about my honeybees freezing solid... yikes

 

[Dav4]

I was repotting maples this time last years...today, it's 21 F this am and beginning to snow.
So, here are a few pictures that, due to the weather, show some very remotely bonsai related items.
First picture is of a bunch of Japanese maples that were supposed to be repotted or air layered sometime in February but now, we're shooting for before Memorial Day.
Next is a bunch of JBP that need wiring and repotting in colanders...again, shooting for Memorial Day
Last is some nice trident stump kindling...nothing lights quicker to get that fireplace fire going.

 

[Don Blackmond]

-15 F this morning here. that's crinkly cold. it beats 2 years ago when it was 80 in February, causing trees to bud, following by 16 hard freezes, causing buds to die.

 

[GrimLore]

Yes, this yo-yo trip of 20 deg, 40 deg, 10 deg, 40 deg every few days is nuts. The back and forth between dormancy temps and above dormancy temps is a bit unsettling. Hope the trees get enough rest.

Mine are all resting properly outside covered in snow, mulched in, and protected from wind. The temps are very cold with an occasional day in the 30's I have cabin fever because I have been indoors doing the reno since late November. Going to a concert with a bar in 2 weeks though in Reading PA though and I bet Moonspell, Leaves' Eyes, and Reverb will snap me out of it.

Grimmy