JUNE NEWSLETTER

Michael's Back from the West Coast:    NEW ARRIVALS ! ! !

I have been traveling the last two weeks and it sure feels good to be back at the nursery.
Everything in New England seems to be so lush compared to the rest of the country.

Roger and I arrived back at the nursery on Tuesday. Our truck was filled from floor to ceiling with three layers of bonsai and stock plants. It was an unbelievably successful trip. We brought back hundreds of one-of-a-kind trees from over ten nurseries including two of my 'old time' Japanese nurseries that were selling their collections. We have never had this many trees arrive at one time!

We started in San Francisco and visited ten nurseries between Mendocino, Monterey and Sacramento before returning home (there was no more room in our truck!)

The drive across country was beautiful, but the excitement for me was the time spent in each of these nurseries.

Between all the stops I was able to assemble a complete and very exciting selection of new and unusual trees for sale. It includes some very old junipers and pines.
On the last Saturday in May I was in Oakland during their Bonsai societies' annual Satsuki Azalea show.
It was there that I met an azalea bonsai specialist who also invited me to visit his home to view his collection.
I was very pleased to be able to acquire over 150 small very well trained azalea in several different sizes, including many exotic species.

I know (and many of you know as well..... ) that I could go on and on about my trip, about the whale I saw leaping in the ocean off Bodega Bay, the hundreds of seals and sea lions, the beautiful mountains, the ocean, the old gold-mining country east of Sacramento where so many Japanese settled at the turn of the century, (and where I have such fond memories of my years buying bonsai from old farmers) - but instead I just want to invite you to come out and see the trees. You are guaranteed to go home with a nice one, and a piece of history as well.

And for all you bonsai students and artists: Most of these trees are old raw material with fantastic potential. Excellent for long term projects and master classes.

Rodney Clemons, visiting Bonsai Artist

Sunday June 14th: Rodney Clemons

Rodney is an accomplished bonsai teacher from Atlanta Ga.
He is a great bonsai designer as well as Japanese garden landscaper. He has been studying Bonsai for years, his teachers include the late master John Naka.
As a long time resident of the South East, Rodney brings an interesting perspective to the Massachusetts bonsai community.

Free and open to all!
We're going to put Rodney to the test with our "Stump the Chump" Event

1:30pm: Stump the Chump
Bring one or two of your trees for an informal educational critique.
The name may sound corny but from my experience this is an excellent format for a bonsai event.
It's educational and motivational for spectator and tree-owner alike.
Rodney will use his horticultural and artistic knowledge to give guidance and direction for the future development of your trees.

I find that way too often bonsai demonstrations concentrate more on design rather than on education.
This event will allow a free flow of ideas and a great opportunity to pick up a few tips from a great bonsai artist and educator.
Bring your trees in for a free critique!

NOTE: If you are planning on participating please come about 15 minutes early so we could check your trees in!
Rodney will choose several - or all, depending on the time - and give us some honest and educational in-depth problem solving advice.

Bonsai Chores and Tips for Early Summer

Watering and Fertilizing are two things that you should be most concerned about for these months.
We have been fertilizing frequently and watering well to promote vigorous growth.

For all of you indoor bonsai gardeners: do consider putting your trees outdoors this summer, you will be amazed by how much better they will do because of the increased sun and ventilation and just all around better natural conditions.
If you decide to do this start by placing your trees in the shade and gradually move them into the sun over a period of weeks. But bee aware that trees that grow outdoors will need more water then ones grown indoors.

Insects:

Some people tell me that they are worried about insects when the trees are outdoors: this is nothing to worry about!
When trees are healthy they are less likely to be attacked by insects - and since the outdoors promotes tree health, they are actually more prone to insect infestations when grown indoors.

The common insects for you to be on the lookout for are scale, mealy bugs and aphids.
All of these can be treated with over-the-counter insecticidal sprays and systemic insecticides.
We like to use an old-time all-purpose spray, Ced-o-Flora, that seems to work well on most insects.

If you do have an insect problem, be sure that you apply several sprays over a period of 2-3 weeks in order to kill all the bugs and their newly hatched eggs.

Fungus:

Fungus is another common problem with bonsai in the spring.
Black Spot will attack elms during this rainy season, and also powdery mildew will attack apple trees and other fruit trees.

There has been an increase in the probability of getting apple cedar rust on your junipers in the New England because of the proximity of apple trees (which are the host for this blight) growing near junipers.
While we have been able to control many of these problems in the past without chemical sprays, it is important for you to know that fungus is a problem not to be ignored.
Your local garden center has many products for sale and there is a huge amount of information on-line about the various fungi and their cures.
If you have a problem please don’t hesitate to give us a call.

Pruning and Repotting

This is a much more pleasant topic than insects and fungus!
While it is a little too late for repotting your maples it is still a perfect time for re-potting junipers, azalea, and elms - not to mention you have the next two months to repot all of your tropicals.

Our "Get Wired!" workshops are a great time to get some of your trees re-potted.
(check out the Get Wired Schedule).
If you don’t have time to do it yourself of course you could bring your trees to us. Our service includes a month in the greenhouse to insure proper after-care.

Pruning your trees should be an on going project through the spring.
Over the years I have discovered that trees like to be pruned a little at a time instead of all at once.
This is especially true with candle-pinching on Black Pines.

Your trees are growing vigorously now. This time of year, I visit my trees every night with a pair of scissors at hand and often just cut one or two branch tips as I notice them in need of a 'hair cut'.
I find that this stimulates growth and creates vigorous growth.
Of course often we find one of our trees so overgrown that we need to cut it way back hard all at once to get some control, but in the case of a specimen tree always remember, "less is more".

Hope to see you all soon!!!

- - Michael

100 Great Rd (2A/119)
Littleton, MA 01460
9 7 8 - 4 8 6 - 3 5 5 6

Hours: Mon - Sat: 10 - 5; Sun: 10 - 5

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