Herself’s Houston Garden

1. Bonsai literally translates to tree in a pot.

2. There are 4000 year old paintings in Egypt showing bonsai.  2000 years ago bonsai shows up in Chinese paintings, 1400 years ago it shows up in Japanese art.  100 years ago bonsai makes a small appearance in London, then after WWII it shows up in the US.

3. In China bonsai often depict entire scenes, where as in Japanese bonsai it is typically one plant.

4. Shallow pots are typically used both for appearance, so you can see some of the roots and because it is easier to maintain soil moisture evenly.

5. There are many, many styles of bonsai including: Chokkan ( straight trunk tree); Fukinagashi ( wind swept); Netsurianai ( roots grow together); Ishkizuki ( with rocks ); Kengai ( cascade);  Yoseue ( group planting ); Bunkingi ( stressed ).

6. Some good choices to try to use for bonsai include: figs, crapes, junipers, azaleas.  Pines are more difficult, but if you want a pine find a short needled pine. Also consider trying to start with a cutting from a local tree or dig up a sapling.

7. Bonsais must be pruned and shaped frequently. Find some short edged tools to make it easier to get in tight spaces with out damaging other branches.

8. Soil should be well drained and course.  Your bonsai soil should get dry enough to need watering daily.

9. Spidermites can be a problem, Merit is the recommended systemic insecticide.

10. We have a very active Bonsai Society in Houston that meets at the Houston Garden Center the first Wed of each month at 7 pm.

The Houston Orchid Show was even better than last year’s show. If you get a chance to go out this afternoon or tomorrow it’s worth the trip. There were lots of orchids to see and buy that I hadn’t seen, and didn’t yet own.

Now I’m taking the laptop out back to figure out what to do with them all.

While this isn’t something I can grow in my yard it is such an unusual plant I had to find out what it was and research it.

These lotus ( Nelumbo lutea ) are common at Brazo’s Bend Park every summer. I always feel as if I’ve wandered into the land of the lost when I see them. Notice the unusual center? This distinctive flat topped seed holder is what tells you it is not a water lily.

They grow in water as deep as 8′ and the stems each have a single round leaf up to 2′ in diameter. The flowers are about 10″ across and the largest of all flowers in North America.

More information:
Floridata: Nelumbo lutea
Directions for planting Lotus