Spring Weekend Fun

[Marsman]

I had fun with my daughter making up some more soil, grinding down the orchid mix to combine with Turface and lava rocks. She's a great help and I'm so happy she's interested in working with me on my trees. She's 8 and has really shown a great aptitude for the hobby. She knows the different types of trees I have and even comes up with unique names for them.

We potted up two trees this weekend, a boxwood and an azalea. The boxwood turned out to be a bit too big for the pot, but I had already picked out the roots and had to do something with it. So I put in in the biggest, deepest pot I had and covered the protruding roots with moss. I think it looks like a wind-swept tree on a hill. The moss I used was from my yard and I need to take some time to remove the sparse grass growing in it.

[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Boxwood/?action=view&current=fd2ffb93.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Boxwood/th_fd2ffb93.jpg[/img][/url]

The azalea turned out nicely. It too sits high in it's pot, but I love the nebari and wanted to show it off. The moss needs to be cleaned up as well. After the buds have bloomed out, I'm going to trim the tree down closer to the trunks.

[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Azalea/?action=view&current=77038587.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/Azalea/th_77038587.jpg[/img][/url]

Pictures were taken with my iPhone, so they aren't the clearest. I'll shoot some better ones with my Nikon once I clean up the moss.

[url=https://s956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/?action=view&current=821e9064.jpg][img]https://i956.photobucket.com/albums/ae50/marsman61/Bonsai/th_821e9064.jpg[/img][/url]

[djlen]

They both look as if they will be interesting subjects. I'd especially like to see the Azalea when it blooms.
I've got a couple in the cold frame that are in full bloom but I'm afraid to bring them out because it's too early in the season.
They have had sparse blooms all Winter and bloom many times over the summer. We got them as gifts with plant baskets and they are different than all the others we've got planted in the ground around the house.
I'm wondering if you've ever had Azalea like this. I'm told that they need Winter protection and we give it to them in the cold frame.

[Marsman]

Mine has been out in the ground all winter, covered in snow.

[applestar]

I think you're talking about the ones called Indian Azalea. Some years ago, I was given one as a gift basket flower as well. At the time I didn't take the time to find a way to overwinter it and it died indoors, but I remember it was not hardy to Zone 6... maybe up to Zone 7 or 8.

I'm ground layering some branches of my native azaleas. Can they be grown as Bonsai or with the typical long internodes, are they not good subjects?

Marsman, it's so sweet that your daughter is taking interest in your hobby. At that age, she's going to just soak it all up!

[Bonsai Nutcase]

Hey, Mars! I would love to see that Azalea when it's blooming! I am also waiting to prune mine until it blooms, I just can't bring myself to cut those buds off!