bonsai-apprentice

This bonsai-blog will document my activities as an apprentice to Brent Walston at evergreengardenworks bonsai nursery in Kelseyville California

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Name: Robert Potts
Location: Santa Cruz, California, United States

Full time physician, former part time bonsai apprentice. Married, 2 kids. 1 dog, 1 cat, 1 fish. over 150 bonsai trees.

Monday, April 18, 2005

Apprenticeship Sessions 9-12: Time Flies When You are Having Fun

OK, I've really gotten behind here. I appologize again to those of you who have been checking in on a regular basis. I'm going to try to do better.

As I mentioned previously, in March we were doing "rescue work." When Brent moved his nursery, alot of his trees were placed into a holding area to be sorted through later. Well, 3 years later and we are just getting started on the sorting. Many of these trees had become quite pot bound during that time. Other had their roots escape into the ground and grow like crazy. Some had gotten burned by the sun. Some had gotten shaded by the trees around them. So basically, what we were doing was pulling out trees, repotting them, and getting them into the shade houses for recovery. We actually managed to save the majority of the trees we pulled out. Some had really gained interesting character from those years of benign neglect. There are still ALOT of plants in that section. I have a feeling the rescue work will continue for years to come.

We got alot done in the sessions, and I took some pics. Unfotuantely, I cannot seem to find my camera. I think I left it in my car, which is in the shop getting a tune up. I will be picking it up this evening, so hopefully I will soon be able to add some photos and descriptions of what we did. Check back later this week.

Tuesday, April 05, 2005

1000 pardons

I must apologize - it's been 3 weeks since I updated my bonsai blog. Things have been pretty crazy at my real job, so I have not had the time/energy to sit down and write up the last several sessions. We've been working on what Brent calls rescue work - taking trees that have been neglected for the last few years and whipping them back into shape. Alot of repotting, root pruning, top pruning (especially removal of die-back areas). Fortunately, it looks like most of 'em are going to make it. Some have even become more interesting due to the years of "benign neglect." Sometimes it's good to leave the trees alone for awhile.

Hopefully I will get some pics together tonight and post 'em up.

Thanks to all those who have sent me emails and left comments here. Your feedback is appreciated.