Marty,
Your point is well taken. Many of us have used marginally hardy trees,
typically non natives to our areas for bonsai. Only to re-learn the lesson
that the trees that survive the best in your area are already there. They
are the native trees that have grown there over many thousands of years and
adapted to the climates wild swings.
I found this out in yet another way when I visited an experimental arboretum
in Washington last year.
Briefly the trees that survived the best were the ones that were native to
the arboretum. Trees of the same species from just hundreds of miles away
did not survive equally well. For more details you look at my web site at
http://www.bonsaihunk.8m.com/info/Bo...heLongRun.html
By growing non-natives for bonsai we are likely to find out that many trees
that work well for bonsai will die in the long run. Of course we may also
discover that some trees used for bonsai are just survivors and will do well
in many climates.
Jerry Meislik
Whitefish Montana USA
Zone 4-5
http://www.bonsaihunk.8m.com/
This past winter has taught us about the vagaries of our "zones of hardiness".
The zone chart only tells us what to expect as the average lows; not the
absolute lows.
Those of us who have been dabbling with marginal trees have learned that
lesson the hard way this year. One of my most prized specimens, a Chinese
holly, which I've grown as an espalier for 20 years, was lost. It's neighbor
of the same species, which had the protection of a north wall, survived
without the loss of a single branch. This experience taught me what
marginality really means.
Marty
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