Thanks for the information! Actually, I've been playing with the idea of
trying to do a weeping willow as well. I figure the buggers are nearly
impossible to kill. I mean, you can stick a cutting in the ground and it'll
grow. Although, I'm not sure about how well it'll bonsai. Perhaps I should
find a 'real' bonsai tree and try that. One of the books I have suggests
that a laurel fig(ficus microcarpa) would be good for a beginner? The
picture of it in the book is very pretty, although I know that since it must
be an older plant, I won't get such lovely results right away. I think
perhaps I need to find my local bonsai shop or nursery or something.
Incidentally, when my room-mates heard I was interested in bonsai, they
purchased me a bonsai starter kit thingy that came with a pot and some tools
and a nearly useless instruction booklet(reading even the last few weeks of
this group has proved more educational!). Included in the kit is a coupon
for a free 5 year old tree. But...the tree is supposed to be shipped by
mail!?! Does anyone know about Toysmith's ability to deliver a live, viable
tree via the mail? It doesn't mention species. It just says 'bonsai tree'
which makes me wonder if it would be worth the postage to send in the
voucher...

--Joshua Hughes


Joshua,

I am in Oregon so I know how you feel about these
trees - and they are so tempting. But, after numerous tries,
even twice thinking I was going to make a success of it, I
have decided the time is best spent on collecting something
with more promise. We have so many choices in the NW. I
have heard claims of successes, but I don't know how long a
time that success is actually measured over. I have some
doubts. I am now inclined to spend more time looking for
larch, pine, and hemlock - all of which give me very good
responses. I think that vine maple which is collectible and
plentiful, too, is a better subject than madrona. In fact,
it is possible to find a vine maple almost naturally styled as
a literati, put it in a pot and enjoy it from the start.
Mainly I would say to collect something else at the same
time so your time will give you something to keep you company
while the madrona drives you crazy
Lynn
Lynn Boyd, Oregon, USA


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