Baby Groot Gets Styled

The last two months have been an extremely busy bonsai time.  Classes, workshops, meetings, display set up, plants 'waking up' from winter, and digging up new plants~ while working around wild temperature swings, rain, and some personal stuff going down.

My favorite workshop was a styling session for a bald cypress (one of the bonsai species I like best).

It was held at the home of my mentor John W.  His house is around 150 years old and has been in his family for generations!

Here we are discussing what I want to do with this tree.  (I bought it at an online auction.  I got an incredible deal because of the time of year - December.  Folks just weren't doing much tree buying then.)  The tree has a feature that I just love!

Since it is such a tender baby AND because I learn best by watching then doing; John did most of the wiring this time.

In progress.

Now do you see why I started calling it "Baby Groot"?

And in this photo you can see the reason I bought this particular tree... it already has a really cool 'knee'!

More wiring...

And it's done!

See how all those branches that were sticking straight up are now a lovely 'mature' shape?

A bit closer.

John and I are talking about the possibility that it might be show ready by July.  So I've picked up a nice pot and this week I will repot it.  (You have to wait 6 weeks after styling to fool around with it again.)

A Grumpy Bird Waiting For Spring

I think this little Yellow Throated Warbler is just as tired of the cold weather as I am!

Photos for April

Spring is TRYING to 'spring', even tho last night got down to 27*F.

Tired

Memory Lane: Cars

I'm working on a memory book project about things that have gone obsolete in my lifetime.  So much fun that I've decided to share some.

Do you remember...

... Steering wheel knobs?

My grandpa had one on his car.

... Rolling down (or up) your window?

... the vent window.

I miss these!!  You could really pull the air (and an occasional bug) into the car.  And the frame was the perfect place to rest your hand.

... the dimmer switch on the floor.

... manual pull-up locks.

... lap belts.

... cigarette ash trays.

A perfect place to hide stuff.

... curb feelers AND white wall tires.

I hated white walls because it was my job to keep them clean.

... AM only radio.

... 8 track stereo.  

... two keys for your car.

... stick shift on the column.

Yes, I have driven one and still can!

... a large rear window dash.

Like this boy, I thought it was a prime napping spot.

... soda can holder.

... the gas crisis.  

Seriously... in 1973 and 1979 OPEC cut off oil and gas was hard to come by~ at any price!

... when the speed limit dropped to 55 miles per hour.

In 1974 President Nixon dropped the national speed limit to help save fuel.

... gas station air hoses.

The air pressure of a car running over them rang a bell inside the station to let the attendant know there was a customer outside (most gas stations also had a garage).

... a gas station service attendant.

He'd pump your gas, wash ALL your windows, check the oil level, and check the tire pressure... at no charge!

I had forgotten about that!  Your hands would get SO dirty.  Bleh!

And Then There's That...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

My St Patrick wish?

To have six weeks of Spring!  (Not 2 winters and straight into summer as we did last year.)

(White clover... the South's answer to shamrocks!)