Text Box: Southern Bonsaist Text Box: Building a bonsai at any stage requires the builder to be able to see the completed design in their mind, add or subtract elements that are needed or not needed. This skill is born with some people, learned over time with some people and impossible for some people. When you are new at bonsai you can have this skill but not the experience to use it with bonsai. Thanks to the internet , books on bonsai at the library, magazines and bonsai show and bonsai meeting learning how to see bonsai is easier than ever. Text Box: Working with a experienced bonsai artist and asking lots and lots of questions like, why do you do that, could you do this, is this possible, what happens if you do this is a great way to develop a great eye for design. You can ask these question about any bonsai at any stage of development. Drawing , even a very simple drawing is one of the best ways to develop a great eye for bonsai. Now many people can draw fast so it tends to make you slow down the thinking process, think in a logical manner, moving from one point to another and thinking about how you get there. Text Box: When you draw you can add, subtract, move elements with ease. You can’t kill a drawing so it’s very plant friendly. It takes a bit of time, talent, a computer and a good photo program but digital design is a great way to play “what if” and it is also the most accurate. You use a photograph of tree so the size and shape are true. This is also a lot of fun. You can print out the designs and have a blueprint of to follow. It’s not as much fun as working on a real bonsai but …..almost. Knowing where you want to go helps a lot. Joe Day Text Box: The ground will still be warm if the cold comes without much previous cold weather. Bonsai placed on the ground where the wind will not directly blow on them will do just fine. Two or three feet above the ground the air temperature on a night when the weather people say it will be about 26 degrees will usually stay above freezing. It will be cold, to a person, but to the bonsai it is just a sign that they Text Box: What happens if weather suddenly turns cold, around freezing some time in October? Your bonsai will still most probably be green with a bit of new growth on some species. Sudden cold snaps in October usually come with winds and low humidity cold northern air. The wind and low humidity are the big problem. The wind and low humidity will dry the tender growth quickly killing the tender parts of the tree. Text Box: need to start going dormant. Tropical need to be inside any time the weather people say it will go below 40 degrees. They wouldn’t need to be in a heated area but an area out of the cold, dry wind. Over protecting your bonsai and now allowing them to let the cool temps send them into dormancy is dangerous to the trees. More about this next month. Joe Day Text Box: Page # Text Box: Tips on making moss for spring Text Box: It’s not what you see but how you see Text Box: Reacting to the early cold snap Text Box: Place the moss in a pan of rich potting mix type soil. Space out the moss with some space between the new thin pieces . Over the winter the moss should cover the total surface of the pan. Don’t be shy with the space between the thin pieces. Allow it space to grow and you can have plenty of moss to Text Box: make those show bonsai into show stopper bonsai. Try to find as many different types of moss and you can and start plenty of pans. Bonsai look best with more than one type moss on the surface. Swap some with your bonsai friends who didn’t make that fantastic find of great moss. Joe Day Text Box: Find some good velvet moss. Our sidewalks around town usually have a nice velvet moss. Dig it with care to get some nice lumps. Take the lumps home. Put the lumps between some clear wrap. Take a rolling pin and press down hard and roll the moss out as thin as you can get it. It should expand several times it’s original size. Text Box: