by Sandy Racinski
(modeled after Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s ‘How Do I Love Thee? Let me count the ways…”

How do I love trees? Let me count the ways.
I love trees to the depth and breadth and height
Their trunks can reach, when climbing out of sight.
For the ends of Time and ideal Place.
I love trees to the level of everyday’s
Most quiet garden, by sun and moonlight.
I love trees freely, as men strive for Might;
I love trees purely, as they turn toward Sun.
I love trees with the passion put to use
In their old limbs, and with my childhood vigor.
I love trees with a love I seemed to lose
With their old leaves, —I love trees with the bark,
knots, jin, shari, of all my cuts! —and, if Master choose,
I shall but love trees better after Winter.

Share on Facebook

If you are in Florida in November, come take a safari with Orlando Bonsai to the Melbourne Zoo. We are one of the vendors mentioned in the announcement the Brevard Zoo posted on their web site :

November 17 – 18 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bonsai Weekend, hosted by the Bonsai Society of Brevard, will be held November 17 – 18 in the Nyami Nyami River Lodge. Bonsai is the artistic miniaturization of trees, woody, or semi-woody plants shaped as trees, by growing them in small containers. The art of bonsai became a part of the Japanese culture when China invaded Japan in the 14^th century and its popularity spread to the United States after World War II. The exhibit features more than 60 trees, demonstrations on how to care for bonsai, and vendors will also be on-site selling bonsai trees and related materials. This exhibit is free with Zoo admission and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We will be there in person selling our wares, admiring the bonsai displayed in the permanent exhibit and enjoying the special bonsai events and, of course, the animals and the zoo. Come join us!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The weather has been beautiful here for bonsai gardeners.  Well, if you ignore the winds and rain from Hurricane Sandy.  I hope the storm is not too harsh as it goes up the eastern seaboard.  It’s knocked a few bonsai over here but no damage, thankfully.  The temperature was actually cool this evening.  The bonsai seem to be enjoying it too!  Buds and pink flowers abound on my camellia, the Chinese hat plant is in bloom and some of the bougainvillea are still sporting flowers. All of the bonsai know that fall is here and winter is around the corner!

As always, be sure to look for updates on our Facebook page.

Share on Facebook

So I thought I’d share with all of you what I have in my Bonsai Tool bag. Many of these tools are used quite frequently, and some have been there in a pinch. However all of them have come in handy at one time or another.

The bag I use is one that I found at a local home improvement store. I liked that it was an open design and had a solid structure.

Most important to me are the side pouches. These are useful for a number of reasons. First is that it is easy to see the tools you have to work with without having to take them out. Secondly they are easy to grab when you are working on a tree. Lastly, is that the tools can dry after being used so that they don’t rust. I do dry my tools with a towel when I use them, but this allows for additional air drying to occur.

My most used (and some of the more expensive tools) are the Root cutter and Large Knob Cutter. Both very large and very heavy tools. Its nice to be able to get to them quickly. Also shown is a stainless steel brush, Nylon brush, root hook, and two rolls of wire (probably 1.5mm and 2.0mm).

From this angle you can see my camera (a nice camera that STAYS IN THE BAG), cut paste, root sickle, and chop sticks.

My most expensive tools (and my favorites) reside in a leather tool roll inside my tool bag. Most of the time I use my other tools. However if I am working on something special or participating in a workshop I bring these out.

All of these tools are available at Orlando Bonsai, and I really do use them. I hope you found this interesting and useful.

Share on Facebook