Yearly Archives: 2023

THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH Outdoor: Protect trees from freezing winds that can dry buds and twigs. Water if the soil becomes dry. Trees wintered outdoors should be watered during snowless and sunny or windy periods. Do not fertilize. Trim off obvious dieback. Ventilate enclosures when the outdoor temperature is 40 F or higher. Prepare for repotting season by acquiring new pots and soil supplies. Take notice of trees in nature and note their shapes and branch structures. These observations can be used when shaping trees later in the…

Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) This deciduous tree is native to northern China and can grow over sixteen feet tall. (Samson, 96) In winter, bright yellow flowers appear on bare branches between January and March, followed by tiny dark green leaves. (Tomlinson, 74) Style: Informal Upright, Slanted, Cascade, Semi-cascade, Root Over Rock, Exposed Root, Clump, Multi-trunk. Summer Placement:  Place in a sunny position but keep shaded from the full summer sun. Winter Placement:  Protect from hard frosts. Watering: Daily in summer. Keep moist at all times. Feeding: Two to three times…

President's Letter for February 2023 Off to a Great Start for 2023! Our first General Membership Meeting is set for February 1st. We will view and discuss the comments, suggestions, and criticisms of the trees entered in the Morton Arboretum Destination Asia Festival show last August. Our guest artist for the event was Chris Baker, the curator of the Chicago Botanic Garden bonsai collection. I had never been present for the review of the displayed trees before, and I was not sure what to expect. I was struck by…