Author: Katlin Mulligan

Littleleaf LindenLittleleaf linden is a European relative of American basswood (Tilia americana) that is widely planted in the United States. Leaves are simple, alternate, and dark green. They are smaller than the leaves of American basswood, but are also heart-shaped with finely toothed margins. Flowers are very similar to American basswood, with clusters of 5-11 small, yellow-green blooms and similar colored bracts. Female flowers develop into winged nutlets that fall from the tree midsummer.Honey bees are very attracted to littleleaf linden flowers, and linden honey can be high value.…

EUROPEAN OLIVE   photo by Larry Magee The olive is a tree commonly found in Mediterranean countries, with a long cultivation tradition and symbolic importance. Since the 4th millennium BC, it has been cultivated for its fruit.There are two commonly used Olive species in Europe for bonsai - the European Olive (Olea europea) and the Mallorcan Olive (Olea europea var. silvestris), commonly referred to as Ullastre. The standard European Olive has heavy, hard deadwood and slightly large leaves, whereas the Mallorcan Olive has much more striated deadwood and incredibly…