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Gardening
| Bonsai can be challenging, yet rewarding experience  Most cultivars of evergreen euonymus exhibitsome degree of variegated foliage. The shrubscan be formally sheared individually or grownas a hedge. By Tony Tomeo My favorite event at the 1998 Kitsap CountyFair in Washington was actually the freeSteppenwolf concert. Of course, thehorticultural exhibits were also interesting,particularly the bonsai exhibit. However, theresults were too predictable. My father brought home most of the ribbonsfor a few of the specimens he grew at hisnursery, Tomeo Nursery, in Poulsbo, Wash.(Bonsai, incidentally, is pronounced"bone-sigh" in Japanese. "Banzai" is anirrelevant exclamation that will cause bonsaiartists to cringe!) My father, who is not a careerhorticulturist, established the nursery about12 years ago. The majority of production isbonsai stock, which is basic seedlings orcuttings with which bonsai artists begintheir work. Many other specimens in variousphases of development are also available,including some very mature specimens. To meit seems that production of bonsai stock issimilar to the production of otherhorticultural crops. Bonsai specimens,however, cannot be grown in crops, butrequire intense and individual attention. Bonsai is one of the ultimate forms ofhorticulture, as well as a highly refined andintricate art form. The word "bonsai" means"tree in a dish," a reference to the shallowcontainers in which the specimens aregrown - often for centuries. Manipulation ofthe natural behavior of the specimens allowsthem to exhibit characteristics of maturitywithout attaining mature size. In smallgardens or even home interiors, bonsai canportray large trees or trees growing wild ina forest. Although bonsai specimens do not necessarilyrequire much care, they do requirespecialized care. Bonsai procedures areeasily learned but may present challenges fornovice garden enthusiasts. The intricatepruning and grooming requirements are themost obvious of these specialized procedures. Because the root systems are confined tosmall dishes for long periods of time,occasional root pruning is also necessary tominimize circling of roots. Confinement ofthe root systems necessitates specializedirrigation. Because evapotranspiration(evaporation of moisture from foliarsurfaces) from the disproportionate foliararea can rapidly dry soil, frequentirrigation may be necessary. Soil mustconsequently be well-drained but also exhibitadequate moisture retention. To avoiddisturbing the soil, which is usually deeperthan the rim of the dish, the entire dish maybe briefly soaked in a larger container ofwater almost as deep as the dish, but onlyuntil the soil is saturated. There are many more aspects of bonsai thatcannot be adequately discussed in suchminimal space. For example, the selection ofdishes for the appropriate display of eachspecimen is very important. Likewise, thestructure (shape) of each specimen isdetermined by specifications for each form ofbonsai. Bonsai is an ancient art form that has beenenjoyed by many garden enthusiasts forseveral centuries. Proficiency comes withexperience and education, but perfection isnever attained. The therapeutic qualities ofbonsai seem contradictory to the slowgratification, which may take several decadesor multiple generations. It is definitely ahorticultural experience like no other. Shrub of the Week: Evergreen Euonymus Box-leaf euonymus is one of the two dwarfcultivars of evergreen euonymus, Euonymusjaponica, commonly used for bonsai. Theother dwarf is nearly identical but exhibitsspotty white variegation. Otherwise, thevarious cultivars of evergreen euonymus maybe eight feet tall and six feet wide, withone- to two-inch long glossy, round leaves.It is rarely available without variegation,yet quite common with edged or blotchedvariegation of bright yellow, pale yellow,pale white or silvery white. Powdery mildew is often a problem in humidenvironments, especially if the air is notwell-circulated. Scale or mites may alsobecome a problem, but healthier specimens arenot as susceptible to infestation. Full sunexposure and regular irrigation arepreferred, but established specimens cantolerate considerable shade and minimalirrigation, as well as heat and dense (notsaturated) soil. Evergreen euonymus is one ofthe few species that is appealing whenformally sheared, and it adapts well tohedging. Some cultivars are easilyobtainable, but it is unlikely that anynursery would market a majority of the manycultivars available. Horticulturist Tony Tomeo can becontacted at 408-358-2574 or at |
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