Address
Huntsville Botanical Garden
4747 Bob Wallace Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35805
Living Art Bonsai Society
LivingArt.HSV@gmail.com
Back in the Swing of things….
Living Arts Bonsai Society
Volunteers at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens
Being part of the community, our club members volunteer to help get the bonsai and train area back in shape.
A Message from Our President Mr. Terry
We move into October, and trees begin to detect the onset of fall. Amazingly plants are aware of the season. As soil temperatures drop and the amount of daily sun is reduced our tree chemicals move and soon leaves will drop, roots will begin to store nutrients for spring growth. During the strong growth season, we fertilize every three to four weeks with a balanced fertilizer 10-10-10 etc. As we move into fall (those that fertilize into the fall and winter) should reduce nitrogen and use a 0-10-10 low nitrogen fertilizer. We have earlier discussed how winter freezes damage tender foliage, and as nitrogen encourages foliage growth a reduction is logical. Roots continue to grow through the winter and store nutrients thus some continue the late feeding of 0-10-10.
Enjoy the interesting art of Bonsai. Watching trees closely as they grow will teach us much about their needs. Search the internet, read articles here, better still join a local bonsai group. Most of all enjoy your trees.
Phil Terry
President LABS
Upcoming Events or Workshops
18 Oct 25
LABS Monthly Meeting & Workshop
Location: Huntsville Botanical Garden
4747 Bob Wallace Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35805
Time: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
New Monthly meeting location
* Presentation by Phil Terry on Multi-Trunk designs
* Work on trees
Here are directions to the meeting room called Volunteer Classroom:
The Linda J. Smith Building is located to the right of the Guest Center. Drive straight to the Guest Center, take your first right in the traffic circle, and park in the parking lot (Dogwood Lot on the map) at the top of the hill. Go to the red brick building with the wooden ramp in front of it next to the pavilion. When you walk up the ramp, the volunteer classroom is the door on the right.
24 & 25 Oct 25
John Walker Workshop
Location: Huntsville Botanical Garden
4747 Bob Wallace Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35805
Time: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Bring your own tree workshops with John Walker.
Workshops “pre-registration” is required
* Work on trees during workshop
Here are directions to the meeting room called Volunteer Classroom:
The Linda J. Smith Building is located to the right of the Guest Center. Drive straight to the Guest Center, take your first right in the traffic circle, and park in the parking lot (Dogwood Lot on the map) at the top of the hill. Go to the red brick building with the wooden ramp in front of it next to the pavilion. When you walk up the ramp, the volunteer classroom is the door on the right.
Current Trees that you may find in our collections
BOXWOOD
Boxwood (Buxus) are very robust and can grow even on barren ground, in fu ll sun or shade. As boxwoods tolerate constant trimming very well and can bud from old wood, they are very well suited for bonsai.
CYPRESS
One of the best bonsai trees for beginners is the Bald Cypress, or Taxodium distichum. A member of the Redwood family, Taxodiaceae, it is a primary tree species & can reach heights of 100-120′ with a trunk diameter typically between 3-5′.
AZALEA
Azaleas can be trained for either flowers or bonsai but not really for both. Azaleas trained primarily for flowers usually have a shrubby appearance – Azaleas bloom in various colors and are an ideal species for bonsai.
ELM
The Chinese elm is a very popular choice of Bonsai for beginners, as it is a strong tree that reacts well to pruning and can be kept outdoors as well as indoors. The fine ramification, tiny leaves and beautiful bark are characteristics most loved for this tree species.
Kingsville Boxwood
Buxus Microphylla Forest
Style: Rock Over Rock
Age: 8 years
In Training: 3 years
Bald Cypress
Taxodium distictum
Style: Formal Upright
Age: 18 years
In Training: 13 years
Satsuki Azalea
Rhododendrum indicum
Style: Informal Upright
Age: 40 years
In Training: 30 years
Lacebark Elm
Ulmus parvifolia
Style: Informal Upright
Age: 100+ years
In Training: 100+ years
our History in view
A Peek at Our Little Trees
-
- Kingsville Boxwood Buxus Microphylla Forest Style: Rock Over Rock Age: 8 years In Training: 3 years
-
- 202Black Pine Pinus Thunbergii Style: Slant Age: 3 years In Training: 3 years1 Rhododendrum Indicum
-
- 2022 Taxodium Distichum
