23 September 2009

"German Bamboo"


"German Bamboo"

 Pogonatherum crinitum"German Bamboo"
"Bonsai Bamboo"
"Bamboo Grass"
Jin Si Cao
Jin Si Mao

Cat teasel, Salsola grass, fox tail,
pens to be grass, oxtail grass, Rattus grass.



A delicate grass with tiny, clumping erect Bamboo-like stalks, clothed with sea-green slim leaf blades. Fabulous when displayed as a bonsai.
Looks like bamboo, is called bamboo, but isn't.



"German Bamboo"
Dwarf form
 Give this Asian native a moist, but well drained soil. Needs a few hours a day of solar light. Fertilize periodically; in the spring use a fertilizer rich in nitrogen and potassium, to encourage the development of new vegetation and of flowerings. Selectively remove “culms” to keep this grass attractive and to encourage new shoots. Protect from Freezing.
Pogonatherum crinitum has long been used as a folk remedy for the treatment of many inflammatory diseases in Taiwan.







Bamboos Bamboo: Structure and Culture Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation

16 September 2009

Savannah RIVERKEEPER: Coastal Plain Meander

Savannah RIVERKEEPER: Coastal Plain Meander


7th Annual Coastal Plain Meander
sets sail October 2-5th
down the River from
Augusta to Savannah


The Island Explorer will carry her passengers
down the beautiful Savannah River,
where wildlife abounds and humans are few and far between.

09 September 2009

Brazilian Raintree Chloroleucon Tortum



Chloroleucon Tortum
Brazilian Rain Tree
Jurema

Family:
Mimosaceae
Genus:
Chloroleucon (klor-oh-LEH-oo-kon)
Species:
tortum (TOR-tum)
Synonym:
Pithecellobium tortum
Synonym:
Cathormion tortum
Synonym:
Feuilleea torta

This hardwood tree is native to Brazil, living along the coast between the coastal rainforests and the restingas. (Zone 11)

Brazilian Raintrees produce small white powder-puff blossoms which turn yellowish within a few days. These are followed by curly seed pods.

The leaves close at night or in subdued light and the tree looks dead, the next morning the leaves are open and the tree is alive.

Flattened "muscular" trunks and exfoliating bark, revealing the white inner bark, add an extra special interest to the tree.

This tree needs well drained soils with some organic matter, too much organic in the soil mix can create wet conditions which causes root rot, fungus and branch die-back. The sandy growing environment in Brazil demonstrates how well P. tortum tolerates dry conditions. If the soil does become too dry, the leaves will dry up and fall off; but in 2 weeks it buds out again. And by the 4th week the tree will be covered with new leaves and shoots!


“Clip and grow” is the best method to develop the raintree. Wire is rarely used on the delicate green branches. If you choose to wire, do so loosely or tie the branches down. Raintree branches tend to ‘die-back’ when pruned, so they should be flat cut, not concave cut.

Repot when the roots become pot bound. Repotting should be done in early to mid summer as soon as the low temperatures stay above 50° F and highs are above 90° F.
Fertilizing is also necessary. The Brazilian Raintree is a heavy feeder, fertilize during the growing season to keep your bonsai healthy. The Brazilian raintree is a member of the legume family.









This tree can be grown from cuttings and large branches can be air-layered- Kanjohakuhi -to form good small trees quickly!
To grow new raintrees from seed, allow the pods to dry on the mother plant; then break the pods open to collect seeds. Sow the fresh seed as soon as possible because the Seeds do not store well. Seeds are small and pale yellow.

If growing this tree indoors, one may need to provide additional lighting.

Grow lights
Jim Moody introduced the Brazilian Raintree to the US bonsai community.




The air-layer in September 2011



06 September 2009

Lonicera Bonsai

Box honeysuckle






Lonicera nitida

Lonicera (lon-ISS-er-a)
nitida (ni-TI-da)


Evergreen Shrub
Family: Caprifoliaceae
Hardy to USDA Zone 7
Native to SW China.
Box honeysuckle is a fast growing shrub with dense evergreen habit. Though a member of the honeysuckle family it is not a climber but an evergreen which looks very much like a miniature boxwood. It has a high tolerance of clipping which makes it ideal as a neat, formal hedge and is also a very popular choice for topiary. As a bonsai this honeysuckle can easily be "sculpted" to resemble a tree.

They have delightful trunks.

The old branches are very brittle, but one can cut off all the vegetation and it back buds profusely. Boxleaf honeysuckle is also an ideal plant for making very small or Mame bonsai. An evergreen, it is in leaf all year. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. The pairs of small white flowers give way to lovely purple-blue berries. Readily roots from cuttings.

Lonicera named after Adam Lonitzer (1528-86), German naturalist and herbalist.

03 September 2009

The 15th Annual Fall Family Festival @ The Bamboo Farm & Coastal Gardens




The 15th Annual Fall Family Festival
will be held

October 24, 2009
from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
There is a $2.00 parking fee.
Fees for activities vary.


Lectures on Bananas and

Organic Gardening






Bamboo Farm & Coastal Gardens

2 Canebrake Road

Savannah, GA 31419

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