Los Angeles' has two seasons, Spring and summer

It's been raining in los angeles about every week since Christmas. Let me tell you, I love it. It is going to be a great year for growing plants.

A special feature of los angeles is the amazingly warm winters. I was wondering when I could do some air layering. The recommendation for air layer is to do it when the sap starts to flow. They (who they are, i am not sure) also say that buds are a sign of a tree's sap flowing.

I was looking over the trees in my garden yesterday (january 19th) when I ran across this chinese elm i dug out of my front yard last year.

I looked around some more and saw that one of my Japanese Green Maple also had buds on it. That's great because this tree is very tall and needs an air layer bad.

This saturday I am going to air layer like a madman. No plant will be safe. I'll  be cloning trees quicker than Star Wars episode two.

To top it off I will be experimenting with a secret weapon. A synthetic media. Yes I am going star trek up in here. Im done with the movie references. Cheers.

Japanese green Maple salad

It was a beautiful March morning, the sun was shining, the birds were singing, the plants were growing. I strolled down my garden to check on the seedlings. Those beautiful seedlings. They are full of hope and potential. I looked at the green maples. I saw this:

Do you see what I see? Look closely. Let me show you a close up.

Do you see the nubs?!? There used to be 25 little maples pushing their way up, on their way to becoming amazing bonsai. They were cut down at the Genesis of their lives. And who could the culprit be? Only one piece of evidence could be found. Glistening in the morning light a trail of slime led away from the pot. It was a garden snail. 

Well that's it for this year's green maples. I was very upset, but nothing can bring them back. Time to reassess where I have my other seedlings. Cheers.