Typical in april

We thought spring was on the way... We were so wrong. Now winter is back.

Development?

Ficus with big trunk! Much bigger than any of my other ficuses, which are all made from cuttings. (This one I bought in this size.) The branches are not very much to brag about, but at least I'm pleased the tree is developing in a good direction. Below is an old picture:

I wrote about it in february 2011.

My judas tree is NOT developing in a very good direction! Some branches have died in the winter, this is how it looks today!

And a picture from behind the house: My outdoor trees are still (half) under the snow...

Close to the house the snow has melted away and I have found the first tussilago (coltsfoot)!

Eclipse of the sun

We have had a partial eclipse of the sun here today, this is my picture of it! Seen on a paper, through binoculars.

I have not seen it before.

And here is how dark it was at the same time:

Still a bright day I think! The birds did not become silent, they kept on eating!

For the love of trees

 

That's why we do it, isn't it? For the love of trees.

Picture from last Sunday's bonsai meeting
and "wild trees" from my neighbourhood.

Spring!

 The month of March: I repot some of my indoor and garage trees now and then.

My pomegranates (above and below) - they are small and thin but at least they are green and alive!

 A cotoneaster that I have also kept in the garage.

 Hanibal loves my zelkova trees... That is: he eats them! Maybe that is because there is no grass outside yet...

 Looking down: on our house from a hill, today. The sunshine has been fantastic!

 Looking up: when I turned my eyes up to the tree-tops I saw a willow tree full of catkins!

 ...and these on an alder: (below)

Spring is coming along, and tomorrow I'm going to Umeå for a bonsai meeting!

I have taken inside some trees from the garage

Spring is coming along.

Not if you look out through the window of course, but in my garage the trees are beginning to become green! I have repotted some zelkovas.

And this lively bush...it is the maple that was debarked by rodents in autumn. It's now growing vividly! Don't tell me it will never look good, I am so happy it's alive. It has survived rodent attack twice in its life!

I have also repotted a ficus natasja that I had not cared for very much before. Picture above is today, picture below is before repotting.

Cancelled meeting

To meet with friends that share your interest is nice, for example in a bonsai association! When I go to bonsai meetings it is in Umeå, and it was meant to be today, the first meeting this year. The weather stopped us again! (The cold temperature stopped us in February 2012.) Today it is not particularly cold but it's snowing, and has been snowing all night - together with strong winds it makes roads and streets difficult for traffic... At first I planned to go anyway ("nothing will stop me this time"), and my husband went out to clear the way down from the house - then my bonsai friend called and told me the weather was too bad also in Umeå.

Instead I have repotted a maple that was beginning to grow, see first picture: you can see a few small leaves coming out! It is the tree that was attacked by rodents in the autumn - I can just hope it will survive, but I really don't know.

Snowdrifts up the windows...