Bonsai
Some Things I Learned Along the Way
Have you tried and given up?
Do you feel bonsai is too complicated?
On your way, but feel like you’re missing ‘secrets’?
Want to learn all the bonsai tips I learned the hard way?
This is a valuable little (88 pages), not so fancy, bonsai book written by me, the creator of this site.
What's Inside?
For starters, here are just five of the many things they didn’t tell you in bonsai class:
1. Why you shouldn’t use alcohol to clean tools.
2. Why to use lime sulfur, and its secret to success?
3. Why do some trees “wilt” when they don’t need water?
4. To propagate a new tree, which is best, cutting or air layer? Why?
5. Why humidity trays really are good.
Book Review
When 'Bonsai with Tropicals' was first printed, the following review was published in a Florida bonsai magazine:
"Bonsai is a passion for Mary Miller. Her familiarity with bonsai (as both hobby and business) has given her many years of hands-on experience. This experience is obvious when she speaks and writes.
She has a talent for simplifying explanations of difficult techniques. Mary often presents a ‘teaching story’ which entertains.
After 30 plus years of creating bonsai, any bonsai artist will have stories to tell, secrets to share and techniques all their own.
It was these experiences that encouraged Mary to share her 'things I learned along the way' book. Well worth reading for bonsai students at all levels."
What Else is Inside?
- Five practical tips that make sense:
- Two ways to properly determine where the top will be when creating your own bonsai.
- Graphics showing how to use 'directional pruning.'
- The two reasons for defoliating leaves.
- One of the best ways to clean bonsai trunks.
- Easy way to determine the right size wire to use.
- Uncomplicated, easy to understand techniques
- Old myths dispelled
- Lessons learned the hard way
- Bonsai quotes and stories
A good bonsai book for beginners? Yes!
Available in soft cover and
This is what Bernard Kayman had to say:
“Your method of
explaining the concept of bonsai in layman’s terms made it easier to
grasp than all the fancy books I have read on bonsai.”
Carol Saunders said:
“I wish I had read this book years ago; so practical and understandable! I just purchased an e-copy for my son - he's a newcomer to the art of bonsai."
Howard Segelman's words:
"So glad you didn't do just another how-to-book ! This is an anecdotal presentation of good solid bonsai information!"
Dave Bogan, of Bogan's Bonsai added:
“Just like Mary, it is small in stature but a goliath of information"
.
Many times I thought about writing a book. Each time I decided to go for it, another book on how-to-do bonsai would arrive on the store shelves. I began to think almost everything on bonsai had been said.
I continued to write articles on often over-looked subjects and I gathered bits and pieces of uncommon knowledge.
Some of those bits and pieces made me laugh. I wondered if others would find them humorous. Eventually - with lots of encouragement - I realized I had a book. I named it 'Bonsai with Tropicals, Some Things I learned Along the Way.'
It's not really about growing bonsai with tropical plants.
Since I lived in Miami, FL for most of
my bonsai life, tropicals were my point of reference.
For experienced hobbyists too? Yes!
Victor Mills is a long time South Florida bonsai hobbyist.
His award winning Brazilian Rain Tree is frequently displayed in the annual Bonsai Society of Miami exhibit.
This is the review he wrote, when "Some Things I Learned Along the Way" was first published.
"Bonsai with Tropicals” is a must read!
Read it all the way through before you close it, so the effect it was designed to have can fully take place. It has very thought provoking content.
The book is not another “how- to” do bonsai book. It is, however, full of information on how to do a variety of bonsai related tasks.
The book is not another story about the author and how she got involved in bonsai, even though you’re presented this information about the author.
The book is not just about styling, pruning,
tools and tool care, pests and pest control, roots, leaves, taper, tree
species and varieties. However, you will be amazed by what you learn
about these same topics.
You
may not be fully aware of it until you finish it, but the book has a
strange way of drawing out things committed to memory. It brings to the
surface experiences of your own that may have been forgotten or
overlooked as a lesson.
I found "some things I learned along the way" very uniquely done, with insight presented by a master of the subject material.
Mary included lots of quotes that can be applied to bonsai.
Fortunately for our trees, she includes:
‘Experience is the best teacher; whenever possible let it be someone else’s experience.’ – Anonymous”
- Victor Mills
"Bonsai with Tropicals, Some Things I Learned Along the Way"
is available in print and as an e-book directly from Trafford Publishing.
If you decide on the print version, there's no charge for shipping!
All you need to do is click below
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