Bonsai in a can...

The last time my husband went into to the office—he's been working from home since March, going in once a week, for half a day—this bonsai growing kit was on his desk. He asked around, but nobody would claim it.

Seeing it reminded me of a bonsai kit gift my dad bought for my mom, back when I was a kid. His version (if my memory is correct) included multiple seeds, not just one variety. I think it may have even included a tiny rake, for grooming the gravel around your tiny sculpted trees, you know, should you live to be a hundred and three. Needless to say my mom never did end up tending a bonsai forest (though she made end up living to a hundred and three).

Here's the "mini-greenhouse" this bonsai acer will get it's start in.

And the detailed instructions...

In case you didn't read it in the "how to," that little guy, the one showing you "how to" is a pet tree wolf named Sequoia. Bonus points for creativity.

Here's where things get confusing. Step #12 says "When your tree outgrows its container, it's ready for a permanent place in the landscape. Select a sunny location with good drainage, at least 12 feet from buildings, power lines, and other trees." 

But I thought this was supposed to be a bonsai?

You know, one of those...

 

So of course I had to check out what the Jonsteen Company is all about. Turns out they're a nursery that sells seedlings, something they call tree bundles, as well as an assortment of grow kits like this one. It's a fun novelty, but I wonder what the success rate is for something like a rainbow eucalyptus, or Ginkgo biloba? Do the seeds germinate? Do they go on to become trees, or does the recipient lose interest and toss the whole thing before before that point? Here's hoping a few of these end up in the hands of young plant lovers who discover the magic...

As for this one, I passed it on to my friend Evan, a "gift" for when he hosted our local bloggers plant swap last week. I figure he's a young plant lover with a green thumb and a long life ahead to groom his acer bonsai...

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Weather Diary, Oct 19: Hi 65, Low 50/ Precip 0 

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