I am looking for mail order sources for the best mini's to be planted as kusamono. Any thing from trailing violets, Episcia, Streps - what ever I can find. I would appreciate plant and source suggestions. The critical factors are relativly small leaves and plant stature.
I would be interested in trades but have at the moment only garden plants for trades.
Thanks
Beth
miniature gesneriads
Interesting. What will their companion plants be, Beth? I have some minis, just come and pick out some.
Hi Deb. They may not have companions. It depends on the pots - which I have not made yet. I have been looking at the European web sites (French, which I don't read, and German which I can stumble through slowly and with many bruises.) Kusamono has become an art form of its own. Plants are shown without the bonsai trees as a separate catagory. It was amazing to view the variety of plants that are being used. The one from which I got the most amusement was a common dandelion. Of course, if the darn things were hard to grow, we would all be planting them as a lovely yellow flower.
I am currently attending an Epicopal church in Albany and the minister is a member of the local Bonsai club. I will probably join just so that I can have a reason to make pots and plant them with dwarf hostas and other interesting plants, like alpine saxifragas that will last one year and then die in our heat and humidity. I always think positively and I am positive that alpines won't like SW Georgia summers.
I would love to take you up on coming over. I have been trying to get together with you and it just has not worked out. I am really ready to get out of the house though. James and Jen have both had the flu this week, so I have been fetching and carrying since Sunday. I am the only family member who had the sense to get a flu shot.
We're ballgaming Sat, (oh that's today isn't it) but, I'll be home Sunday afternoon. Come on over. Don't make me have to met you at Walmart. LOL