Hi Cheryl,
I am glad that you like the result. I hadn't planned to do yet another workshop with Francois (not sure whether I told you guys that I did one already this year where he helped me work on the dead wood of my lagerstroemia which you know already and I am due to go to another one in autumn where I will be getting yet another box tree for my "tiny" balcony...
) but I am glad I did go now and could work on this tree more at leisure rather than working on it the during the workshop in autumn where I'd rather concentrate on my new tree. I am already very curious as to what that tree will be like.
As regards my "tiny" balcony: it isn't tiny, it is actually fairly large though OBVIOUSLY it could be larger. It is possible to keep so many trees there because there is no space for anyone to sit there anymore... well not completely true but near the truth... I can squeeze in if I want to but it is rather tight. Most of my trees are standing in holders for flower troughs which hang on the railing. I have expanded a bit into the garden of the house as nobody really uses it and some of the larger trees stand there (including the box). And I guess I have also often told you about very young material I got myself like all those maple varieties I have and which are growing in my fathers garden. Whenever those trees are large enough to be turned into bonsai I will be in SERIOUS trouble though...
To my shame I have admit that I will be due to get some more young maple varieties in August but "only" four more new ones...
and I guess having admitted that I shouldn't mention that I asked a gardener to produce cuttings of some other trees for me for next year.
Still I quite look forward to them: besides a couple of maples I will be getting a variegated gingko and a prunus mume omoi-no-mama. Obviously they will be tiny and take LOTS of time to get to a bonsai worthy size.
Hmm... sometimes I think I should have been a plant hunter in the 19th century - though these days it is much easier with ordering via e-mail...