bonsai trees – RG Bonsai

The Neon Dynasty trailer is a cyberpunk fantasy

Kenneth C. Cutter — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 08:00:00 +0000

A trailer for the next Magic: The Gathering expansion, Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, shows off the kit’s Japanese-inspired cyberpunk cityscape.

A brand new launch trailer for Kamigawa: The Neon Dynastya cyberpunk expansion for Magic: The Gathering, reveals a bright and exciting neon. The beloved trading card game, created by Wizards of the Coast, traditionally uses a fantasy setting filled with warriors and wizards. However, the long-awaited Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty set for Magic: The Gathering will instead present a world full of looming skyscrapers and tech ninjas.

While the cyberpunk aesthetic of Kamigawa: The Neon Dynasty is quite original, the Japanese-inspired world was actually introduced to Magic: The Gathering in 2003. The original version of the kit however did not have the futuristic theme, but instead was directly inspired by ancient Japan and its mythology. The new setting was popular with fans, but the new mechanics introduced in Kamigawa were less well received. Kamigawa’s new iteration seems to stay true to that classic release, showcasing old-school concepts like samurai and dragons while giving them a modern tech twist. Despite the expansion that took place 2,000 years after the original set, Kamigawa: The Neon Dynasty ninjas and ninjutsu ensure that the fan-favorite frame is always recognizable.

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Related: MTG Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty Preview – Bright Lights and Flashy Patterns

A new Kamigawa: The Neon Dynasty trailer, revealed by Magic: The Gathering on YouTube, demonstrates the combination of the expansion of tradition and modernity. As a narrator discusses the relationship between the past and the future, a bonsai tree is revealed to be a complex hologram. Kamigawa’s sci-fi Undercity then pops up around the tree, with various inhabitants frozen in the middle of intense action. Twin dragons swirl across the sky, revealing a sword-wielding samurai to wrap up the trailer. Magic: The Gathering’s Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty the expansion is now available to explore.

Magic: The Gathering allows players to assemble a large deck of different characters, and Kamigawa: The Neon Dynasty will add even more color to this list of cards. For example, an overview of Kamigawa: The Neon Dynasty Blade-Blizzard Kitsune features quirky mechanics and utilities that players can expect to encounter. The deadly fox ninja is capable of performing ninjutsu, allowing him to replace an unblocked attacker on the battlefield, and his unique design demonstrates the beauty of Kamigawa.

Kamigawa: The Neon Dynasty will come back Magic: The Gathering fans to the Japanese-inspired fantasy world. While the cyberpunk landscape is quite different from the classic 2003 Kamigawa, the new cinematic trailer shows how the expansion will marry tradition and innovation. Cyborg ninjas and holographic bonsai trees will create a truly unique aesthetic for the all-new Magic: The Gathering together, which is available now.

Next: How Magic’s Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty’s New Mechanics Change the Game

Magic: The Gathering is available on iOS, Android and PC.

Source: Magic: The Gathering/YouTube

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Master Gardener: Pomegranates, the ancient snack | Food and cooking

Kenneth C. Cutter — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 17:09:49 +0000

The pomegranate is an exotic fruit that dates back to antiquity. In Persia they were used as a carpet dye and in India they were considered a symbol of fertility, probably because the fruit is filled with hundreds of small fruits inside the membrane. In fact, the scientific name, Punica granatum, translates to “seeded apple”, the name given to the fruit in the Middle Ages. Spanish settlers and missionaries brought pomegranates to California.

Pomegranates make an excellent ornamental landscape tree in the San Joaquin Valley. They are very heat tolerant and can survive in alkaline soils which would kill many plants. They have many uses, such as hedges, shade trees, fruit trees, potted plants, and even bonsai. There are many cultivars to choose from, whether you need them for a container or a full-sized tree. What if you don’t want to deal with fruit? They have that covered too. There are beautiful pomegranates with double flowers that do not fruit.

Standard grenades form round shrubs deciduous or multi-branch trees up to 20 feet tall. While the varieties tested are “Wonderful” and “Granada”, there are now many new varieties for sale that are marketed as “seedless” or “soft seeds.” Although they still seeds, they are very soft and edible. The new varieties should be available in your favorite nursery. If it does not, ask them to order it for you. The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources has a page of resources on the grenade, with a list of varieties suggested for backyard orchard here: https://homeorchard.ucanr.edu/Fruits_&_Nuts/Pomegranate/

Dwarf pomegranates make excellent container plants and can be used as bonsai trees. There are several varieties, such as ‘Chico’, which are unsuccessful. ‘Nana’ and ‘Purple Sunset’ will bear small fruits that can be used in many arts and crafts projects.

Non-fruiting pomegranate varieties are ‘California Sunset’ with double coral flowers, ‘Toyosho’ with double peach flowers, and ‘Noshi Shibari’ with double white flowers. These are all very showy, and because they don’t set fruit, the flowering time is much longer. I have California Sunset, and I must add that the flowers are huge and the hummingbirds love it.

Plant pomegranates in the warmest, sunniest location for the best, sweetest fruit, but they will also survive partial shade. New trees should be cut to a foot tall when they are about two feet tall. From this point, allow 4-5 shoots to develop, which should be evenly distributed around the short trunk to maintain the balance of the tree. Since the fruits are only borne at the tips of new shoots, it is recommended to shorten the branches every year for the first 3 years. This will encourage the maximum number of new growth from all sides and help develop a strong framed tree. After the third year, only suckers and dead branches are removed.

New trees need enough water to establish themselves. Regular watering promotes fruit development and reduces thorns. Mature trees only need to be watered once every 2-3 weeks during the summer, and if it rains in the winter, there is no need to water at all during the winter. The flowers develop on new shoots each spring and the fruits ripen in the fall.

Pomegranates have the usual problems with aphids, whiteflies and mealy bugs; however, lady beetles and predatory lacewings also lay their eggs on the leaves, helping to control these pests. A moth called the omnivorous leaf roller may be a pest in our area. The larvae feed on the crust, causing damage. After entering the fruit, they feed on the seeds until pupation. Weed control can reduce insect population and spraying Bacillus thuringiensis (an organic pesticide that targets worms) also helps. Fortunately, there is usually enough fruit for both the home gardener and the moth to enjoy.

Pomegranate is self pollinated as well as insect pollinated. Cross-pollination increases fruit set, so encourage any birds, bees and butterflies that are attracted to these bright scarlet flowers by not spraying pesticides unless absolutely necessary.

So this is it. Large ornamental small trees that like the sun and the heat, have scarlet flowers to attract birds in summer, and autumn colors and fruits in addition.

DIY pine cone bonsai

Kenneth C. Cutter — Tue, 12 Jan 2021 08:00:00 +0000

Japanese pine bonsai – pxfuel

Pattison of Geneva

During the colder months, the desire to leave the warm comfort of the interior becomes less inviting. For gardeners, this can be a pretty slow time, where you find yourself cleaning up more leaves rather than growing exciting new plants. One way to combat this seasonal lull is to bring your garden indoors. This doesn’t mean that all of a sudden you find yourself tripping over containers full of zinnias and forcing the potted magnolia to bloom inside. There is another less stressful and less expensive option: a homemade bonsai.

Bonsai trees are native to Japan and are grown in containers, with an average height of 6 to 8 inches and rarely exceed 10 inches. They are grown to mimic the natural shape and appearance of regular trees, bringing peace and quiet contemplation of nature to the grower’s mind as they cultivate it over time. Bonsai trees are grown like any other tree, from a seed or spring, cutting and growing one from seed to fruiting is considered an art form.

A simple and inexpensive way to try growing your own bonsai is to use a pinecone that you may have picked up on your travels. This could be a really enjoyable project for all ages, and hopefully you’ll have a beautifully interesting new houseplant by the end of the trip. To start, find a pinecone that is mostly still closed. A splayed or found pine cone that has already fallen to the ground means you missed your chance and the seeds have probably fallen.

Pick a pine cone from a tree that hasn’t opened yet and make sure it’s on the wider side. The larger the cone, the better the seed quality. Make sure your pine cones are fungus and pest free. Once you have your desired pine cones, set them aside on a fireplace or windowsill to dry and crack them open slightly. You may notice the seeds begin to fall off as they dry, this is normal. If you prefer to plant the pine seeds without using the pine cone itself in the design, now is the time to set the seeds aside for that. When planting using the pinecone as a design anchor, do not submerge the entire pinecone in the ground. The seeds still remaining in the cone must come out of the woody structure, planting the entire cone under the ground will smother them. Tap your cone several times to loosen the remaining seeds from their protective structure and plant the bottom or horizontal side of the cone loosely into your prepared soil. Water sparingly over the following weeks and when watering your seeds, water around the cone, do not water directly on the pinecone as this may encourage it to rot or develop mould. If all goes according to plan, between 1 and 4 weeks, you should have a newly started bonsai.

If you have chosen to plant the seeds separately from the cone, here are some tips to help you succeed. Keep your harvested seeds dry in a cool, dry place until you are ready to plant them. When you feel ready to plant them, soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours to prepare them for germination. This will also help separate viable seeds from non-viable seeds, good seeds will sink and poor quality seeds will float. When you’ve separated the good from the bad, wrap them in a damp paper towel or foam in a zip-top bag and put them in the fridge. Keep them in the fridge for a week or two. When that’s done, take your seeds out of the fridge and sprinkle them on a prepared potting soil, covering them lightly with a layer of potting soil. If you want to incorporate the “design look” of the pinecone into your separately planted seeds, place any open, healthy pinecone in your pot without disturbing your seeds. As mentioned above, water sparingly and avoid getting water directly on the pine cone, to avoid mold or fungus.

When successful, these trees make beautiful ornamental pieces, they are a living work of art that you have made yourself. If you’re planning now for next year or have the perfect pine cone at home, this project would make a delightful gift to give to others and is sure to fill a home with peace and quiet over Christmas time.