To Bonsai a Hemlock
This weekend I was purusing the shops in Asheville and had a discussion with a flower shop worker who is “bonsaiing” (is that a word?) a hemlock tree. Actually, you can bonsai just about any plant by occasionally trimming its roots, making sure it is in well-draining soil and continually trimming back the new growth. It made me think about Rockbrook and all the tall, rugged hemlocks we have there that are currently being challenged by the tiny, yet fierce woolly adelgid. This spring we released 1,000’s of beetles that love to feast on the woollies, however, if they fail to complete their mission, perhaps bonsaiing one could be a way of preserving it’s genetic heritage until the woollies have had their fill. It turns out the the NC Arboretum has a bonsai project already in place. You can check it out here - pretty cool!
