New Bonsai

We recently received a new bonsai.   Ah, those who have not the passion for the patient art may not quite understand, but the bonsai holds the key to the future of humanity.   Okay, so not the key to humanity, but at least an incredible hobby that can last hundreds of years (if I remember to water).

This particular tree is a Dawn Redwood from the Redwood family just like the massive trees that are taller than many skyscrapers (just 50 feet short of the roof of the LDS Church office skyscraper in one case).   That’s massive!

The Dawn Redwood species was thought to be extinct and exist only in the fossil record until a small grove of these trees were   found in China.   Cutting of the wild trees or branches in China is illegal (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metasequoia).

Where can an Americans get Dawn Redwoods?   From no where better than Amazon.com.   With an Amazon Prime membership, overnight shipping was only $4.   Two day shipping is free with an Amazon Prime membership.

The tree is great and the wonderful smell reminds us of when we visited the Sequoia National Forest in California.