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My First Blog, Bonsai and Wine

I’ve been meaning to start my blog for quite a while and finally decided the time is now. My recent book, about creating and growing bonsai that bear an edible crop, Bountiful Bonsai, is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and most local bookstores. After 2 gardening books about bonsai, I’m switching gears a little to write about one of my major hobbies, home winemaking which I did introduce as part of Bountiful Bonsai. I’m about to sign a deal with Storey Publishing to write and publish the book Craft Wines. I will also write about my other interests including rock collecting, fishing, hunting, wildflowers and nature in general. Soon I will also publish an e-book version of my first book, Herbal Bonsai and a collection of philosophical essays titled, Hunting the Wild Quantum: The Adventures of a Hillbilly Savant.

I have a 200 case wine cellar going back to 1986 with 137 different wines, only 3 from grapes and several vintages of many of those wines. In particular, I’ve made blueberry wine 10 years in a row. The most memorable of which is a vintage I named Blueberry Bride. My then fiancé, Cathy, stomped those blueberries the week we got engaged and we then served that wine at our wedding reception. My most recent wine is Chamomile, in glass for secondary fermentation and a banana wine currently in primary fermentation. I have several vintages planned to start this fall, including some with hot peppers I am growing in the garden. Stay tuned for updates about my winemaking activities.

4 thoughts on “My First Blog, Bonsai and Wine”

      • Got your “Botanical Bonsai” book from Stone Lantern where I buy a lot of my basic suppllies, wire and the like. I live in Overland Park, KS (Metro KC) and have about 45 plants, from nursery stock to 30-50 yr. old “specimens” from Brussels, Golden Arrow (seriously old Ponderosa Pines, hand collected) and Hollow Creek, Dasu and Miami Botanical to name a few. All have extensive websites, although I visit Golden Arrow in Cody, WY, Brussells in Nor. Mississippi, and Dasu in Ames, IA each every other year or so. Been involved for 15 yrs. Due to the severity of the Kansas climate, I have a 20 x 40 foot stone and glass greenhouse, racks, work counters, sinks and water, electricity, etc. and due to 0 degrees in the winter to 100+ in the summer (not always, but often) it’s sprinklered (on timers) and air conditioned/heated. Never below 48 nor above 90 degrees. On a lark, a couple of years ago I bought a Meyer Lemon and a Key Lime tree – nursery stock to experiment with. After three years, they’re fully wired and shaped, and producing 20-40 pieces of fruit at any point in time. Just thought I was being a little crazy, but your book blew me away and now I realize there’s so much more that suddenly interests me…getting a little bored with nursery stock and specimins as a lot of times there just isn’t that much to do to maintain them other than re-potting every two or three years and minor trimming and shaping.and minor continued veragation. Do you still have your nursery? My parents and subsequently my brother and I have had a house at the foot of Pikes Peak, Cascade, for 60 years but recently sold it. Wish I would have known of you then. Do you have a website? Do you sell some of your established plants? Still plenty of room in my greenhouse, and then outside on surrounding racks and pedestals. Unfortunately, I’m not on any social media sites except Linkedin.

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      • Thank you for purchasing my book and your interest. I don’t have the nursery anymore. I am mid production on the next book, Wild Winemaking due out in 2018. Good luck experimenting with indoor tropical edibles. I find them much more rewarding. I’ve made lots of wine from bonsai fruit, flowers and even herbal foliage. I will connect if you find me on LinkedIn.

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