To me bonsai has everything wonderful wrapped up together: nature, gardening, history, art, mystery, even spirituality. One speciman reflects years of purpose, of direction that shaped and committment by someone to care for this tree or shrub, to make little adjustments and keep it happy. I truly appreciate the art and love to look at bonsai. If you also like bonsai, then it is well worth it to see the bonsai collection at the Monastery Greenhouse located at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit off Highway 212 in Conyers, Georgia (www.bonsaimonk.com.) But if you want to try to train a bonsai yourself, there are a few classes scheduled that can help you get started:

Bonsai 101 begins at 10:00 am on February 25th at Smith Gilbert Gardens in Kennesaw. The affordable $15 fee includes admission into the gardens. Call 770-919-0248 or visit www.smithgilbertgardens.com for more information. 

Beginning Bonsai also starts at 10:00 am, but a few weeks later, on March 17th, at Hills & Dales Estate in LaGrange. Each participant will plant and prune a small outdoor bonsai to take home, learn training techniques and get book suggestions. They ask you to bring small pruners if you have them. $35 per person includes garden admission. Pre-registration is required. To register e-mail info@hillsanddales.org or call 706-882-3242.

Last summer my riding mower had a run-in with an ax lying in the field. The mower shaved a chunk of metal from the ax and kept going for the rest of the season, although she acquired a creative tilt to the cut. So I called GreenSouth Equipment in Athens to see how I could bring her into the shop for maintenance. The next morning I parked the mower in my back yard before I left for work, they picked it up and delivered it back to me that evening with a level deck, maintenance package done and some service advice (adjusting two bolts will lessen the wear on the deck – I can do that!) From now on my mowers get tune-ups in January instead of waiting until March when everyone is trying to get their equipment running.  

People who can tune up their own equipment have my utmost respect, but even they should try to tend to their garden equipment and tools now instead of waiting until spring garden chores demand our time. So tune up the mowers, edgers, tillers and more, sharpen tools, clean out the garden shed or garage now - you will be so glad you did in a few weeks once Spring has sprung. I’m excited that my mowers are ready for spring – so excited I may clean my tool cart and sharpen my shovels this weekend.

Photo from www.deere.com

Kudos to the Atlanta Botanical Garden for creating a magical world that brings families and friends together, outside, in a garden during the holiday season! Sunday night a friend took me to see the Garden Lights exhibit and it is amazing: not only the lights, but the entire atmosphere and being surrounded by a crowd truly enjoying themselves and each other. The only grumpy one I saw there was a toad with an attitude inside the Conservatory - definately wanted us out of his life. Log onto the Atlanta Botanical Garden website for more information and tickets. They were sold out the day before I went, so you may want to purchase your tickets online.