Name: Ken Volk
Occupation: Graphic Designer from Newton , MA
Gardening Zone: Zone 5
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How and when did you get started into Bonsai?:
After moving to the city from the country 9 years ago I decided I needed to see some form of forest from my back balcony. So I looked into Bonsai. One visit to a local nursery and I was hooked.
Who or what has had an influence on you and your gardening?
My father has always spent time with his plants and I grew up on a farm so keeping plants has always been a standard in my life. In terms of Bonsai I have always enjoyed the knowledge from New England nurseries.
What was your first bonsai?
I had a Jade. Unfortunately like all my Jade trees it died but it was a very nice tree.
How many do you currently have?
13
Do you have a favorite bonsai?
I have a Jaboticoba that has been my favorite tree in terms of its style but also how well it has responded to my shaping efforts. That said I would be remiss in not mentioning my Cottoneaster that my wife gave me as an anniversary gift.
How much time each week do you spend bonsai gardening?
I spend around 20 minutes a day in some form doing the usual weeding, shaping, watering and the like. My favorite thing to do is to landscape them and I spend a fair time each week making sure the moss is healthy and figuring new ways to make mini landscapes with mudmen or whatever rocks I have handy.
What is your favorite gardening tool?
Easily my pruning shears. I use them constantly for moss touch up, pruning, and general maintenance.
Where do you purchase your bonsai?
I get all my trees as nursery stock from either Bonsai nurseries or local gardening suppliers. I even purchased a nice Azalea from Home Depot stock that has become a nice Bonsai after 3 years in my care.
Do you have a favorite online bonsai website we should know about?
I am a big fan of a few sites. Mainly my two local nurseries: Bonsai West and NE Bonsai. I also frequent Japanese Gardening sites.
Do you have a favorite bonsai book?
Colin Lewis "Art of Bonsai Design' is by far my favorite book. I enjoy the fact it is one of the few books that marries the description of tree development with well executed photography as a guide for the development.
What bonsai would you like to add to your collection next?
I have been looking to add a Chinese Elm at some point in the future but I have recently moved and am more concerned with how to handle wintering this year as my current project.
What tip or trick can you share with other bonsai enthusiasts?
A pretty tree is a happy tree! I have found whenever I spend time making a balanced design between landscape and pot in tandem with the tree my trees seem to thrive better. An unkempt landscape leads to pests or unhealthy trees.
What do you believe is the biggest bonsai gardening misconception?
Certain trees are easy to care for. Some of my trees are supposed to be difficult for beginners yet those are the one's I never killed. All the times I have tried Aboricola or Jade trees I have lost them in different ways. I now avoid most trees that I termed beginner for that reason even though they are trees I might like in my collection.
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