seems like everyone's got a good mimosa story -- mine too reminds me of my childhood.
I've just recently been bitten by the bonsai bug. I've been reading voraciously over the past month or so, and my list of desired
trees is
growing inversely proportional to the level of my bank account
mimosa is on that list.
fujian tea & serissa were just added this morning after viewing some online galleries. I've gotta get a
greenhouse build for the winter.
there's some great information for bonsais online, but what I've learned so far is:
1. collect your
trees and learn about the species.
2. don't be in a hurry to cut.
3. drainage. drainage. drainage. apparently most
trees that have been bonsai'ed can't tolerate wet stick soil, so it needs to be kinda rocky/sandy/gritty to promote proper drainage.
4. fertilization requirements change with the seasons & a
tree's particular growth cycle. apparently, most bonsai prefer balanced fertilization about every two weeks from
spring to autumn with a 0-10-10 in the fall for hardening of new growth for winter survival.
I think someone already posted this link, but
http://www.bonsaisite.com is great, as is
http://www.dallasbonsai.com. Dallas Bonsai seems to be the easiest one-stop shop for supplies & soil -- neither of which seems readily availble to me here in virginia beach. that which is available seems a little pricey.
books on my list:
propagation of woody
plants along with four bonsai books I've seen on the Dallas Bonsai site.