It was on Christmas Day in the Chinese calendar 1,200 years ago that the first bonsai was presented to the glorious Emperor of the Middle Kingdom, complete with a tiny star affixed the top of the perfectly tapered black pine from the mountains of Manchuria . . .

Not really, but happy Bonsai Christmas anyway!  This season of giving is actually the perfect time to get into the bonsai game for yourself or for a friend or loved one ― or if you’re already an enthusiast, to grow your hobby during the holidays (pun fully intended, of course). 

In fact, in this season of the year when lovely pines and firs have been chopped down by the millions to decorate our houses, this may be the best time of all to brighten the lives of those who love green and growing things.

That said, and list in hand and checked twice, where to start? If you’re a beginner yourself or thinking of turning someone into one this season, just picking up a “mallsai” (the stiff & dying junipers you see complete with glued-in pebbles at checkout counters nationwide) isn’t the answer.  Neither is gifting somebody a grapevine stump-in-a-pot from a mail order fruit vendor the solution. 

Been there, done that personally, came here instead.

It pays, you know, both in living greenery and folding green to get the good stuff.  Which, modestly, you’ll see loads of from poking around ― from an intimate little snow rose to the rare medium well done of miniature Japanese pines on hand. 

Knowing that the bonsais you’re buying are from bonsai experts in the field and not grapefruit growers in the valley should just be the starting point for you this Christmastime (or any other).  The next step should be indulging your giftees with the proper pots, tools and all things soil-related, which you’ll find here a’plenty.  After all, this has been a passion of ours for half a century, decades before the internet invited us into your warm home & busy office. 

And speaking of you, what about your own wish list and the other enthusiasts on your list?  For the tyro to the all-pro, you’ll find a sled-load of rare and useful items (like the delicious dragon pots from Tokaname) to upgrade an existing specimen collection or set out for the job ahead, come spring.   

That said, if you’re already an expert in the art & science of bonsai, be sure to treat yourself (or have someone give you) the brilliant Bonsai: Beginner to Advanced - Conversations with a Master in digital or print versions (or both!) and/or the landmark Bonsai Techniques I by John Naka ―autographed, if you please, a true collector’s item.  And for something really special, consider the breathtaking The Imperial Bonsai of Japan with very special Christmas pricing.  You’ll never part with it ― ever. 

Beyond that, whether you’re just finding your way along the bonsai path or brushing up on the half-remembered bits, there are dozens of other resources right here, 24-hours a day to help, including our unique, free Bonsai Channel streaming video series of tips and techniques.  

Please also be sure to pass on our dallasbonsaigarden url, www.dallasbonsai.com as a resource to those you’re sharing the joy of a bonsai Christmas with this special season so their first steps will be pleasant, fruitful and devoid of the death destined for so many mallsai. 

We’re all part of one big, beautiful bonsai family, you see, and we believe that right down to every grain of river sand we sell.  So happy bonsai Christmas to all, and to all, a good-night!

	Pruning Scissors with Wire Cutter These scissors are used for cutting both buds and twigs, and are the most suitable type of scissors for small Bosai.
	Heavy Duty Pruning Shear You might never think there are overstock items in Japan. Well, there are some even in our field. We purchased 1,000 of these because they are extremely high quality at a very low price.
	Dwarf Japanese Black Pine 'Thunderhead" Large green needles with real white long buds. A very good candidate for Bonsai as it is not as gangly/stringy as the regular Japanese Black Pine.
	Pinus Parviflora Glauca - Japanese White Pine Evergreen conifer with blue-green needles. This selection bears long twisted needles with bright blue color.
	Heavy Duty Iron Mini Tabletop Turntable This is a perfect solution for the Bonsai Hobbyist who doesn't want a free standing turntable, but want one that won't slide all over the place or wiggle and jiggle while it's in use.

Bonsai: Beginner to Advanced - Conversations with a Master PRINTED VERSION $99.95 The complete audio recordings of conversations between Michael Miller and Fred Meyer where Fred answers 372 questions regarding selecting, growing, maintaining, pruning, wiring, styling, watering, and fertilizing every type of bonsai. This is the information that will put you on the fast track to growing world class bonsai that you love to look at and enjoy! Here's what's included: 8 hours of interviewed conversations with Fred Meyer where Michael Miller asks him 372 questions which cover almost everything there is to know about bonsai. From beginner to advanced, nothing is left out. To be honest, there is some expert and master level topics about Jinning and intricacies of specific varieties that was left out, but the odds you will ever need them are so rare, there was just no reason to bore you with it. Transcripts of the entire interview. These transcripts are 137 pages of valuable bonsai information you can use to follow along with the interviews, or use to quickly review some specific detail. 67 page bonsai conversations guidebook that covers the highlights of the information Fred speaks of in his interview. This guidebook is a wonderful how-to guide itself worth $19.99 at least! BONUS - When you purchase the tangible, physical product, you also get a bonus CD with the digital versions as well. Put these in your iPod and listen while you shop or drive to work. FREE SHIPPING!!! **IMPORTANT - This is the printed version of the product. We have a digital only version available for $49.95 at www.bonsaiconversations.com

Christmas is on a Sunday this year.

To reach the recipient by Christmas:

Last day for ground shipping for UPS is Monday, December 19.
This is for all packages that would weigh over 2 pounds.
This would be larger books, Bonsai, pots and soils.

Last day for priority mail shipping for USPS is Wednesday, December 21.

This is for all packages under 2 pounds. This would be tools, fertilizer and seeds.

For the packages to be received  by Christmas after those deadlines you would need to call us for special services that will cost more than the ground rates shown on our website like 3 day, 2 day and overnight.

Our new monthly Bonsai tips are brought to you, by special arrangement, courtesy of the John Yoshio Naka Family. You can find the full year’s guide and a whole lot more in the book Bonsai Techniques I by John Naka. We have both of Mr. Naka’s books, Bonsai Techniques I and Bonsai Techniques II, available for immediate purchase.

All bonsai should be dormant by now. In colder areas they will have been put in cold frames, or other storage for the winter.

Location: Guard against any and all of Nature's changeable weather conditions.

Watering:The same rule applies here as last month. Watch watering under frozen conditions. If soil is kept too wet the pot may crack.

Trimming amd training: Can be done under caution.

Fertilizing:None.

Transplanting:Only bare-root nursery stock can be transplanted in a mixture of sand and very little soil. Do not pot any bare-root until spring.

Grafting:December, January, and February are the best months for grafting conifers, for this is the coldest season and the trees are completely dormant. At this time there is no pitch to isolate scion from understock.

Miscellaneous:It is a good time to collect native materials in the Southern states.

B37 Bonsai Techniques I by John Naka - Collector's Item - AUTOGRAPHED $74.95 These books are becoming more and more rare! The Naka family hasn't informed us of a reprint and they have been sold out for almost a year. This copy has John Naka's signature and seal. These are real treasures - and no more will ever be made. If you have one, protect it! The best book in the English language on Bonsai....NO EXCEPTIONS. John Yoshio Naka is our American Treasure Bonsai Master. This book is jammed packed with information that you won't find other places. A treasure trove of Bonsai Wisdom. This book is softback, 8" x 11", 269 pages, 16 pages of color illustrations, many black & white photos and drawings by the author. Included in the contents are tools and supplies for the workshop, general approach to Bonsai, step by step training, rootage, trunk, apex, branching, trimming, wiring, pots, soil mixes, styles.

We thank you for shopping dallasbonsai.com and making us the largest Bonsai Supply in the world!

Sincerely, Fred & Elizabeth Meyer, Owners Dallas Bonsai Garden http://www.dallasbonsai.com fredmeyer@dallasbonsai.com Telephones answered 1 to 5 PM Monday through Friday – 1 800 982 1223 Serving the Bonsai Enthusiast since 1965.

Image: Simon Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net