Reflecting on 2025

Education

Studying under Adam has been good, though his disposition or garden-side manners are blunt.
I have learned proper repotting (though never meeting Adam’s expectations), buying better material, Redwood and Juniper work. Black pine seasonal work.
I learned a great deal from Gio on collecting and aftercare.
Next year I will hope to take trees to Steve Yang’s workshop to learn from him.

Cleaned up my garden, then made a mess with growth, then cleaned up again.
Built another back wall bench for collected Redwoods and a large Monterey Cypress.
Built a long elevated bench for the side of the house—back bench and growing material from seed or cuttings. This also let me store pots and soil.
After Sierra collecting, I built a large bench and elevated a greenhouse. Humidifier, fan, etc.
Next I will convert a vegetable raised bed for growing trees in ground. After initial trunk movement and roots radially set it sitting on a tile, in colander or pond-basket—will insert into the soil. The warmth and organic matter will boost growth. Must watch to avoid wire-bite and let growth extend long, but not shade out inner foliage.
I had avoided salt-based fertilizer, even young material. As last year over-fertilizing caused a few trees to die. This year was mostly organic granules, but as the dog got into them, I likely did not feed the plants as desired. Monthly fish emulsion on most trees.
During our long Korean summer trip, our faulty pet sitter did not water well and I lost a few trees.
The new massive lace Maple will be centered in my back patio. I will look for ornamental stone bricks to rest on, in thirds, and hope to elevate 5-8” off the ground.

Started off visiting Round Valley and purchasing a nice Blue Atlas Cedar and Cork Bark JBP—both young. An interesting Arctic Willow Shohin. I bought a maple with potential, but realized the broom branching is poor—so must decide to sell as is or cut back hard and build a small tree.
Mostly small trees or in development—Cork Oak, JBP, Wisteria trunk.
The most expensive (so far) and smallest tree was an older Korean Hornbeam. Bought through Adam, so possibly financially supporting him some. It can be refined and show ready as a delicate tree. Should find the right pot for it to repot this spring or next.
Picked up two ground grown trees from Jerry Fields’ estate—juniper and olive.
Very pleased with a chunky, twisting JBP that was ground grown.
Snuck in a Formosan Styrax, ground grown from Cedar Rose with great lower movement. To develop primary branches and ramification in 5 years.
Finally 🙄, a very mature but massive lace-leaf Japanese Maple from Rich Oaks. A bargain for its size and age, the pot alone is worth more than the cost of the tree.
Set $1600 in 2025 🙄🥹😬.

Collected Redwoods in winter, summer, and late fall. Until I find the holy grail it tall trees with tapered base—I have found Shohin and even Mame stock to develop.
Trying my hand again with Douglas Fir—improving my aftercare. A young tree (1/2” Dia) may be more resilient, while I have a mid-size tree (1.5” Dia) in a pot or pumice and in a greenhouse.
The climax was a trip to Tahoe to collect Sierra Junipers. One, if not both are Expo-potential.
In Dec or Jan, will hope to go with Steve Iwaki and Gio to collect California or Nevada Junipers.

With Jerry Fields’ passing and Rich Oaks moving, I have bought more pots than trees. They were quality pots, awaiting my trees to develop, and all at great value.
FOMO I ended up with one or two large pots over my immediate needs—but assuming future collected material. Each was $75-$100, but may trade or sell in the future if not needed. Typical pot hoarding.
Overall, major collecting of roughly $400.
In 2026, I hope to make pots of my own—unique shapes and try making plaster press molds.

Michael WeiNovember 30, 2025