In this case you can tell a lot by it's name. You generally purchase it as a bulb, which are usually quite large. It does return year after year without needing to re-plant it.

In spring it shoots up a lot of foliage, this is preparing plant for it's autumn blooms, be sure to just leave this alone. Come about mid June or so, this foliage starts looking like it's dying, again just leave it be.

In late August/early September, when most of flowers are past their prime and garden is starting to look sparse, out comes Autumn Crocus, with their beautiful lilac colored blooms. They bloom for quite a long time when few things are blooming. A fun plant, give it a try!

This one is an annual (only lives 1 growing season) plant called Love Lies Bleeding. It's as strange as it's name.

It is very easy to grow. You just simply direct seed it in soil (full sun preferably) where it is to grow in spring. It's height seems to vary greatly. I've seen it be as small as about 2 feet high, and reach up to 6 or 7 feet high. It's "flowers" are long, burgandy colored ropes that hang. It is simply stunning. Always gets attention! It will usually re-seed itself so you'll get new plants following year without doing anything.

It's best to try to find this seed in an unusual type seed catalog. It is in amaranth family.

Here's last one. Ever tried hellebore family? There are many varieties. They are perennial which means they come back year after year. These are best planted in shady areas, but where they will get sun in winter, like under leafed trees or something of that nature.

What is so unusual about hellebores is that they bloom somewhere between Dec. and March. There are very few plants that do that! One variety is called a Christmas Rose. It's quite striking to see flowers in midst sometimes of snow.

These plants usually must be puchased at a nursery. Check out your local nursery for this wonderful family of plants.

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Fertilizing

Because bonsai trees are cultivated in limited amounts of soil, adequate feed is very important. As a general rule, a small amount of feed is given in spring and a larger amount in fall. Feed for bonsai should contain three principle ingredients; nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash. It is also a good idea to use a fertilizer containing "chelated" iron. Water before fertilizing your tree and then apply at half strength recommended by brand's manufacturer. Rotate use of brands since different manufacturers add different amounts of trace elements and minerals. You could also add Superthrive, which is a vitamin supplement to fertilizer mix. You may find it simpler and easier to use slow release fertilizer granules (placed over soil) whose nutrients are released with each watering.

Repotting

All potted plants will eventually outgrow their containers. While houseplants need to be "potted-up", that is, placed in larger and larger containers, miniaturization of a bonsai trees is maintained by keeping roots confined to small container. On average, repotting will be necessary every 3-5 years, but tree should be removed from its container and its root system inspected once a year. If roots form a circular ball around perimeter of pot, it is time to trim roots and repot.

When repotting remember to:  Use only bonsai soil  Remove air pockets by working soil down through roots  Do not remove more that 20% of root system  Repot during appropriate repotting season  Water well and keep out of sun for a week or two

Trimming & Pruning

The main objective of trimming and pruning is to shape bonsai into desired form and to reduce growth above ground in order to maintain a balance with root growth.

The process of shaping begins when tree is very young and is on-going as it continues its growth. Trimming is accomplished by using a sharp scissors or shears. This traditional tool is called butterfly shears or bonsai shears and is used for removing foliage and light branches. When heavier branches are removed, we call it pruning and tool to use is concave cutter, for which there is no substitute. The concave cutter allows you to remove small, medium and even large branches without leaving any visible scars. Some trees such as Juniper should be trimmed by using thumb and index finger to remove new growth and to prevent browning and a "sheared" appearance.

Pests & Diseases

As living trees, bonsai are susceptible to insect attacks and disease. Preventive and corrective measures include:  Keeping your bonsai in good health, since insects and bacteria tend to attack weak trees  Giving your tree ample light, fresh air and ventilation  Keeping soil free of spent blooms and fallen leaves etc. You may also use an insecticidal soap spray which is not harmful to humans or animals. This soap derivative, however, may require more than one application to control insect population. It's also a good idea to use this spray weekly to prevent any attacks.

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