Garden Treasures: Bonsai and pollinator-friendly plants

I have been very lucky over the years with my collection of bonsai trees. The one pictured is my oldest one, at almost 40 years old. It is a Chinese Elm and was acquired in the early 1990’s, when it was about 10 years old. It is indigenous to China and south-east Asia. In its native environment it can be a mighty tree reaching heights of up to 25 meters. It develops a fine branch ramification with small leaves, which makes it a very suitable Bonsai plant. It thrives in either full sun and/or partial shade. If you have an indoor Chinese Elm Bonsai you can place it outside during the summer, but it's best to bring it into a cool, but frost-free, room in the winter. The tree can usually endure some frost but it differs depending on the region it was imported from. Trees from northern Chinese regions are more frost-hardy than those coming from southern areas. Depending on winter temperatures they either drop their leaves or keep them until spring when the new shoots emerge. I find it best to ignore labels stating your Chinese elm needs watering every day, in my experience, you need to water on observation. Wait until the topsoil is dry, and then water generously, making sure the entire root-mass is watered. I have another 2 smaller Chinese Elms, a bonsai Olive tree, a Rhododendron Wren and a small conifer I have grown from seed. Mine all stay out throughout the winter months too.