With building confidence, and my mind's eye finally accustomed to imagining how the plant would look by mid-summer, I approached my other vine and boldly hacked off ancient branches that refused to grow young shoots closer to the ground, and shaped its long shaggy hairdo into a neat crewcut.
Every year, before I head out, I have to reread an article from a thirty-year-old copy of Fine Gardening and review my notes from previous years. But after a while outside, I remember what I’m doing and have a great time molding my spider-like bonsai plants. And best of all? The day was not too cold, there was no wind… and I heard BIRDS!