Propagating a Bonsai Tree By Grafting And Air Layering

Many bonsai enthusiasts derive great pleasure from growing their own bonsai trees. Some like to plant the seeds themselves and nurture them from sprouts to young trees, ready for shaping. Others prefer to take cuttings from a �parent tree� so they can grow a new tree with the parent tree�s characteristics. Still others like to grow bonsai from air layering�a technique that�s been practiced in Asia for thousands of years�or grafting, which is typically used by gardeners at bonsai nurseries. These last two propagation techniques are a bit more difficult to master than growing from seeds or cuttings, but they are reliable methods to grow your own bonsai.

Grafting is a complex method that involves combining two plants�either two parts of the same plant�or of two different plants. This is done by exposing the cambium, the layer under the bark, and joining the two parts together and allowing them to heal or graft together. The cambium of both the transplanted plant, or scion, and the rootstock or under-stock (plant which interacts with the soil) must be kept in contact with each other for several weeks for the graft to take place. The scion is usually a short piece of stem with one or two buds, and the rootstock will become the new root system. Generally, the closer in species two different plants are, the better the chances of a successful graft.Layering involves creating a new bonsai from the developed branches of fully-grown trees or shrubs. One of its advantages is that you will have a mature tree in one growing season, much faster than other methods. The principal behind layering involves intentionally injuring the tree to interrupt the flow of nutrients, or sap, from its roots to a branch. In order to survive, the injured part of the branch will first form a callus and then new buds that form roots to pull nutrients and moisture from the environment. This branch will then eventually become a new bonsai. Layering should always be done in the spring when the tree is growing and the sap is rising, no matter what the species.The ring method involves using a sharp knife to cut a ring around the diameter of the branch and then remove the ring of bark. Make sure you remove the bark and the cambium, leaving just the tree�s �shiny� hard wood or the tree will not grow new roots. You can dust the ring with hormone, found at bonsai specialty shops, and wrap it with moss or plastic wrap. Japanese maple, Chinese elm, and cotoneaster do well with this technique.There are two techniques to air-layer a tree: the tourniquet method and the ring method. With the tourniquet method, you wrap a wire tightly around the branch to partially stop the flow of sap. As the branch slowly grows, the wire will become tighter, digging into the bark and then underlying soft, green cambium layer, stopping the flow of nutrients. The branch will be forced to grow new roots just above the wire. Some bonsai experts wrap the new rooting area with sphagnum moss, peat moss, or a plastic bag to protect it. Make sure you can water the area through the wrapping. Good species for the tourniquet method include cedars, junipers, azaleas, and wisteria.

Grafting is a complex method that involves combining two plants�either two parts of the same plant�or of two different plants. This is done by exposing the cambium, the layer under the bark, and joining the two parts together and allowing them to heal or graft together. The cambium of both the transplanted plant, or scion, and the rootstock or under-stock (plant which interacts with the soil) must be kept in contact with each other for several weeks for the graft to take place. The scion is usually a short piece of stem with one or two buds, and the rootstock will become the new root system. Generally, the closer in species two different plants are, the better the chances of a successful graft.

Author: Andrew Kozlowski

How to Pick a Good Bonsai Plant if You're a Beginner

It's just amazing to consider the quantity and great diversity of trees and plants that can be used and trained for bonsai. If a plant or tree has a woody stem there is a very good chance that it can be used to develop a bonsai plant.

Yet another favorite is the Chinese Juniper (Juniperus Chinensis). This coniferous juniper with dark green needle-shaped leaves is hardy and straightforward to work with. Again, this plant can endure and thrive in full sunlight all year round, but needs a little protection from very cold winter winds and frosts. This plant will do its best when you keep the soil moist all year long. This will likely require you to check the moisture level in th soil regularly, especially in winter.Your Japanese maple bonsai will require regular watering from spring, when you begin to see signs that the tree is coming out of dormancy, through late fall when the tree has dropped the last of it's leaves. Japanese maples like moist soil, so you will need to be vigilant in checking the moisture level in the soil to maintain the optimum level of moisture. The best way to water your Japanese Maple is to water it in the morning. Let it dry out over the course of the day but never allow it to become completely dry. You don't want to over-water your Japanese Maple bonsai either. Your bonsai pot should have enough drainage holes to allow all excess water to drain out. Japanese Maple trees are vulnerable to root rot so it is very important that the pots drain thoroughly and the roots don't sit in water.You can improve the odds by controlling some of these conditions, and shorten the cycle. Once you have picked the seeds and removed the wing just place them in a paper bag and store them in a cool dry place until you are ready for them. You don�t want to plant your seeds out in the spring until the danger of frost has past. Here in the north May 15th is a safe bet.--FeedingThe Chinese Elm (Ulmus Parvifolia) is amongst the best trees of all for the beginner bonsai grower. This tree is relatively slow growing and extremely forgiving of poor cutting and pruning. When grown outdoors this tree reluctantly loses it's leaves and oftentime continues to have some at mid-winter. For best results you need to keep the plant in an area which is sheltered from the wind, but that's nevertheless pleasant and sunny. During the winter you can keep it inside a cool room that has good light. Just like the Chinese Juniper you need to keep this plant's soil moist continuously through the summer, Again, don't overwater in order to keep it moist, just water more frequently. Through the winter keep the soil just barely moist after all the leaves have fallen.To plant the seeds just sow them on top of a bed of well drained topsoil or sterilized potting soil, and cover with approximately 3/8� of soil. Water them thoroughly, but allow the soil to dry out completely before watering thoroughly again. If you water them frequently, not only do you stand a chance of the seeds rotting from being too wet, but you will also keep them cool, which will slow down the germination process.

It's not hard whatsoever to get started in the hobby of bonsai. A good, practical, step-by-step guide to bonsai gardening is essential to a beginner's success. And I'm not talking about a picture-book that is better suited for the coffee table. I have a link on my website to what I consider to be the best practical guide, dollar for dollar, that you can find. Don't wait to get started in this fascinating hobby. Check out this really great book and get started today!

Author: Mike Andrews

How to Grow Japanese Red Maple Trees from Seed

Most Japanese Maple seeds ripen in the fall. Watch the tree and wait for the seeds to turn brown. The seeds are ready to be harvested when they are brown and can be easily removed from the tree.

In order for all of this to happen in the proper sequence so the seedlings actually sprout at a time of the year when freezing temperatures or hot summer sun doesn�t kill them, takes a tremendous amount of luck.If May 15th is your target date you should count backwards on the calendar 100 days. That will take you to about February 5th if my math is correct. On or about the 100th day prior to your target planting date, take the seeds and place them in a Styrofoam cup or other container that will withstand some hot water. Draw warm to hot water from your kitchen faucet and pour it over the seeds. Most of the seeds will float, just leave them in the water overnight as the water cools down. 24 hours later most of the seeds will have settled to the bottom of the cup.I have compiled a short but very good list of plants which have been very good choices for the beginner bonsai grower, and which will be easily obtainable and widely used:All plants love a humid environment, and your Japanese Maple will thrive in this type of environment. Humidity can be increased by filling a shallow container with small stones, and then covering the stones with water, and then placing your bonsai pot on top of the stones. The humidity level is increased as the water evaporates from the shallow container. Additional humidity slows down the water loss from the trees leaves, a process called transpiration. Another way to increase the humidity level and reduce the transpiration of water from the leaves is to give your bonsai a frequent spraying with a fine mist.The Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatum) is a deciduous tree which has green leaves in the spring which turn a beautiful rich red in the summer time and a dazzling red in the fall. This kind of tree isn't going to need a great amount of maintenance beyond what is recommended for most bonsai plants. Grow it in full summer sunlight but safeguard it from excessive cold and severe frost during the cold months. As with all bonsai, watering your plant correctly is very important. This maple enjoys small, frequent watering, and make sure you never let the soil dry out entirely.The seeds are attached to a wing, it�s best to break the wing off before storing or planting the seeds. Japanese Maple seeds have a very hard outer coating as do many ornamental plants. Under natural conditions the seeds would have to be on the ground for almost two years before they would germinate. All that happens the first winter is the moisture softens the hard outer shell, and the second winter germination is beginning to take place.Drain off the water. Place the seeds in a plastic bag with a mixture of sand and peat or other suitable growing mix. Even light potting soil will work. The peat or soil should be moist, but not soaking wet. Poke some holes in the bag so there is some air circulation, and place the bag in your refrigerator for a period of 100 days.The Right Amount of Sunlight is ImportantWatering Your Japanese Maple

You are welcome to use this article on your website or in your newsletter as long as you reprint it as is, including the contact information at the end. Website URLs must be active links. You are welcome to use this article with an affiliate link, http://www.freeplants.com/resellers.htm

Author: Michael McGroarty

How to Care for Your Japanese Maple Bonsai

The Japanese Maple is a perfect species for bonsai which accounts for it's popularity all over the world. It is adored for it's smaller size, it's lacy leaves, and it's spectacular display of fall colors. It's botanical name is derived from and is descriptive of the tree's leaves, which have at least five lobes and somewhat resemble a human hand. The Acer palmatum includes the red, green, lace-leaf, and thread-leaf varieties. The most popular of these varieties is the red variety.

These five examples barely scratch the surface of the large number of choices for your bonsai plant. A good nursery or garden center will probably be an ideal place to begin your search for your first bonsai masterpiece.If you have repotted and done some spring root pruning then do not feed during the two months following repotting when a tree is weakened or you could cause root damage.Give your Japanese maple bonsai its first feeding in early spring when you first see new growth appearing using a slow-release, high nitrogen fertilizer. Continue feeding every 2-3 weeks until about mid-autumn. Fish emulsion is a good choice as a natural fertilizer. If you're using a chemical fertilizer make sure that you only use a half strength solution. A balanced 20-20-20 fertilizer is recommended. You should stop fertilizing your bonsai tree during the hottest weeks of the summer to avoid any possible damage. Switch to a low nitrogen fertilizer in mid-autumn in oder to help harden off the current year's new growth. this will help prepare the tree for the upcoming winter.The Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina) is a very common houseplant, very often seen in offices as well as homes because it is relatively low-maintenance. This can be a good plant to modify as a bonsai plant, and once more is an extremely good choice for the beginner grower. For the reason that this plant is accustomed to living in a very warm environment it should only be grown indoors. Keep the soil evenly moist through the summer months, cutting back during the winter but never permitting the soil to completely dry out.HumidityOnce they start to germinate provide about 50% shade to keep the sun from burning them. Snow fence suspended about 30� above the bed will provide about 50% shade. Japanese Maples will tolerate some shade so it isn�t too important to transplant them too quickly. Depending on how close together they are, you might be able to leave them in the same bed for one or two growing seasons. Don�t transplant until they are completely dormant.Japanese maples, while being hardy, should be placed in an area that is protected from cold and harsh winter winds also. Winter winds tend to be dry winds, and even though your Japanese maple will be in a state of dormancy during the winter, cold drying winds can cause damage.Good light conditions ensure smaller leaf size, better back-budding, denser foliage, and stronger fall colors. Avoid burning the sensitive and delicate leaves of your Japanese Maple by providing it with sufficient protection from the intense mid-day sun. Try to place your tree where it will receive direct morning and evening sun, but is protected from the mid-day sun when it is the hottest outside. The sensitive leaves of the maple can actually burn if exposed for long periods to intense sunshine. In the spring and autumn the mid-day sun is relatively mild and so it is OK to leave your bonsai in the full sun all day at these times of the year. Another thing to protect the leaves of your Japanese from is hot, dry summer winds, which can also burn the leaves. Your Japanese Maple will be especially vulnerable to sun and wind burn for a week or more after pruning it's roots and re-potting it. Be sure you keep it out of harsh sun and wind during this time.You are welcome to use this article on your website or in your newsletter as long as you reprint it as is, including the contact information at the end. Website URLs must be active links. You are welcome to use this article with an affiliate link, http://www.freeplants.com/resellers.htm

If you have repotted and done some spring root pruning then do not feed during the two months following repotting when a tree is weakened or you could cause root damage.

Author: Mike Andrews

Davey tree doctor

Drain Fields

Root pruning really should be performed about every other year for younger plants, and then every two to three years for mature plants.The Japanese maple bonsai is formed, partly, by means of careful and planned pruning. The very best time of year to prune the Japanese maple is in the fall because the tree will bleed far less than if pruned in the spring. It's also much easier to prune when there are no leaves. This bleeding will be reduced if the tree's roots are pruned in advance. All injuries resulting from pruning the tree's branches ought to be sealed with a wound dressing sold at your local garden store or nursery. If you are going to prune the tree's roots and perform some branch pruning the best time of year will be to do both in the fall.PruningA: If the installation of the drain disturbed the tree roots, you will have canopy dieback in the same proportion (for example, if 20% of the roots were damaged, then 20% of the canopy will fail). It is difficult to make an assessment of potential harm without knowing what type of drain it is. If it is a French drain or a leach field, the contents may have an effect on nearby trees. However, if the drain is a closed conduit, then the damage will be mechanical only.Donna, Norfolk, VARepottingTrees AbroadWater the tree completely as the last few leaves drop off in the fall. Your Japanese maple ought to then be moved to a location for the winter that will provide it shelter from drying winter winds. If not protected, the dry winter winds may cause extensive injury to your Japanese maple. The soil in your bonsai's pot will quickly dry out when subjected to the winter winds. Don't water your Japanese maple bonsai very much during the winter, but do check the soil from time to time. Give it a drink of water whenever the soil in the pot feels dry at a depth of one-half to one inch below the surface. You should also make sure that your tree's roots will not freeze during the winter. If you are unsure of the hardiness of your tree, keep the tree in a cold frame to prevent the soil from freezing, and safeguard it against frosts.These practices stand in stark contrast to the Western view of maternal care. In the United States, the focus is on prenatal care. Once a baby is delivered, the new mother typically stays in the hospital for two to five days and is then released. A doctor doesn't see her until six weeks later.New mothers also abide by restrictions such as not bathing or washing their hair, eating only warm, low-sodium foods and staying homebound for the month. Often, visitors are not allowed. Also off limits: television, reading, computers and anything that may strain the eyes.Caring for Your Japanese Maple During the WinterMOMMY MOTELA woman's physiological systems are under heavy stress during pregnancy and delivery, making the post-birth recovery period particularly critical, according to Michael Lu, an obstetrician and gynecologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center.Factoring in airline fare and hospital fees, it costs a minimum of $10,000 for these luxuries; room and board start at $4,000. Additional costs may include the husband's flight, room and board (the husbands typically join the moms right before birth) and shopping for baby gear at nearby outlet malls, a common excursion organized by the homes. (At least one new mother found the lure of outlet mall shopping stronger than her will to observe the tradition of staying indoors for the month, according to a worker at the home.)Finally, make a clean cut to remove the remaining stub of the branch. When making this final cut, smoothly do if outside of the branch bark ridge and the evident collar, not flush to the parent branch or trunk. This allows for proper healing.Pear TreesIt was time, Lisa Juachon thought.During the final months of their pregnancies, the mothers flew in from Taiwan and China; dubbed as birthing tourism, their children's American births grant them the rights to American citizenship. Such places, which primarily advertise in Chinese-language US newspapers and websites, use traditional practices to care for mothers immediately after birth. This growing cottage industry began in Asia, where waves of young people have, in recent years, moved from rural areas to cities and away from their extended families, the traditional support group for new mothers. Spaces at the most upscale postpartum care houses in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China are coveted, fetching top dollar.

To submit your own question, visit www.americanforests.org/treedoctor.

Grow Your Own Amazingly Beautiful Japanese Maple Bonsai - Part II

In my previous report we dealt with the proper fertilizing, watering, light, and humidity needs for the Japanese maple bonsai. In this second article on the way to care for your Japanese Maple we will focus on when and how to re-pot, root-prune, and branch-prune your Japanese maple, and how to care for it during the winter.

While some of Lu's patients-25 percent of whom are Asianembrace the practices, others ask whether these traditions are worthwhile. He urges them to view the traditions in terms of their historical and cultural contexts. "There may have been really good reasons for these practices, although some may have less relevance in today's world," Lu says.Another option is to hire a live-in caregiver, which my friend Kathy Chow of San Marino, CA, did last year for the month after her son's birth. Chow, 32, initially considered using a food delivery service, which would have freed her family from the hours of shopping, preparing and cooking involved in assembling traditional meals. Ultimately, Chow and her husband moved in with her parents, emigrants from Taiwan, for the month and hired someone from a Chinese nanny agency who cooked for them and cared for the baby at night. These full-time "night nannies" typically cost $2,800 per month.Lu emphasizes that building the mother's health is paramount. "Trying to help mom restore her health as quickly as possible by giving her good nutrition, by making sure she's getting plenty of rest and by having a strong network of social support around her - those are all tremendously useful for new moms and their health," Lu says. "It actually has a lot of impact on her long-term health." Not to mention short-term mental health: Lack of support after birth is one key factor leading to postpartum depression, Lu says.While post-birth care for mothers is not mainstream practice in Western medicine, many Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin, indigenous and other cultures view the month or so following birth as a sacred and crucial time for new moms to recover. Traditions vary by ethnicity, region and religion, but there are common themes: female-oriented, family-centric support networks; a focus on fortifying the new mother's health; and rites of passage and celebrations marking new beginnings. Many Asian American women abide by or adapt traditions out of respect for the older generation, and some second-generation Asian American women are following the traditions even more closely than their foremothers.While pregnant, she had read that in the southern Philippines, the placenta is seen as the twin soul of the baby, something that was once a living being that kept the fetus alive as well. Tradition dictated that it should be kept close to the home, not disposed of as medical waste. The idea spoke to her, a Filipino American who had been craving a closer connection to her heritage. So, on that night five years ago, she knew it was time to bury the placenta in her yard.Root PruningSpring is also a good time to prune the roots of your Japanese maple because temperature have not yet risen and the tree's leaves have not yet formed so there are no losses of water from the leaves through transpiration, so stress to the plant is minimized.The pruning of your Japanese maple's roots should always be combined with branch pruning so that the root system is not over-stressed seeking to supply water and food to the plants branches and leaves.As a result of root pruning your Japanese Maple will lose some of its ability to transport water and food to its leaves and branches. This is the reason fall is the best time for you to prune the roots because the tree is slowing down it's systems of moving water and nutrients through the tree anyway. Late fall or early spring are the times that are the least stressful for the tree.Juachon's act might seem unusual. But she is one of many Asian and Pacific Islander women in the United States practicing age-old post-birth traditions in order to connect to their cultural heritage.To some extent, Western medicine acknowledges the idea of a post-birth transitional period for mothers. The homebound period, which is practiced among many cultures and varies from 28 to 40 days, matches the Western view of six weeks as the time when a mom's health should be restored (hence the six-week postpartum doctor's visit).Under a full moon, she walked with a friend to the Japanese maple sapling tree in her Berkeley, CA, backyard. She took out the plastic container that she had kept in her freezer for more than a year after the grueling birth of her son.At the Rowland Heights home, a cook prepares the new mothers' meals, which include dishes like sesame oil chicken, brown rice, rice wine soup and bone broth soup. New mothers are given food six times a day - four full meals and two healthy desserts. Babies are delivered to the rooms when they need to be fed by the moms, but most of the time the babies sleep in a separate room watched over by a hired hand.For help cutting very large limbs or those high in your tree, contact your local arborist.

Bonsai gardening is a hobby that is fascinating, affordable, and easy to get involved in. Bonsai can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and can last a lifetime. Click this link to learn more about growing your own amazing Japanese maple bonsai, and sign up for your FREE 7-part introductory mini-course on how to grow miniature bonsai trees. Or, to get started growing your own bonsai trees right away check out the highly regarded "how-to" bonsai book "Beautiful Bonsai Secrets".

Author: Mike andrews

MOTHERHOOD ROOTED

Asian and Pacific Islander moms in the US embrace ancient post-birth traditions.

Unknown, Stanwood, WashingtonA: Your tree may be suffering from fire blight, a bacterial disease that spreads through pollinating insects. It usually begins where flowers are attached, then moves into the branch. When dieback occurs, it can make the tree look as if it caught fire.To submit your own question, visit www.americanforests.org/treedoctor.>Harbans Bawa, Punjab, IndiaPruningWhile fungicides may offer some protection, the severity of the disease can vary each year based on moisture levels. Additionally, pruning affected branches and sterilizing your pruning tool between each cut may also help.Most bonsai trees need to be re-potted about every second year. It is crucial not to let the bonsai's roots get overcrowded in it's pot. The perfect time of year to re-pot your bonsai is in the fall. The primary purpose of re-potting is to give you an opportunity to prune the trees roots. The effect of root pruning will be to stimulate healthy new growth. Once you have carefully removed the tree from it's pot you can rinse off the roots with running water.This will make it easier to prune and to re-pot. Be sure to carefully examine and remove all dead or damaged roots. Re-pot your tree in a potting mixture that consists of 1/3 loam, 1/3, peat, and 1/3 coarse sand. For all styles except a cascading style, you want to use a shallow pot. This will compel the roots to spread out and will create a stable root base.Furthermore, both Lu and Chen say that mothers no longer need to avoid bathing. The task can now be performed safely, thanks to modern, chill-warding conveniences such as heaters and hairdryers. Still, waiting at least a few days after giving birth to take a shower is a good idea, as this gives the body time to rest, Lu says.A: Yes, you can remove the top limbs, but the tree will have the best chance for survival if you follow proper pruning practices. Here are some guidelines:For example, Lu cautions against consuming anything made with alcohol (rice wine is a common ingrethent in postpartum dishes) or Chinese herbs. While there�euro(TM)s not much research on any beneficial effects, the various chemicals would likely be passed on to the nursing baby, he said. High-protein foods such as chicken soup, however, are essential during the post-birth period, because the mother needs to heal and restore her blood loss.The Japanese maple will normally have stopped providing it's leaves with water by late fall. The roots of the Japanese maple will remain active long after all of the leaves have fallen off, provided that the temperature remains above 55 degrees. When you prune the roots prior to the temperature dropping below 55 degrees the roots should have a chance for some new growth.Bonsai gardening is a hobby that is fascinating, affordable, and easy to get involved in. Bonsai can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and can last a lifetime. Click this link to learn more about growing your own amazing Japanese maple bonsai, and sign up for your FREE 7-part introductory mini-course on how to grow miniature bonsai trees. Or, to get started growing your own bonsai trees right away check out the highly regarded "how-to" bonsai book "Beautiful Bonsai Secrets".Q: My Japanese maple has become too tall for its location. Can the tree's limbs be shortened by about 3 feet without too much damage?Fine, delicate branches are a feature of superior Japanese maple bonsai specimens. After you prune your tree to prevent long internodes the result is going to be delicate branches. The space between one pair of leaves and the next pair of leaves on a branch is call the internode. To shorten the internode you need to regularly pinch back all of the new growth throughout the growing season. You'll want to pinch back new shoots by pruning them back to just two sets of leaves (internodes). When you pinch off new shoots it creates a shorter internode on the next shoot, and when the internodes are shorter the foliage is always denser.Pruning your Japanese maple's leaves , also called defoliating, can be carried out each alternate year in early summer to encourage smaller leaves. Defoliating necessitates the removal of all of the tree's leaves, but leaving the leaf stems undamaged on the branch. By removing the leaves in this way the tree believes it is fall and it will then produce a second set of leaves which are smaller than the first set produced in the spring. Defoliating should only be performed every two years, and you should not defoliate your plant during the same year that the tree has been repotted.The Chinese tradition of zuo yue zi , which translates into 'doing the month,' dates back at least 2,600 years, says Wendy Chen, president of the California Alliance of Acupuncture Medicine. The belief is that during this period, one's pores are 'extra open' and that during this susceptible period, illness or infection could easily result from becoming chilled or exposed to wind. Even washing hands in cold water is avoided. Many Southeast Asian cultures subscribe to this idea, practicing 'mother roasting', or nam lua in Vietnamese, where a fire keeps the mother warm for a month. The practice involving an actual fire has largely disappeared in the United States, where indoor heaters now do the job. Among Indians, post-birth care is based on ancient Ayurvedic traditions, a health system dating back nearly 5,000 years that involves warm oil massages for both mother and child and eating heated foods like clear broths.Q: I planted a couple sagwan trees in August. Unfortunately, they have stopped growing, and the leaves are drying up. Is there anything I can do to save them?Q: What can happen to trees--pine trees in particular--when drain fields have been put all around them? Does it shorten the trees' lifespans? Can the salts weaken the trees?Q: I was wondering if there is a disease of any kind wiping out Bradford Pear trees in the Norfolk area of Virginia? Our tree wasn't as full of beautiful blooms last spring, but we didn't think anything of it till mid-summer, when we realized the tree was losing the leaves as if it were fall. I'm afraid the tree may be dead now. What could be causing this?At a six-bedroom, Spanish-style house in the Los Angeles suburb of Rowland Heights, an older Chinese woman watches over three sleeping newborns swaddled in blankets, their beanie-covered heads all facing the same direction. Their mothers rest in the other rooms of this zuo yue zi zhong xing , or postpartum care house.A: The sagwan is a deciduous tree that will shed leaves for 3-4 months during the latter half of the dry season. The rainy season in Punjab is July to September. Presumably the new transplant received plenty of water through September, and then lost its leaves naturally between October and January. They should break bud and releaf in spring. Sagwan seedlings should be transplanted in April.

Another option is to hire a live-in caregiver, which my friend Kathy Chow of San Marino, CA, did last year for the month after her son's birth. Chow, 32, initially considered using a food delivery service, which would have freed her family from the hours of shopping, preparing and cooking involved in assembling traditional meals. Ultimately, Chow and her husband moved in with her parents, emigrants from Taiwan, for the month and hired someone from a Chinese nanny agency who cooked for them and cared for the baby at night. These full-time "night nannies" typically cost $2,800 per month.

Author: Chang, Momo