by Lee Squires

Bonsai Grafts & Skin Grafts

Our meeting on Saturday, February 20th at Bon Air Library should be an interesting one. My good friend and plant propagator, Chris Summers, will be on hand to give us a seminar on grafting. Sometimes you have a tree that needs a branch in a particular place but one will not sprout from the trunk. This is the ideal time to graft on a branch in that location. This process could make a mediocre tree into a great one. Chris will demonstrate & explain techniques and will give us a chance to try our skill at grafting too.

He will bring along some plants that he has propagated and grown and make these available to club members at reasonable prices. He grows several types of dwarf conifers, hollies and boxwoods. You need to attend this meeting.

Skin grafts? Well, not exactly, but close; it sounded good in the title. Actually, I’m referring to skin cancer. I recently had a basal cell carcinoma removed from the left side of my neck. In December 2008 I had one removed from my right temple This tells me one thing for sure; ball caps don’t protect the sides of your neck, face or ears from the harmful rays of the sun. I have decided to wear a wide- brimmed hat, probably straw, when working outside in the summer. It’s a must and very much a necessity to avoid a 3” incision and 15 sutures !

I, generally, wear a wide-brimmed hat while fishing but have sort of avoided it in the yard. I would recommend that you all start wearing the proper hats and sun screen while working out in the sun on your trees or doing mundane yard work. There are some good looking hats out on the market now so you won’t look too nerdy if you opt for a wide brimmer !