08/22/15 Weekend update

Last week I went back to Pacific Northwest Bonsai and picked up a few more items. Maybe it's because it's almost the end of the summer, or maybe it's because I was just there, but they didn't seem to have as much a selection as last time. Nonetheless I picked up a Japanese black pine, a trident maple and a few small Chinese elms.
I was looking at the trident maples, thinking about how well they're growing. I did a bit of research and everyone talks about how well trident maple cuttings grow. I'm definitely going to try some hardwood cuttings late next winter. Some of the research said they can do really well as softwood cuttings. I figured I don't have anything to lose so I cut a few and and trying to do some softwood cuttings. I think it might be too late in the season. But then again - what do I have to lose? Regardless of whether they do good or fail, I'm still going to try some hardwood cuttings. And if they succeed, then I'll have more trident maple starters for next year.
The Deshojos got a bit of more growth just recently. They're really just tiny things. The trunk is still thinner than a toothpick and it's not woody. But I have lots of them! Other than being small, they're healthy.
The trident maple seedlings have surprised me. As the summer has gotten warmer, they've all gotten nice. They looked miserable in the spring, but look respectable now!
The azaleas and Japanese andromedas look good. What more can I say about them. Same for the dwarf azaleas. Seems they didn't mind the drastic pruning and have come back nicely.
Aaron's pumpkins have been growing great! The whole back yard is full of vines everywhere. We've harvested zucchini and yellow zucchini and they were huge. Right now he has gold nuggets, acorns, castilla, Hubbard, zucchini and yellow zucchini All have fruit. Plus there's some bok choy and garden beans. Grandma had some red onions that went to flower. Aaron collected the seeds from the onions and will be planting those as well next year.
That's it for now, summer is calling my name.