'Nishiki Nee' sounds interesting. no splotches but it grows slower 6-8" (15-20cm) compared to most that grow 16" or more (45+ cm). Needles are described as "yellow green" bark described as "spitting up and down the trunk." Shrub-form [will become a small tree certainly]. (Stanley & Sons Catalogue, 2007-2008) Large-growing forms: 'Albovariegata' 'here and there splashes of white' 'Aocha-matsu' "Rare and Nice!" 'long green needles with a yellow splashes'. 'Frosty Patches' 'here and there white' 'Shirome-janome' over 2/3meter growth a year with strong yellow variegation. needs part shade. (Stanley & Sons 2008-2009) Dax

'Green Elf' - dwarf mound, shamrock-green in color, 3" a year. (Stanley & Sons 2008-2009) ______________ 'Yatsubusa' 'Dwarf, dense, spreading mound, many buds, light green needles. Obrizok 'A Garden of Conifers - Introduction and Selection Guide' (1999); Firefly Books Ltd. ISBN: 0913643084 _____________ Dax

I'd say they'll eventually fail, but hard to tell when -- prb'ly yrs. I wouldn't cut them down -- enjoy them while they're alive. Here an excerpt from a file on pine diseases: ******** The pine wood nematode, Busaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner & Buhrer), apparently is native to North America but is currently active and killing large numbers of native pines in Asia, most notably in Japan (Mamiya, 1983; Wingfield, 1987a). The pine wood nematode is a classic example of an introduced pathogen on a population apparently lacking resistance. Where the nematode is native in North America, local, native pine species are highly resistant and unaffected. The nematode has a fascinating and complex biology (Mamiya, 1983; Wingfield, 1987a). Its vector, long horn beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), themselves of secondary importance, emerge from dead trees in spring carrying large numbers of nematodes and proceed to maturation feed on the shoots of healthy pines. Nematodes enter the maturation feeding wounds and multiply rapidly in the resin ducts, resulting in rapid wilting of the host, perhaps due to toxins produced by the nematode (Bollaet al., 1987). In dying and dead trees, the nematodes enter a mycophagus phase, where they feed on blue stain fungi. Dying trees are then attractive to the mature beetles that oviposit in the bark, thus completing the life cycle of the beetles and providing the nematodes in these trees with vectors for the next season. ********

I have a picture of Dave DeWire giving a talk about the Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection at the Rhododendron Species Garden in Federal Way, Wa. It was the last day for public viewing at that time and I was lucky enough to get a picture. I took a picture of almost all of the collection that day also. For some reason Dave doesn't want to load. :-( I don't look at bonsai sites and haven't for quite some time. Sorry. Think of Niwaki as giant Bonsai. It's just a matter of paying attention to scale. If I had a smaller garden I would do a lot of Niwaki and some Bonsai too.