Hi, it's not clear to me where your tree is growing - indoors or out, and that's going to matter a lot as to what happens next. As well, can you please post a picture somewhere (leaving a note here) so we can see the tree, which would be a big help, especially if you can get a good shot or two of a relative close-up of the leaves. You didn't say where you got the tree, but if it was your backyard (or equivalent) you may be growing e.g. a Norway or sugar maple, neither of which are much good for bonsai at all. Thirdly, the best time to work on maples is the winter, when they're dormant (if outdoors where they belong), usually in Feb. before they bud out and before sap flows. Early and mid summer are bad times, so what you might have to do if the pot's too small is get a size larger pot and 'slip pot' - get the whole thing out of its present pot in as much of one piece as possible, disturbing roots as little as possible, and just slip it into the larger one, backfilling with a gritty mix where needed. That would be temporary, but at least deal with the scrunch.

I'll second the Edible Landscaping recommendation. I haven't ordered any of their larger plants, but I was very pleased with the quart-size mulberry and figs that I bought last fall. They shipped quickly, and their packaging was first-rate. Also, where did you buy the smaller plants that have disappointed you? I ask because I've had very good luck with the 2-year-old plants that I purchased from Simmons Plant Farm and Burnt Ridge Nursery last spring. At this point, the more vigorous varieties have reached 3' or so and are loaded with blossoms (from 12" to 15" at the time of planting).

Ravenh that is positively decadent, even by the standards of some of my wealthiest clients. I've seen 100 year old trees that might be worth it if you think of the trees as a living sculpture but I've never seen a 50 year old that was so extraordinarily beautiful to be worth that investment. In the neighborhoods of Greenwich, CT and parts of Westchester, NY (my main work domain) rich folks often purchase 10-20 year old trees from distant commercial orchards. I was called onto an estate owned by a leading fashion-designer- clothing manufacturer where a 50 tree orchard like this had been installed at about 3 grand a tree and after 3 years the trees were completely stunted. The high end nursery responsible for the installation failed to solve the problem even though it was quite obvious when I poked around. The holes had been dug by the same tree spade that dug up the trees so they were the same size as the root ball. The soil was a silt that compacted from pressure from the tree spade and roots could not cross the glazed walls of the planting holes. I proscribed breaking up the soil with shovels from the edge to a few feet beyond the original root ball and didn't hear back from the contractor who subcontracted me for the consultation. A few years later a friend on mine got the contract for the property and subcontracted me to tend the apples and they were in great shape, having completely recovered. I'm taking full credit, of course, although none of the trees were left untreated as a control. In this business when things go well you better take credit because when they don't you will certainly be blamed.

Kids' tastes, likes and dislikes change so much as they grow. What I did when mine were young was go with their favorite colors in solids that washed and wore easily and well. For example, with my son, I went with royal blue for his washable comforter and then added touches of red, green and yellow with his valance (over blackout shades), bedskirt and throw pillows. I then bought poster frames and 5x7" easel back frames that allowed me to quickly, easily and inexpensively change out his art as he grew. The 5x7" frames were perfect for turning "cool" greeting cards into works of art that he could place around his room wherever. We went from zoo animals to dinosaurs to whatever he had a big interest in next. I brought in a long 3-section bookcase and primary colored bins to corral most of his toys and let him display his books and whatever toys he chose on the rest of the shelves. As time went on, I let him pick out printed fabric in "cool guy designs" and made throw pillow covers for his bed. I guess what I'm saying is that I liked to keep things basic so that he could inexpensively and easily choose new art and accent pieces. It was his room, not his decorator mommy's room, he used to like telling his friends and he was always very proud of it. Lynn