Yes, it can be done. You've probably given yourself the best advice anyone can give, considering that you're in the very early stages of developing an interest in bonsai. Do your research. I was lucky - when I discovered bonsai, my desire to reach a degree of proficiency that allowed me to create the trees I saw one day at a hotel where a bonsai show was being set up left me feeling it was an 'I have to' issue, more than an 'I want to' thing. I challenged myself, and immediately set out to be a bonsaiist ..... and just as quickly failed. What I discovered, and the best advice I can give to budding artists, is to learn first about soils. Close on the heals of an understanding of how soils work, you'll need to understand plant physiology to at least the degree that allows you to keep your plants alive for the long term. Once you have these two pieces of the puzzle, the rest comes easier. Fortunately, the most important part is the easiest part - soils and how they work - how to build a good soil for your trees. I can help with that by linking you to another thread here on GW that explains all the basics if you're interested; and you can get the rest of your questions answered here. The physiology part, how plants work, is an undertaking you'll probably need to go mainly alone. You can usually get individual questions answered here, but the big picture requires a deeper understanding of how plants work if you really are determined to progress in the art. I've seen a LOT of new faces come to bonsai, and about as many walk away; being enamoured of the little trees the draw; frustration the reason for the exodus. Bonsai on a revolving door policy, buying new plants to replace the still new but dead plants, isn't rewarding to many. It's only when your level of proficiency allows you to develop a treelationship that you reap the full rewards of being involved. Like a fire though, first the spark has to be lit. Let's hope that with a little fanning by supportive people, that you'll warm to the pleasant task ahead of you. Al

Brandon, thanks for the info on planting. This is new to me, and I just couldn't imagine anything young taking root in the dense soil I had to hack through to dig the hole so amending it seemed to make sense at the time. I can see how it would create an artificial tub now. I guess time will tell if the tree fully takes. I'll try to gauge the soil dampness better. With the sun around here, the surface dries out very quickly. It may well be that I'm not watering enough, though I'm not sure how to judge what's happening down at the bottom of the roots. jqpublic, I'm zone 9 by zip code but San Jose can be in the 8s too. In any case, the apple trees in the neighborhood seem to do very well. (and Ken - don't worry, I'm tickled pink that it set fruit so quickly. I just don't want to kill it!) Thanks for the help, everyone.

Birdsong: I can certainly understand why you feel the way you do. In fact, I agree with your views 100%. I am saddened that we are all in the position of losing our tempers because this issue is so near and dear to our hearts, and we always feel that we are losing the battle (especially when facing the approaching season of Chemlawn ads). I think I pointed out to Dil in one post why we all feel as strongly as we do: . . . I have often seen posts on this board seeking information on how to lure and feed deer, raccoons, etc. only to later see the same people here seeking a solution when the natural reaction has created a nuisance. . . . so you can see why people develop strong opinions about this issue. However, after spending a couple of years reading, I believe that we all have a unique opportunity here. This kind of board gives us the opportunity to debate these ideas online for many people to read. I like to think that there are other people out there, like Dil (and probably each one of us at one time or another), who are similarly fertile ground. I think that when we do lose our tempers and get sharper than we want to, our argument loses power. I'm as guilty as anyone of losing my temper in this thread, but the amazing thing about Dil is that he hung in there. I personally think that takes a pretty big person . . . not to mention that Dil has promised to try to explain his new understanding to his neighbors. He won't win them all over, but he may convince a few. What more can we ask for? Afterall, what we are asking for is a paradigm shift. Our culture values making money and personal enjoyment above and beyond all else. So, we are asking for deeply-rooted cultural ideals to change. That won't happen overnight. Maybe I'm being way too optimistic, but I think if people did understand the common sense of it, some of them wouldn't do the things they do. The only way to hope to change people's opinions is to debate them respectfully. So, while I understand where your anger comes from, I hope you will rethink your approach. You obviously understand the issue clearly and have some valuable insight to add.

Agree w/ken on the large leaves and I would not worry to much BUT the little baby leaf above that big leaf (2nd pic) what is going on with the very tip. How much water are you giving it in Salt lake. Apples need a lot of water. If not on a drip, dig a depression moat around the base of the tree and fill with water. Remove any grass or weeds from the trunk out to the edge of moat berm. Depth s/b about 2" deep and about 3' out from ONE side of the trunk(6' in dia.)now you can use the hose, water on dribble. Fill up the depression with water. Slow and deep. .......................................Use the "fruit and orchard forum" maybe it will work a little better for ya