Snow Gums are the trees in our Australian snowfields, very different to the Aspens and Pine trees in the Northern Hemisphere. You will notice the colourful tree trunks, many different colours from the greens to the reds and creams. http://picasaweb.google.com.au/Henny347/SnowGums
I ski and inline skate, totally addicted to powder skiing in USA where I have had the best powder on the steepest runs.
My calmer pursuits include book restoration and calligraphy, I now have some Japanese brushes with an ink stone and ink block and did some classes at Sydney Uni, now am having private lessons with a Chinese girl who did calligraphy from the time she was in primary school.
I took up bonsai in 2008 after attending a workshop, did a few rather bad ones by myself until starting classes in Penjing.
I am now having lessons in Penjing (Chinese bonsai) at The Lingnan Penjing Academy of Australia. Penjing dates back many centuries in China, the Japanese took it to Japan and adapted it to become bonsai. Penjing trees are more natural, looking like trees in the landscape.