To evoke the spirit of nature-that is the essence of bonsai. What place in nature is special to you? A spot under a blossoming cherry tree? A most-carpeted forest? A pine-studded mountain crag? Your own bonsai can take you that place.
The first section of this blog is for inspiration, to give you a feeling of the spirit of nature reflected in the art that is bonsai. The second section gives you the hands in the dirt instruction that will bring that spirit of nature alive for you.
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| Ficus bonsai |
Your first encounter with bonsai (bone-sigh) may startle you. There standing in front of you, is a tree 50, 100, 200 years old, with all the natural dignity and gnarled venerability of its age- and it's only 12 inches tall! You have the fleeting impression of being a Gulliver in Liliput.
Your next feeling may be that you want to try your hand at the art of bonsai. Few who enjoy working with plants can resist bonsai's challenges and rewards. And it's not nearly as difficult as you might expect. All it requires is some basic knowledge of plant growth habits, pruning techniques and plant care. And all you'll need to succed are care and patience. You aren't going to create a beautiful bonsai overnight. But neither will it take you 50 years.
Defined simply, bonsai is a dwarfed tree growing in a tray or a pot. Bon means tray or pot in Japanese. Sai means to plant. So bonsai means literally, "planted in a tray". Leaving it at that, though, is like defining a symphony as a collection of notes played on a collection of instruments. Both statements are true as far as they go, but there is so much more to say.
Like ikebana, the Japenese art of flower arranging, bonsai is considered an art in its home country and among it devotees throughout the world. Does the sound more than a little intimidating? It needn't be. Any pasttime capable of sustaining your interest and enthusiasm for a number of years is going to involve challenges and even difficulties. They're the spice. They make the rewards of success that much more satisfying.
Nobody who's just taken up oil painting expects to paint a masterpiece right away. Nor will the bonsai beginner create perfection at first. But bonsai offers twin opportunities for pleasure. Along with the artistry of it comes the achievement of growing something, not just anything, but a 10 inch high tree that by all rights ought to be 40 or 50 feet tall. You can experience the sheer wonder of watching a maple tree, small enough to hold in your hand, sprout its tiny buds in the spring, fill out with deep green summer foliage, turn bright red in the fall, and drop all its leaves in winter.
Whether or not your bonsai is a horticulturist's Mona Lisa, you can appreciate it deeply. As you become caught up in the hobby, you'll continue to strive for aartistry, refining your techniques to create desired effects. And you'll continue to be delighted at the sight of a mature tree thriving in a shallow conatiner.
(Bonsai. 1979. Lane Publishing)
Defined simply, bonsai is a dwarfed tree growing in a tray or a pot. Bon means tray or pot in Japanese. Sai means to plant. So bonsai means literally, "planted in a tray". Leaving it at that, though, is like defining a symphony as a collection of notes played on a collection of instruments. Both statements are true as far as they go, but there is so much more to say.
Like ikebana, the Japenese art of flower arranging, bonsai is considered an art in its home country and among it devotees throughout the world. Does the sound more than a little intimidating? It needn't be. Any pasttime capable of sustaining your interest and enthusiasm for a number of years is going to involve challenges and even difficulties. They're the spice. They make the rewards of success that much more satisfying.
Nobody who's just taken up oil painting expects to paint a masterpiece right away. Nor will the bonsai beginner create perfection at first. But bonsai offers twin opportunities for pleasure. Along with the artistry of it comes the achievement of growing something, not just anything, but a 10 inch high tree that by all rights ought to be 40 or 50 feet tall. You can experience the sheer wonder of watching a maple tree, small enough to hold in your hand, sprout its tiny buds in the spring, fill out with deep green summer foliage, turn bright red in the fall, and drop all its leaves in winter.
Whether or not your bonsai is a horticulturist's Mona Lisa, you can appreciate it deeply. As you become caught up in the hobby, you'll continue to strive for aartistry, refining your techniques to create desired effects. And you'll continue to be delighted at the sight of a mature tree thriving in a shallow conatiner.
(Bonsai. 1979. Lane Publishing)
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