A Prelude to Bonsai

My trees are still alive.

I’ve had many bonsai. Many people I know have had many bonsai. But mine are still alive.

When I was young, maybe 5th grade, I was mesmerized by the miniature trees on a cart at the mall. I convinced my parents that I needed them and one by one, over the course of several months, I killed approximately 6 trees. Like any normal person I gave up. There are plenty of beautiful paintings in the world, skyscrapers, and gourmet meals. I can enjoy them without having to be an artist, architect, or chef (though I was professionally for a couple years) so why take the extra effort to create something when I could just enjoy it? I think that the true enjoyment of any craft ignites one’s own desire to create. It certainly does for me; and it’s why at the age of 25 I went back to my local nursery just to look at the tiny trees and ended up walking out with one in my hand.

Prelude

Noun:

An action or event serving as an introduction to something more important.

My work with my own trees as well as the start of this blog is my prelude to bonsai. I wouldn’t call the trees I have now bonsai. But I hope that my work now will be the action serving as an introduction to something more important.

I want this blog to do 2 things. First, it will tell you my story so far. The things I’ve learned, mistakes I’ve made, and discoveries I’ve stumbled upon. Second, I want you to be able to use this as a reference. Over the course of the past year I’ve been scouring the internet for answers. There is a great deal of garbage out there. People who will give you the wrong advice, the wrong techniques, and will leave you with a stick in a pot. There are also many people who are genuine experts, or more importantly, have the drive to be and are humble enough to say they are not. I will do my best to show you the best possible websites, blogs, and videos I’ve encountered. I’ve only been doing this for a year and have no professional experience.  What I can do is save you a year of searching for the people who do.

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