I killed our first bonsai tree, a gift from my sister, back in 1974. It was a lovely little 12-year-old Chinese elm. I'd read that they like being outside, so I left it on the balcony of our apartment in Colorado where it was covered with snow a number of times during the first winter ('73). By early spring, it became clear that my understanding of the climate requirements for the little trees could have been a little more nuanced. I wince to think about what it might look like by now.Since then, however, I have killed even a few more, mostly due to neglect. That record belies my huge admiration for the art of bonsai. Because I so love that Asian aesthetic, I have leafed through umpteen books and websites on the subject and make a beeline for any display or show. I have started a few and have given some as gifts, but am "caring" for only two, at the moment.
I have seen the notices that there is a local bonsai club, but haven't seen anything about a show until last week. Just one day, Sunday, in Grass Valley. We finished the garden tour just in time to check it out. Tom enjoys them, as well, fortunately.
They were breathtaking! It all took place in one room, and we could see a workshop in progress in the corner. But most of the space was taken up with long tables beautifully arranged, row upon row, with bonsai of all sorts: one as young as two weeks, another 50 years of age. Of course, bonsai is truly a hobby for those with a bit of patience. We have seen them hundreds of years old. That's a commitment.
Hard to pick a fave from the show, but the larch (fourth photo) was right up there. The one before it is a maple; the one after is a spruce--so cool, right? I particularly love the Japanese white and black pines, junipers and ginkos. We're also crazy about the little forests and non-bo (Vietnamese variation).
At the moment, I have a brand new ginko (a month old), and a19 or 20-year-old juniper (one of our Del Mar Fair purchases), that I've neglected off and on for the last 9 or 10 years since we've had it. A little neglect can be a good thing, actually. Gives them character.
Recently, I've bought a few refugees (half-price due to damage of some kind) from a local nursery and am thinking about giving them a bit of dignity by turning them into bonsai. They've been pre-neglected, so they shouldn't be so shocked by my treatment of them. They'll be so full of character soon.
