My New Project: I'm Learning Bonsai
My wife and I were at Bunnings (garden centre) the other day and we came across this great little Bonsai section. My dad has been growing Bonsai trees since I was knee high to a grasshopper, so it has always fascinated and interested me. I had never really felt the urge to grow my own however, mainly because I have serious patience issues and Bonsai is a life-time hobby that involves a lot of patience. As i've grown older though, i've started to appreciate the slower things in life, so while standing there in Bunnings, my wfe looks at me and suggests I buy one.
So I did.
This little tree to the right is a Juniperus Squamata Prostrata, or as it's often called, a Blue Juniper, named for it's green to blue/grey foliage. It doesn't look like much right now, but i'm hoping I can transform it into something much more impressive. Saying that, I have just one small issue...
I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. Well, that's not entirely true, I did afterall grow up with a father who grew Bonsai trees, some of them even Junipers.
The Tree:
This particular tree currently stands about 6 inches tall and has a curved trunk that starts straight, leans to the right and then turns to the left. The tip of the tree tilts back towards the top again.
The photo to the right was taken the day I got the tree (last weekend) and has had no modifications.
Styling:
I am seriously thinking of either going with semi-cascade or informal upright for the style of tree. Semi-cascade would look awesome, but would involved quite a bit wiring to make it work. The informal upright (ie. tilted slightly) would be easier, but the shape needs serious growth. The other option is the slanted style, which as you can see, the tree already partially has.
Information Overload:
If you've ever done Bonsai and stared out with a mentor you will probably understand that finding information about Bonsai is pretty much an information overload. There is so much content, so many lessons and so many different ways to do it, that knowing what is best is simply impossible. That's where I am right now, although I am getting a much better grasp of everything. Having a father who does Bonsai is a great help, and I will get him on Skype from time to time to help me through the steep learning curve.
I will post regular updates on how the tree is coming on.
