President's Message

by David Johnson

An article from a Japanese newspaper, the Daily Yomiuri, in its Monday March 4, 2002 issue wrote about the planting of cedar saplings that "... will provide lumber to repair culturally important temples and shrines such as the Horyuji temple in Nara Prefecture."

These saplings are expected to mature in 300 to 400 years for use at that time.

Talk about thinking ahead and having the patience to engage in projects today that will not be realized for centuries. It is quite a shocking lesson. It is not the type of time line we are used to thinking of.

We have lots to learn from those cultures with long histories. Those of us fortunate enough to be engaged in an art form with Asian origins, allows some exposure to those cultural perspectives.

I would not say it in all cases but for raising bonsai, patience is definitely a virtue if not a necessity. Many of us, especially when we first catch the bonsai fever, expect great things quite quickly from our young trees. That can be a quick road to disappointment.

While one has to applaud the enthusiasm of those who want quick results, it has to be tempered with the sad reality that one can not fight what took millions of years of botanical evolution to create.

For new enthusiasts, it might be better to buy two similar trees for bonsai. One that you will try to make a masterpiece out of and get that creative impetuous will out of your system. And the other to plant into the ground to grow a thicker trunk and develop some taper. That way you learn from the work you do on your first tree. Which will help you do a better job on the one growing in the garden for use by your more experienced hands later.

Another piece of good advice I have heard was that of purchasing a more developed tree which will allow you it learn new skills for a tree at that level when you feel that you can take care of it. That way you won't feel that you have to rush to get a tree to present at a show or your own enjoyment. Rushing a tree by trying to do too much, too quickly be it cutting roots or foliage, repotting and wiring all at the same time, can be fatal. And like sliding down the slippery snake, you end up back at the beginning. I ashamedly know this from personal experience.

Some may feel that buying a developed tree is some how cheating. But what of those great bonsai that have outlived their owners by centuries? The trees keep growing and the challenges of maintaining and improving their look are unrelenting.

There are few hobbies that allow the passing on of living treasures to future generations. It gives us a sense of timeliness. Just like planting a sapling that a relative ten generations from now may harvest to preserve history and beauty.