 |
The Wonderful Art of Bonsai
The potential for enjoyment of Bonsai trees is enormous. These
are the dwarf-sized trees that have been developed in the Asian
countries of China and Japan for many hundreds of years. Most
people have to go out to a forest to experience the marvelous
plants that we call trees.
But in the hands of a master Bonsai creator, the beautiful
trees can be reduced in size to the point where they can be
brought indoors to be enjoyed at any time. And the person who
learns this age-old art so that he or she learns how to create
this small piece of beauty experiences even more of a thrill --
something closely akin to producing a child, but with the added
advantage of being able to shape and design it themselves. And
these trees grow more beautiful with age. Some renowned trees are
as old as five hundred years or more.
Naturally, they need nurturing and care, just as any prized
possession does, especially things that are living and
developing, in the same way a child develops. But the care that
is needed is not difficult, though it may require some time and
some special equipment (not overly-expensive). And, of course,
these beautiful trees can be purchased at any Bonsai nursery.
Usually it never enters the head of the admirer of Bonsai that
they have the potential of creating them on their own. Becoming a
member of any local Bonsai Club (they're virtually everywhere)
will provide all the support and direction a person might
require. It's exciting to sit in front of one of these miniature
trees and realize that this tiny tree in its tiny pot might
otherwise be growing tall in some forest somewhere. And you can
pick it up, turn it, and see all sides of it without leaving your
chair.
They truly are a marvel, these Bonsai trees. The word Bonsai
itself means "tree in a pot." And there is not just a single
species of tree that is adaptable to your particular area. There
are hundreds -- even species that would normally not be
considered a tree, such as shrubs, bushes and even plants like
roses and many herb species. But, no matter what kind of plant
you may have in your pot, it's always called a "tree" in Bonsai
language.
I was fortunate enough to have been able to study with the
great master, John Naka, also addressed as "Sensei" (master
teacher). Sadly, Sensei Naka left us a few years ago, and has
been greatly missed by all who knew him and knew of him. He wrote
the consummate manual on the subject of Bonsai, which was his
true passion. He traveled all over the world to teach and judge
competitions and he loved every minute of it. He made his home in
Southern California, but the world was truly his, gaining
enormous respect wherever he traveled.
If you're thinking of creating or buying a Bonsai tree, you
must bear one thing in mind at all times -- these are living
things, and do require care and even love. You can't go away on
vacation for a week or two and expect to find your tree alive
when you return -- unless you've wisely made arrangements to have
someone take care of your tree for you. And that person must know
intimately the requirements of the tree. A trusted neighbor who,
upon seeing the tree for the first time, says, "Oh, isn't that
cute?" is not the person to entrust your tree with.
The principle tree for a beginner to start with is the
Japanese Black Pine (pinus thunbergii), primarily because it's
the easiest to grow and work with, and also that it's available
in most areas and climates. It can be grown anywhere in the U.S.
and most of North America. It's extremely hardy and adaptable to
even adverse weather conditions and makes a superb-looking Bonsai
tree.
If you're looking for a new adventure and hobby, I believe
you'll be happy and contented with your own Bonsai trees. It's an
especially good interest for people who are home-bound, and who
need something to make them feel vibrant and needed, and to give
them continuing joy. Yes, a good Bonsai tree is a tru
http://www.jayspaintings.com
 MORE RESOURCES updated Tue. September / 26 / 2023
|
|
|
Related Hobbies - Crafts articles:
Endless Possibilities
With Custom Printed Lanyards
Custom printed lanyards are an extremely popular item and
are readily available for purchase through a large amount
of suppliers. Many suppliers have detailed e-commerce sites
that allow buyers to select a lanyard style and customize
it without ever having to leave their office or home.
Tooling
Leather
Use vegetable-tanned, light-colored top-grained leather for
tooling leather. If you're not sure what you have, test the
leather's ability to take a pattern by wetting a corner and
making lines with different objects like the edge of a
coin.
How to Make a Simple
Gemstone Necklace
With gemstone beads, every bead is precious. Every bead is
beautiful.
Sewing - A Wonderful
Pastime
To think that in the beginning the only sewing patterns
used were to measure from ankle to dirt and chop off the
animal skin so that it would not drag on the ground. Now
you can get sewing patterns for everything from a simple
square sewn together to create a throw pillow to an
elaborate wedding dress.
Origami Secrets
Revealed
Origami, or the art of paper folding, has been around for
centuries. It is one of the most intricate, but at the same
time simple expressions of art in the world.
Why Do I (You)
Collect?
I just got back from the vet with my cat "Spud". He gave us
quite a scare, we went away for a couple of day's vacation
and on our return we found him very listless.
Coin Collecting - A Fun
Hobby
Over the years, collecting coins has grown from being just
a hobby to becoming a full-blown enterprise with numerous
Internet sites devoted to coins. Over the next several
weeks, I will give you a little background about coin
collecting to help those who want to pursue this as a hobby
and maybe even make some money in the process.
Creating Vacation
Memories
My daughter and I recently had the opportunity to spend a
week at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. We were totally
overwhelmed with all the things there were to do, and I had
no idea how we would ever be able to remember it all.
Functional Pottery Makes
a Great Gift, Plain and Simple
Are you looking for something unique to give a friend or
family member for an upcoming birthday or holiday? If you
really want to wow that special someone, why not consider
purchasing an original one of a kind pottery gift that
makes life better in some way. Pottery gifts come in all
shapes, sizes, and colors and they can be practical or
extravagant.
Genealogy - Why You
Should Get Involved in Your Family History
A few years ago I read a statistic that said that genealogy
was the second largest hobby in the United States - second
only to gardening. It was no surprise to me as I have been
finding and documenting my family tree for almost 30 years.
An Easy Way to
Understand Your Collectibles
What kind of gifts you often receive? Is it toy dolls,
animal figurine, antique, pottery, game, memorabilia or
something you consider as a collectables? Well, what ever
it is, as long as it pleases you, those entire gifts are
full with memory which you then consider as a collectibles.
Gifts and collectibles are not contradicting each other;
instead they are supplementing each other.
What Is A Reverse
Painting?
Welcome to the world of Reverse Painting on Glass. Reverse
painting on glass has been considered a popular 'art
of the people' for many centuries.
Tech-Savvy Crafters Can
Go Global
The image of a crafter or artisan is often serene, even
pastoral. It's easy to imagine a potter spinning his wheel
in his barn-turned-studio and then selling his wares at the
little farmer's market down the road.
The Making of a
Slipcover: A Lost Art
Today in this world of fast everything, most of us just
don't have the time (nor patience) to do an all consuming
job of making a slipcover. We go buy them and not always
are they what we want.
How To Create A Collage
Journal
Creating a collage journal is a unique and fun way to
personalize and enrich your journal. Making a collage
journal is something that everyone can enjoy.
Preparing For a Leather
Craft Project
Once you've decided on your leather craft project, you'll
need the right tools and room to do the work. Being
prepared ahead of time will make your task more enjoyable
and give you a sense of satisfation when you're done.
Pagan Crafts
Greetings to all Crafty Pagans,Witches and those who want
to learn Pagan crafts.The purpose of this is to provide
doable crafts and to create crafts and tools that will have
your positive energies that will enrich your power while
performing rituals or spellworks and in your every day
life.
The Use of Color and
Photographs in Your New Scrapbook
Color coordination and contrast will highlight and accent
your scrapbook. A well thought out color scheme can help
define the theme of a page, attract attention to specific
items, or detract away from mistakes.
Craft Fairs, Bazaars
& Flea Markets? Oh, My!
Many names are associated with events such as these. Craft
Fairs, Bazaars, Flea Markets and Swap Meets are a few names
you can find.
Photograph Mosaics and
Markers in Your Scrapbooks
An attractive technique for placing photographs into
scrapbooks is the photograph mosaic. Mosaics stretch
photographs into an artistic rendition of the original
photograph.
|
|
