| Basic Bonsai |
| What is Bonsai? |
| The fact that this section is called Basic Bonsai will have meant that many will have skipped passed it. Which is a shame. It cannot be stressed enough how important mastery of the basic principles and techniques is. Good, uncompromising technique learnt from classes and courses (Its very difficult from a book) will save a good few years of floundering with material and the subsequent loss of trees and material. How could a painter or sculpter create if he is unable to hold or use his tools correctly. The same applies for bonsai. So, If you are new to Bonsai, enrol on a class. I have included quite a few notable teachers on the links page. If you are experienced, seek out great artists such as Dan Barton, Marc Noelanders & Marco Invernizzi. Marc and Marco often teach in the UK. Learn all you can from these "greats". |
| The art of bonsai has been with us in the UK for quite a few decades now but for some strange reason is still misunderstood by gardeners and horticulturalists alike. Maybe this is because of the neglected, small, twisted and "expensive" trees at your local garden centre. Often given exotic and eastern sounding names and very little in the way of care instructions. Ok. Lets stop there. This is not bonsai. But let us not dwell on what bonsai isn't. We will concentrate on what bonsai is. The word "Bonsai" loosley translates as a tree in a pot. Easy isn't it? Unfortunatley no! Just sticking a small plant in a decorative pot does not make it a bonsai and many so-called bonsai are just that. Avoid these. A good bonsai should possess the same qualities of a fully-grown tree. It should have presence, majesty, power, age and dignity. The viewer should be able to imagine the landscape this tree would be growing in. Don't let this put you off. The whole enjoyment of bonsai is in the process of creating such trees. The is probably not one person alive who has not climbed a tree as child and become lost in another world amongst the branches, enjoyed the peace and tranquility that they felt when walking through woodland or been inspired by a tree surviving the most hostile of enviroments. This "feeling" is what you need to create bonsai. |
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