Happy New Year, Gardeners! I know we still have a lot of winter left ahead of us, but now we can absolutely look towards spring! The days are getting longer, after all!
Looking through a decorating magazine, I saw a photo of a most stunning room. You know the kind: everything tastefully arranged, not a thing out of place, the kind of room that many of us dream about but know we will never attain! (I mean, really, in a room like that, where do they keep the stacks of gardening magazines?) But the thing that caught my eye was a beautiful bonsai on a small side table. While we hear of and see bonsai quite often, I realized I know nothing about it, so it was time to do some homework.
"Bonsai" is growing trees in containers, and doing it in such a way so that it imitates a real landscape. Going back thousands of years, bonsai goes beyond simple gardening and is considered a living art form. It is meant to be enjoyed by the gardener because of the challenge, creativity, and patience required; but it is also meant to be enjoyed by those who appreciate its beauty and serenity.
You and I could try to work on bonsai. First, we would need a good solid, low, flat container. Select a tree, maybe a seedling volunteer that we have coming up in our gardens. We should choose something that will look suitable in miniature, something with small leaves or needles. Bonsai can be achieved with any tree or shrub. There is no specific "bonsai" plant. Bonsai is the continual pruning and shaping not only of the tree but the roots as well that makes the plant remain small. Also, the very act of planting the tree in a small container "stunts" the growth and helps to enhance the bonsai.
Patience is the key virtue for the bonsai gardener. Shaping a bonsai tree to look like a wind-swept specimen with gracefully arching branches can take years. Wiring the branches may be required to gently coax them into a certain shape or direction. Trimming and pruning are required to achieve a certain shape. It takes a lot of work to make your bonsai look natural and effortless!
Once our bonsai is planted, we must be careful to water it regularly, because the roots are so confined and shallow. Soil must be loose and drain well, but still with enough body to support the tree. Even finding a suitable spot to place our bonsai will be a challenge, because we are bringing an outdoor tree inside to live.
And if you are thinking this is too difficult for us to try, don't give up! There is a bonsai tree in the Tokyo Imperial Palace that is thought to be at least 500 years old, and was likely first trained as a bonsai in 1610.
So here's one more thing to add to our growing list of things to try in 2012! The first meeting of the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society is coming up on Wednesday, February 15. Hope you can join us as we start a brand new season! Have a good week!
