Big day for my 10 year old nephew

[Likebull1]

My 10 year old nephew was over today and he was asking questions about my trees and why I keep them.
After a short tour of my garden and him pointing out his favorites he finally asked the question we all want to hear...

"Uncle Derrick, when can I grow my own tree?"

I took him out back and had him search the property under the maple trees and we finally found a little seedling poking through the ivy covering the ground.

We gently dug it up and I had him mix some soil in a small Tupperware container and he put planted it by himself.

I told him how to water and feed and care for it.
Whether it lives or dies he learned a lot today and it can be the beginning of a life long love.

Of course the sentimental old man in me hopes it lives and the tree can grow with him through the years. Hopefully I'm there for it's first wiring, trims, and repots.

I love the idea of passing on this knowledge to the younger generation.

 

[Carol 83]

It's great that you're encouraging and nurturing the next generation of bonsai enthusiasts.

 

[Mike Westervelt]

That's what we all hope for, to spark interest the next generation, good job and good luck to your nephew.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Awesome! I still have a journal entry from 1974 that says "today I took a pine tree and made a bonsai out of it".

Needless to say that tree... an Eastern white pine... was not a bonsai. But it survived to the point that my parents convinced me to take it outside and plant it in the landscape. Today that tree is a big tree!

 

[shohin_branches]

My 10 year old nephew was over today and he was asking questions about my trees and why I keep them.
After a short tour of my garden and him pointing out his favorites he finally asked the question we all want to hear...

"Uncle Derrick, when can I grow my own tree?"

I took him out back and had him search the property under the maple trees and we finally found a little seedling poking through the ivy covering the ground.

We gently dug it up and I had him mix some soil in a small Tupperware container and he put planted it by himself.

I told him how to water and feed and care for it.
Whether it lives or dies he learned a lot today and it can be the beginning of a life long love.

Of course the sentimental old man in me hopes it lives and the tree can grow with him through the years. Hopefully I'm there for it's first wiring, trims, and repots.

I love the idea of passing on this knowledge to the younger generation.

This is great! My uncle helped me get started in bonsai when I was 13. He bought me my first bonsai book, took me to the mid-America bonsai show in Chicago and helped me pick out branch cutters and two elm trees. Then he moved to Florida so I joined the local bonsai club.

 

[plant_dr]

My kids always ask if they can have MY trees ... So then we go find a siberian elm seedling to dig up to distract them away from mine, lol..

 

[gooeytek]

I'm trying to get my nieces into it.

 

[Likebull1]

I'm trying to get my nieces into it.

Maybe start with the Lego bonsai trees haha

 

[Ininaatigoons]

Always good to have a positive influence and a positive hobby. I started out the first time as a young guy or maybe early teens and I was in it. Then teen years happened and I still kept around 25 trees or so... Then those young adult days took over. 20-almost 40! I lost most all of them and didn't replace. Only to start from dang near scratch again now that my life is a little more settled.
So the one thing I guess I'm saying is it's very good to know someone with similar interests in bonsai. Very lucky kid!