Just curious, just what do you get out of Bonsai?

[Adair M]

There's many things I "get out of bonsai".

One thing that hadn't been mentioned by anyone else is I like trees with provenance. Trees with a history. Maybe it was grown by person x, styled by person y, shown in cyz Show, restyled by person z...

Or maybe it was a collected tree, hundreds of years old.

Maybe I like a tree because it used to be owned by a friend of mine, and now it's my turn to keep it and continue it's development.

I like knowing a tree's history. Knowing that if I do my part well, it will outlive me. And maybe someone will be proud to say, "This tree was once owned by Adair!"

 

[Dav4]

It's an outlet alright... for my discretionary income!

 

[0soyoung]

I'm learning still

Do you expect this to stop?

learning

 

[augustine]

Peace and feeling close to natural world

 

[Starfox]

Do you expect this to stop?

learning

Good point, no I don't. That's part of the fun.

 

[Adair M]

It's an outlet alright... for my discretionary income!

You mean your discretionary outgo!

 

[Smoke]

Its a means to an end.

 

[GrimLore]

Smiles, a lot of Smiles

Smiles when I see that people I have to the house with their plants for weekend workshops are really getting answers they are looking for AND more important understanding.

Smiles when people call for advice on growing certain species in the North East and are actually taking notes.

Smiles when the above report success.

Smiles when in the past doing 1 day Hot Dog and Soda Bonsai Introductions for 4H and other kids groups. Bigger smiles when they "light up" as they find out they can take that little Juniper home I had them sweat over for an afternoon.

Smiles when I go to shows and exhibits and nobody knows.

Smiles when Crystal peeks out the back glass doors after I have been out there for an entire day playing with plants grinning and throwing me a kiss.

Smiles when the dog has been watching my every move for so long she has passed out, often within inches of my feet.

Smiles when the squirrels see me and run like hell as I walk towards the hose.

Smiles when after losing all what I have been experimenting with is doing excellent.

Smiles when I get new plants or trees.

Smiles when they seem to like me

Smiles when I water.

Smiles when me and Crystal visit others here and months later she suggests our next 2 - 3 week vacation in 2019 be a Bonsai Vacation.

Smiles when I look at things like rocks Al sent me.

Smiles when certain species I have are mutated - in a good way.

Smiles when I realize I am rambling but trust me there is a lot more

Good growing,

Grimmy

 

[sorce]

I like that, Smiles when....

Today, I remembered I had a PM I hadn't responded to....
Forgot who.

I got home to find a box!

Remembered who!

Smiles and a very loud "holy shit" when I saw how big of a trunk the crab @GailC sent me has!

Smiles when I can get her elm out with a bonus!

Smiles with every new discovery!

Sorce

 

[GailC]

Surprise! you know @sorce , I expect you to do great things with that tree. Hope it brings lots of smiles to your life, I enjoyed while it was with me.

 

[Rambles]

I sit before a life with the power to outlive me, cut from a parent tree that was old when cities were new.

Behind me, crows chatter, and the hummingbirds stop to consider me but a moment as they visit the feeder before racing back to their tiny nest over and over again.

The bees that live in the telephone pole diligently tend the mint and clover as a gentle breeze holds vulture aloft, yet to be noticed by the nesting crows.

I tend to the tree. It does not need me. I place it in the ground and it will thrive. But I am a monkey. I show affection in grooming. I know monkeys are capricious, and the tree in the ground today is torn up tomorrow in the name of convenience. So I keep this one safe, as long as I am able. It is a conceit, a story I can tell myself to justify sitting in the yard for hours, staring at a twig in a pot.

But the tree simply is. It does not need any conceits. It doesn't need but sun, earth, and water. It doesn't need wiring and pruning, and a million tiny little manipulations. The tree doesn't need me. But I need the tree.

 

[M. Frary]

Fame and fortune.

 

[Dorian Fourie]

I have to agree with everyone what they have said.

Being able to loose myself in my trees (especially after a long busy day) makes me feel better. Watching my trees develop and grow is a huge satisfaction for me knowing that that, is all me. I love gaining knowledge from others on my hobby and being able to pass on my knowledge and experience.

Smiles, a lot of Smiles

very loud "holy shit"

Its these moments when people see one of your trees and you get a very loud "holy shit" out of them, that makes them and you smile

 

[Velodog2]

Peace and redemption. I try anyway. They are just trees after all.

 

[wireme]

Morning coffee with the trees is nice.

 

[M. Frary]

I also get bonsai.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

I get an escape. The tees are quiet, and they need me.

 

[KiwiPlantGuy]

I also get bonsai.

I don't get life but I get Bonsai.

Sitting with your trees and being somewhere between peace and confusion because as a 1 year old I have no vision for future endeavors with my trees. Being here helps a lot.
Someone once said on this site that you have to envision the tree within what's i front of you. Grow damn stick .
And after 20 years of experiencing this hobby I will be closer to appreciating the art of Bonsai, not just growing trees in pots.
Charles

 

[Potawatomi13]

Personally get out what I put into trees including patience and humility. Genuine Yamadori give unbounded sense of respect and awe at venerability and survival of many hard years.

 

[chicago1980]

Personally get out what I put into trees including patience and humility. Genuine Yamadori give unbounded sense of respect and awe at venerability and survival of many hard years.

Well done.