BrianBay9
Masterpiece
Embarrassment. I killed a bonsai gift, then replaced it with a similar tree. Had to learn to repot it to use the original pot, then learn to keep it alive. I don't think the gift-giver ever noticed the switch.
The reason
- Thread starter AaronVh
- Start date
Clorgan
Omono
I've tried SO many hobbies over the years, trying to find something that stuck. I saw a very pathetic looking bonsai in a chain garden centre store near me and it inspired me to give it a go! I think this is the hobby that seems to have stuck (still early days) because it gets me outside and makes me think about nothing else but the trees! 
I had always had a fascination with a Japan and China and their cultures even as a child, I remember seeing a bonsai tree for the first time at around age 8 and being absolutely blown away by this tiny tree in a pot. Always been a lover of nature and trees and am the green fingered one in my family.
My first bonai tree (ok it’s wasn’t a tree it was a JBP kit) was a 9th birthday gift. When that grew FINALLY I was gifted an actual tree in a bonsai pot (some sort of privet) and I was hooked but there wasn’t a lot of info available out there to a kid so I mostly learned about wiring and gentle pruning. Carried on through my teens mostly growing from seed or obtaining small garden center bonsai. I lived in a pretty remote area so there was not a lot of options and the internet wasn’t what it is now so “google” and online ordering wasn’t a thing.
I got older, life got in the way, travels, studies, trees perished in the care of others while I traveled and bonsai took a back seat for many years but never lost its appeal.
Earlier this year I was gifted an pre-bonsai Olive in a training pot in poor condition because “everything seems to want to grow for you”. Then the pandemic hit along with lockdowns and suddenly I had more time. Started to work on the ugly olive which is now healthier than it was and the next thing you know I have a small collection of nursery stock, trays of seeds etc
. So yeah I’m back but I still consider myself a newb because there is so much to learn and honesty I don’t remember much from my earlier meddling.
Absolutely adore Japanese maples but it will be some years before I can start to call any of my maples ”bonsai”. Love trees of all kinds really and am happiest when walking in the forest areas.
My first bonai tree (ok it’s wasn’t a tree it was a JBP kit) was a 9th birthday gift. When that grew FINALLY I was gifted an actual tree in a bonsai pot (some sort of privet) and I was hooked but there wasn’t a lot of info available out there to a kid so I mostly learned about wiring and gentle pruning. Carried on through my teens mostly growing from seed or obtaining small garden center bonsai. I lived in a pretty remote area so there was not a lot of options and the internet wasn’t what it is now so “google” and online ordering wasn’t a thing.
I got older, life got in the way, travels, studies, trees perished in the care of others while I traveled and bonsai took a back seat for many years but never lost its appeal.
Earlier this year I was gifted an pre-bonsai Olive in a training pot in poor condition because “everything seems to want to grow for you”. Then the pandemic hit along with lockdowns and suddenly I had more time. Started to work on the ugly olive which is now healthier than it was and the next thing you know I have a small collection of nursery stock, trays of seeds etc
. So yeah I’m back but I still consider myself a newb because there is so much to learn and honesty I don’t remember much from my earlier meddling.Absolutely adore Japanese maples but it will be some years before I can start to call any of my maples ”bonsai”. Love trees of all kinds really and am happiest when walking in the forest areas.
PaulH
Omono
I grew up in coastal Northern California amid towering redwood forests and spectacular live oaks. When I as at college at Davis in the flatlands of the Sacramento valley I missed the trees of my youth. Then one day I found an abandoned copy of the Brooklyn Botanical booklet on bonsai and was hooked on little trees.
Nice to know I wasn’t the only documentary nut as a child. I whole heartedly agree that looking after these mini trees is very calming and relaxing. Sometimes I find myself just sitting among them carefully examining leaves in total calm.
JoeR
Masterpiece
That I'm a 65 year old retired man in a 20 year old body? Yep. Definitely a minority at bonsai events. Doesn't mean I'm not good at what I do though
Look at it this way, you’ll be a legend by the time you are 65That I'm a 65 year old retired man in a 20 year old body? Yep. Definitely a minority at bonsai events. Doesn't mean I'm not good at what I do though
JoeR
Masterpiece
Growing up I dont think I ever shut up about things I learned watching documentaries. Erwin and attenborough were and still are my idols, now if I could be the next attenborough... thats the dream
I think the world would benefit from more leaf observing like you
Erwin as in Steve Irwin? I was so crushed when he died. That was one crazy guy but I adored the boundless enthusiasm he had and it was totally infectious. Glad Sir Attenborough is still blessing us all with his epic documentary narratives.
JoeR
Masterpiece
Yep Irwin. I have no idea what happened but Samsungs autocorrect is absolutely useless especially with names
AaronVh
Sapling
Love this, thank you for sharing
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
That I'm a 65 year old retired man in a 20 year old body? Yep. Definitely a minority at bonsai events. Doesn't mean I'm not good at what I do though
Absolutely, friend.. if anything, that piece of information demands MORE of my respect... I WISH my horticultural interests would have been “aimed“ at bonsai that early...
It’s simply WONDERFUL...
AaronVh
Sapling
A job well done!
AaronVh
Sapling
Haha i can relate to this. A new hobby every few months and indeed, this one (bonsai) stuck for me as well.I've tried SO many hobbies over the years, trying to find something that stuck. I saw a very pathetic looking bonsai in a chain garden centre store near me and it inspired me to give it a go! I think this is the hobby that seems to have stuck (still early days) because it gets me outside and makes me think about nothing else but the trees!
AaronVh
Sapling
I'm 31 years and i thought i was pretty 'young' for this field of interest. I'm glad to see younger enthousiastsThat I'm a 65 year old retired man in a 20 year old body? Yep. Definitely a minority at bonsai events. Doesn't mean I'm not good at what I do though
leatherback
The Treedeemer
Biologist, stuck in a non-biology job. Garden to small to keep me occupied..
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
I'm 31 years and i thought i was pretty 'young' for this field of interest. I'm glad to see younger enthousiasts
I am ALSO 31!
Wires_Guy_wires
Imperial Masterpiece
30 here. We're a bunch of youngsters.
Same here too with the attenborough and irwin @JoeR and that snake wrangler from the US that was always shouting on discovery channel and natgeo. I forgot his name. Brownish hair.
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
Shout out to the Kratt Brothers!!
Zaboomafoo FA’LIFE!!
Zaboomafoo FA’LIFE!!
Austin Stevens?
