In less than 150 words "What is Bonsai"

fiona wrote:

bobby little wrote:... I thought it was a mini haiku.

Is that not Hiawatha's girlfriend?

So long, fellow.

I'm going to give you a basho on the hooter.

Bonsai is defined in many words or very few. You can speak of the practice or you can speak of the art. But I would have to agree with what Walter had said. I found that very accurate to how I feel.


I do like all the comments I have received over the years pertaining to bonsai and myself.

"Leave that in the ground"
"Bonsai is weird"
"What the heck are you talking about, CHIM pAK OO, ACer PLa-mat-ma, What about rent"
"No more trees in this yard please"
"No, you cant borrow 3k to go to Bath"
"Yes I'm still listening"
"So it's like fun for you........ oh"

AND MANY MORE!

Thank the Gods my Heather has been supportive. I'm sure it's been hard to support

Top post Joe! I particularly liked the- Bonsai is weird statement, Kind of reminds me of my dad when he comes to visit. How’s the trees? He’ll ask. Fine. I’ll reply knowing full well he just don’t get it.

I like "yes..I'm still listening"

will baddeley wrote:I like "yes..I'm still listening"

I like that one also. I think i hear that one at least once a day.

Yes... Joe, great post mate.

here is one from me talking to a guy at a 'GeekUP' meeting in Manchester last week.

*guy
^me

* I knew you would be at the event so I 'Googled' you

^ that's nice

* you do bonsai right?

^ yes I 'Do' bonsai

* that's them Japanese little trees that you can buy in Marks and Spencers

^ Huuum

* I bought one for me mum for Christmas and it just died

^ really

* she watered it every day and kept in in the bathroom and everything

^ Huuum

* so why did it die?

^ do you want the long or the short answer?

* the short answer

^ It died because.... because... because... trees die sometimes

* yeh... but why?

^ how much did you pay for it?

* £6.99

^ you spent only £6.99 on your mother at Christmas?

* do you want a beer?

^ now you are talking.

True conversation!

Tony

Hahahahaha, good one Tony.

what is bonsai to me, very hard to tell I geuss.
More of a feeling, relaxing enjoying nature in small size.
And ofcourse meeting nice friends once in a wile, that have the same ideas about small trees. (Not like the wife, what did you spend on it and so on )

Peter

BACKGROUND STORY (since I've been absent LONG TIME and most of you don't know me)
15 years ago, I would have agreed that Bonsai is for rich men. I do not enjoy caste politics.

12 years of uprooting and traveling, I learned that Bonsai is clearly NOT for gypsies. Bonsai requires some semblance of stability for healthy roots.

IN THE MOMENT
I miss plunging my fingers in to soil to feel the cool moistness of nursery soil and the coarse texture of bonsai soil. I missed getting wood dust under my fingernails and all over my long hair from carving deadwood. My Japanese dolls (my originals like the Spring Geiko in my avatar and my pre-1900s heirloom Imperial, Musha and peasant Ningyo), my origami, the heirloom woodblock prints, the Hakata ceramics, the ancestor stones, miss the company of their living bonsai companions.

MY SHORT DEFINITION
Bonsai for me is a very personal journey. I do bonsai to honor the past. To remember and respect the arts of elders who no longer walk the earth. To remember the disappearing landscape that has been urbanized. To remember the blessings of heaven and earth. Bonsai is pure bliss.

Warmest aloha old and new friends,
Geoline

Never forgotten
The blossoming youthful spring
- Even in winter
(Peter S. Quinn )

I am not giving a definition..., how could I?
I have just stick in here trying to learn...
But I could not refrain myself saying that the last post of Geoline speaks to my heart!