Im in a bit of a dilemma

Hey.
This is a solution I have to come to myself, but I just wanted to hear your comments on the subject if you care to help.
Ive applyed to the university of Bergen, at bachelor Archeology and got a spot. I live at the other side if the country. My whole family lives where I am now, and I have a nice appartment with good parking etc. I have a sheltered garden, that I have my trees in. And I have about 8 trees, including one pretty large one. The blackthorn ive linked here. I have several pots that I want to pot trees in. I love my trees and nature. I love to collect them, water them, wire and just sit there and plan their future. I feel much better to be around them and just completely forget time. My girlfriend always tell me to go the right way when we go places, cause I go straight to the garden, even if we are in a hurry.
Ive worked almost 2 years in a kindergarden, but dont wanna continue, cause its not 100%. I want an ok or hopefully good payed job, that I really like, and for that I have to get a better education. This is something all people at my age have to think about. But. Shall I give up my now existing life. Move to a closet for the same rent, in a town, (I dont really like to be with many people) without a garden, to study? Im interested in the subjects. But I dont really think im gonna be an archeologist and travel around at digsites. If I move, I will most likely kill all my trees. They wont survive indoors, and I wouldnt have the room to have them. There are nobody in my family with any knowledge about bonsai, so letting them take care of them, is out of the question. It would help if I got a porch, but most likely I wont.

Thanks
Storm.

What about finding a bonsai club and having a member be a foster parent to you plants.

Or find the club and offer them to be auctioned off to support their activiies. You are young. There can be many more trees in your future when you finally settle.

Congrats on the spot at school. Once you get a dormatory or apartment, find yourself a Willow-leaf Ficus so you CAN have one indoors.

How about contacting a bonsai club close to your new school and find a person willing to temporarily house them for you untill you get situated at college. I understand your love of your plants and your garden completely and I wouldn't give up on them at all. You never know who will step up to the plate to help another lover of bonsai. Take care, study hard, and I"m sure you'll be rewarded for your efforts!

Hi Storm,
I started bonsai growing when I was your age. I had about 10 trees I was working on, and then went away to school. My solution was to plant them in my parents yard where they became landscape trees. I loved them and had mixed feelings about doing this. My parents loved the new landscape trees and I was able to see them grow. When I went home on school breaks, I even prune on some of them; to select branches and shape the trees. Then, life took me to other places, without working on trees, but I never lost my love for bonsai. Then, years later, when I was 30 years old, I rediscovered bonsai and have been growing bonsai most of that time.

I believe that our intentions to grow beautiful trees in pots doesn't end with our care. Hopefully, our trees will outlive us. Then, someone else will continue to care for our trees when it is our time to pass on (die).

Education is not something to take for granted. I wish I had more education when I was your age. Congratulations for being accepted to the college. Try it, then if you still don't like it, try another program. Part of the reason people go to advanced school is to "learn how to learn".

Also, if you get to travel to remote places, you might find great bonsai stones when you are out digging. Or find pottery in obscure towns. Or nicely carved stands, or anything else you find... just might enhance your love for bonsai.

As the other readers have shared, see if other bonsai people can care for your trees. Or be prepared to give some away. I beleive the univere will reward you for your efforts - what you give away will eventuallly come back to you. These are just some of my thoughts. Best of luck.
Salut, Todd

Hey Storm,

So first of all, I'm studying in Utah, USA for a bachelors degree in Business Information Systems. I have lived in an apartment for almost 5 years now, and I have at least 18 more months.

Getting an education will allow you to get a better job, more space, and could even afford you more time in the garden.

I personally am holding off purchasing many plants that aren't cold-hardy because my eventual goal is to move to Washington or Oregon, USA, where the weather is much more humid and everything grows well.

My advice as a fellow collegiate would be to study hard and get your degree, even if you have to cut back on bonsai at the moment, it will afford you many more opportunities in the future.

paldimo wrote:Hey Storm,

My advice as a fellow collegiate would be to study hard and get your degree, even if you have to cut back on bonsai at the moment, it will afford you many more opportunities in the future.

Very good advice.

A Hui Hou,
-Tim