I have always enjoyed the idea of having plants indoors. I figured everyone did as well, (apparently not the case…). I got my first bonsai tree in Bozeman, during year 2 of SoA from a mexican selling them on main street in the parking lot of that chinese food buffet place. I enjoyed the tree in my North Hedges dorm room for quite a while until winter break. I left it with the Residents Association who said they would take care of plants and fish over  Christmas break. When I returned, they said they lost it? (how does that work?)

Anyways, I have returned to the world of Bonsai in July, receiving one as a birthday present.

I have been taking care of it since July in my apartment. After about a month, I went to my local Library to check out a book on Bonsai care. At the entry of the library there was a homemade sign for the monthly meeting Baltimore Bonsai Club hosted at the library the next day. (visitors welcome)  I decided not to get a book and just bring my bonsai in the next day.

When I arrived to the multipurpose room in the library I saw about 20 people with little trees in front of them with tool boxes, and wound up canvas tool cases. It was hilarious, everyone was ready to go trim, and prune their trees right there in the room. They were excited to have a new face there as well, and were very friendly and welcoming. Anyways, I found out A LOT about bonsais from that meeting. Apparently mine needs to be kept outdoors or it will die. which is problematic because I live on the 3rd floor of an apt building. Also, that Bonsais need to be sculpted and formed to get that ‘bonsai’ look to it. I was handed a pair of clippers and one of the older guys sat down and taught me the ways… (it was like of karate kid like, daniel-san, focus power).

I also found out that there are no Bonsai trees, all trees can be bonsai trees, its just a matter of pruning, trimming, and sculpting. There is a lot of design to these things, and I have found it to be quite fun. I set up a guide wire on the tree to get some of the branches to reach out, and will later take the wire off.

At the conclusion of the meeting they raffled off a bunch of stuff and some one gave me another bonsai tree!

Its been pretty fun working with this tree, and something that doesn’t need constant sculpting or work. It doesn’t grow that fast so the next time i’ll trim it is probably in a month or 2. If you are at all interested in plants, I’d recommend giving this hobby a try.

Check out some of the photos of what is looks like now.