Leesa

OK Al - now you got me talking! I have been "lurking" on this website for several months now - you can tell that by my "neophyte" rank. By the way Matt - forgive me - but ranking someone by the number of posts is somewhat of a misnomer - number of posts do not necessarily reflect a level of expertise - they simply represent one's willingness to express an opinion. This may result in attaching more weight to someone's comments than is merited - which could well be a disservice to a beginner asking for advise who may not appreciate the difference. I am oftern reluctant to express an opinion because I think that it has already been said - or - maybe I don't want to be unkind. Or - hey - who am I to comment? I realize, however, that I am not contributing much to the forum by taking this approach. On the other hand - I would like to think that when someone offers their comments - it comes from more than "what I have read or heard" or "heck - give it a try - maybe it will work" with the implcation that the writer has not even tried his/her own advise or the good guy stuff like "I like your tree" or "great tree" which implies more than it should in some cases (IMHO - of course).

I am glad someone finally said it. Like many others on this forum - I was initially attracted to bonsai by the cute little trees in the gorgeous pots. OK - maybe it's a "girl" thing - but I see lots of guys (including you) are in to the pots, too. It took a while to realize that my "sproggles" or "twigs" as they have been referred to, were not really bonsai. It took even longer to resign myself to the fact that it was going to take much longer to create a bonsai of reasonable quality. Do I wish someone had "helped" me earlier? I don't know if I would have been ready to listen or if I would have understood.

Should we make these observations to someone who has just bought their first mallsai and is totally jazzed and buying books and lots of "twigs" and putting them in pots and just so enthusiastic. And - at that point - do they really want or even appreciate that level of honesty?? I have had the opportunity over the years to attend conferences, bonsai club meetings and workshops where instructors (sensei's) help you with your trees. In many cases you are paying $$$ for their advise and help. Do these "professionals" tell you that your tree isn't worth your time or theirs or the cost of the workshop to work on? No. I have tried to get brutal honesty - by asking them "is this a keeper?" or " should I look for better material?" Almost without exception - they say " Well - it will take a few years and maybe you can graft a branch or regrow this one or...." I have learned to take a number of trees and try to gauge by their reaction which one is "worth" working on. Are the sensei's doing us a favor by not being more honest? I have gone so far as say - "look - I am not attached to this tree - I am asking for an honest assessment". Yet - in a general forum - not while working with an individual - many sensei's and experts will suggest that you should "limit the number of your bonsai" - "pick the best ones - no more than 25" - "put your effort in to the good ones - the not so good material takes more effort and you don't get it back".... and so on. So how do you learn what is worth keeping if they won't help you?? I think we all learn over time to judge what is good and what is not - but hey - I was asking them! Is that what the beginners who post their latest "baby" on this forum want? How do they learn - if no one is willing to be brutally honest? I admit that my response to some of the "twig" postings on this forum has been to grin and recall my enthusiasm at that time in my "bonsai honeymoon" - and not comment postively or negatively. Maybe that is not what they want - but how do you know? The last thing I want to do is rain on their parade - when they are so excited and enthusiastic.... Al - I hope your comments lead to a more honest and useful discourse on the posted material.


I think of it as a journey - on a long road - enjoy the scenery!

Leesa