Greetings,
Feedback is always appreciated, and the points concerning bonsai as a long-term, committed venture for many growers are well taken. But, I am afraid that taking this position as a complaint against the above article is largely missing the focus.
It seems to me Rips is reading things into this article that simply aren't there. True, the article does state that buying a bonsai is the fastest way to acquire one, but there is nothing that states, as Rips suggested it might, that
"fast is good." Maybe someone didn't read the last sentence in that same paragraph, the one ending,
"take it slow and build up?"
This is an article for the beginner forum, and as we all well know, beginners frequently lose a good percentage of their trees. Loss and disappointment can be discouraging or it can outright turn them off to bonsai. Personally, if I had a dollar for every person who told me "I had a bonsai, but it died," I could take the entire forum to Benihana and have enough change left over to feed the parking meter!
For me, The single most important aspect of our art form is a shared enjoyment of bonsai that promotes an appreciation for the natural world. Anyone can enjoy bonsai. It doesn't even require that they even get their hands dirty, although I enjoy that too. Personally, I don't care if someone derives appreciation from a planted seedling, a $10 mallsai or a $10,000 masterpiece. I believe Doc's point here, that beginners don't get turned off on the hobby (as so many do) because of a bad investment or a dead tree, is a valid one.
I am sure any writer would be flattered to know that someone actually counted the words in his article. But is it fair to complain that only 10% of an overview article on
acquiring bonsai for beginners was directed to collecting, seedlings and propagation? The article does present collecting and propagating in a positive light, but it would be remiss to suggest that this is the only route for a beginner:
Collecting or developing trees from cuttings or seedlings are excellent ways to produce the finest quality bonsai; however, the beginner may have variable success with these somewhat advanced techniques.
Yesterday, Rips posted two nice Rosemary bonsai in the gallery, one
grown from seed for 15 years, the other
grown from nursery stock in training 1 year. Where would we suggest a rank beginner start off? Would you tell him, "Hey, let's go to Lowe's next Saturday, pick out a plant, and we'll get started!" or would you say, "Plant a seed and call me in 10 years when you are worthy?" The Doc said, in effect, "Go ahead and plant that seed, but in the meantime, let's look into other ways, too."
Where's the beef with that? It's clear from Rips' postings that he has gone both routes at one time or another.
Rips wrote, "In your third
<paragraph> you might as well have said, garden center material is cheap." The article actually says that
Developing bonsai from material found at the garden center is very rewarding. It doesn't say anything about cost.
The next paragraph goes on to discuss how the purchase of out-of-season plants, overgrown trees, etc., at club shows and estate sales is one way to obtain fine material and pots without losing your shirt in the process. The fact that the previous owner of the trees might be bored of bonsai, specializing in shohin, doing time in the pen, concentrating on conifers, divorced, dead, or otherwise not available for comment is incidental to that point.
In closing, this article is about
Acquiring Bonsai. If Rips or anyone else wants to write one about "Appreciation for and the Techniques Required to Care for Older Bonsai Material," I say, "Please go for it!" I am sure there is a great deal of information to offer. It's a worthwhile topic, it's just not the subject of this thread.
Regards,
Matt