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"...How big does a tree get before you can no longer call it a bonsai..."?

Without any bonsai philosophy, conditions...whatever...

"They" used to say that if a plant was over 60 inches tall, it was not a bonsai.

The rest of the story goes something like this...many, many years ago, the Emperor of Japan decided that he wanted the Imperial Palace grounds spruced up with bonsai. And, walla! The Japanese Imperial Palace Bonsai Collection was born!

Across the many, many years, these bonsai were religously tended. They grew, and grew, and grew. Suddenly, "they"...whoever "they" are...realized that some of the bonsai had grown so tall that they blew the lid off the upper limit for height of a bonsai.

What to do, "they" asked. Finally, in their collective wisdom, "they" decided to create a new size category for the tallest of the tall...specifically for the tall bonsai in the Japanese Imperial Palace Bonsai Collection. "They" called it The Imperial Size Bonsai.

The Imperial Size Bonsai is loosely defined as "...up to 120 inches, or more...". That is TEN FEET!

So, the next time you visit the Japanese Imperial Palace Bonsai Collection, you can impress your friends, and anyone else who might be listening, by telling them that "...these are Imperial Size Bonsai...".

Don't you feel educated?

Your welcome...

Pat

__________________
BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.

Pat Patterson...Bonsai in the Greater Bay Area, Northern California

3-Apr-2007	#8
PatArizona Bonsai Master, in my mind Join Date: Feb-2005 Location: Back Home in Northern California Country: USA Posts: 1,929	"...How big does a tree get before you can no longer call it a bonsai..."? Without any bonsai philosophy, conditions...whatever... "They" used to say that if a plant was over 60 inches tall, it was not a bonsai. The rest of the story goes something like this...many, many years ago, the Emperor of Japan decided that he wanted the Imperial Palace grounds spruced up with bonsai. And, walla! The Japanese Imperial Palace Bonsai Collection was born! Across the many, many years, these bonsai were religously tended. They grew, and grew, and grew. Suddenly, "they"...whoever "they" are...realized that some of the bonsai had grown so tall that they blew the lid off the upper limit for height of a bonsai. What to do, "they" asked. Finally, in their collective wisdom, "they" decided to create a new size category for the tallest of the tall...specifically for the tall bonsai in the Japanese Imperial Palace Bonsai Collection. "They" called it The Imperial Size Bonsai. The Imperial Size Bonsai is loosely defined as "...up to 120 inches, or more...". That is TEN FEET! So, the next time you visit the Japanese Imperial Palace Bonsai Collection, you can impress your friends, and anyone else who might be listening, by telling them that "...these are Imperial Size Bonsai...". Don't you feel educated? Your welcome... Pat __________________ BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain. THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life. Pat Patterson...Bonsai in the Greater Bay Area, Northern California