The John Naka point seems like a simple one. Bonsai are a representation of trees in nature (yes even literati). You opened up saying there was a tree in your garden that looks like a bonsai, this is of course an impossiblilty for the simple fact that bonsai represent trees, and not the other way round. They may inspire us to replicate or recreate though. We try to evoke feelings associated with trees we have seen in nature, but we also apply good horticultural practice to keep our trees alive for as long as possible. Yes i have seen the fallen over trees in nature and the ones with crossing branches. I have also seen the heavily diseased and the dead ones too, which are natural, but i aint going to be copying these ones.
By the by, nice topic i have enjoyed reading all of this
