Rich Zieminski

Andy, you make some very interesting and true points. I was introdused to Bonsai a number of years ago with a Valentine gift from my wife. I had expressed an interest in Bonsai for years but never attempted it. The gift was a beginners course from a local shop. The course was a six week, 3 hours a week and the course price was a neat $65 (that is right 65). The course was very well structured and covered through lecture, demo and our application all the mechanical and hodicultural aspects of Bonsai. After three weeks we bought trees and were led through the initial design phase of the tree. We even covered and performed potting at the end of the course. At the end we had trees that we "pre-bonsai's" and a clear picture of where the tree was headed to be a "bonsai.

The best $65 I ever spent. I understood the basics enough to go home and apply them with confidence.

From their I attended workshops and studied in all day classes with a number of "players" in the region. These were relatively inexpensive (under $100). From each I picked up a point or two about balance, styling and species designs. Of course I may have been a pest with all the questions I asked to draw out information (the why of things).

After a number of years of applying what I had learned and read I was presented with an opportunty to take a 3 year program with Colin Lewis. Through this effort I have raised my skills and knowledge of bonsai to another level. I entered this course of study with the intent of working on three trees over three years during the open work periods of the course. In working on these three trees I have transformed them and refined them to truely nice and noticable trees (have even had offers of good money for them if that is a guage).

Colin had projects for us to do following his lectures and these have diversified my knowledge of the variouse styles. Further during and after the classes in talking with Colin, I was able to gain insite to the "eye of the artist". This was the second goal I had set for myself in entering the program.

Now I can look at a tree and feel confident that I can convert it to a respectable bonsai.

I agree that the education part of your initial statments is correct. But the ongoing practice of the methods and exploration of new techniques (like bending large branches over 90 degrees) is also required. The ongoing application of what is learned is the key to advancement. In schools we learn the basics and advanced knowledge, but through years of application we truely learn our professions. Any practicing engineer, doctor, etc. will trestify that the school gave him or her the basics and through repetition and pushing things to the limits they have become true professionals.

I have to note here that the basic course by Ron Martin, that I took at first gave me more knowledge then the 4 hour basic courses tought at other nurseries. His "military" method of instruction, well organized with clear objectives for each block of instruction really has allowed me and those that have been through it to move to the head of any class (no spam intended). Just a really good teacher.

If clubs and other nuseries were to follow this path of a longer more thurough basic course (say a weekend long) and follow it with an advanced course ( over several years ) with projects, I believe that the hobbyist or potential artist out there would move quickly to the next level. But this means that the individual has to have the dedication and persistence to stick with the program.

It is kind of like the military reserves. We go to basic upon joining and the learn during the monthly drills to refine and increase out skills. Between meetings we think about them and study the books and even apply what we learn at home. Bonsai is kind of the same thing in my mind.

Richard