BEGINNERS...Getting Started

PatArizona

G'day All...

We've been getting a lot of questions from SHOWDOWN, as well as others, and we have we have provided many very good answers. However, the "shotgun" approach seems to prevail.

Too many times we fail to provide good information, and guidence, that will really help the beginner get off to a good start.

It is my belief that the "shotgun" approach is just about the worst to way to learn anything. Just ask the Ole Sage, who wishes that somebody would have told him what follows below (see "TO SHOWDOWN" below) thirtysomething years ago, or even twentysomething or "anyteen" years ago.

This being said, I you all don't my resubmission of the following information.

TO SHOWDOWN...

You have asked many questions, and will ask many more...and have received many answers, and will receive many more. Read the responses. There is sooo much to learn, and some structure to the learning would really be better than the "shotgun" approach.

What I have to say here is in no way intended to keep you from asking questions on bonsaiTALK. The intention is to guide you to an approach that is far superior to the "shotgun".

And...always remember that the only dumb question is the one that you don't ask.

Maybe the following will help...

One thing that you should learn at the earliest possible is patience. The more you learn about bonsai, the more you will realize the importance of being patient. You cannot be taught patience by someone else...but you must learn to be patient.

There are five things (plus NEXT, below) that a beginner should do, right at the start:

• Read...read...read...then read some more.
• Join a local club.
• Take a beginners' class.
• Learn the importance of being patient.
• Look at additional learning resources.

Read... Read... Read...Go to your local library and read every book on bonsai that you can put your hands on. In the US, the book most often recommended for beginners is BONSAI, published by Sunset...an excellent first book for beginners. Be sure to get the 2003 edition. Among my favorite authors are: David DeGroot, Herb Gustafson, Deborah Koreshoff, Colin Lewis, and John Naka...and, there are many more good books. The more you read, the better prepared you will be to ask questions here, or at your local club...in Step 2.

Join a Local Club…Here is where you can get the best advice available, since the local club members are the ones who are raising bonsai in YOUR geographical area. The local club can help you avoid the pitfalls that you may encounter when you get advice from, maybe, half way around the world. Many things in bonsai are pretty much universal, but you need to know what it takes to keep a bonsai healthy in your location...be it New York, Tucson, San Francisco, Sidney, London, or Toronto. There are many more benefits to being a member of a local club. You can find local clubs worldwide at www.bonsai-bci.com/. Most clubs meet once a month…plus additional activities.

Take a Beginners Class…This is where you formally begin learning the basics, like selecting a nursery plant, which plant to start with, identifying the front, branch trimming, wiring, and on and on. You will begin to learn what works best for your area, what tools you need, and how to use them, etc. A good beginners class will get you off to a good start.

Learn the Importance of Being Patient…One thing that you should learn at the earliest possible is patience. The more you learn about bonsai, the more you will realize the importance of being paitient. You cannot be taught patience by someone else...but you must learn to be patient.

Additional Learning Resources…Look at the American Bonsai Society web site at www.absbonsai.org. Check out the ABS Correspondence Course and the ABS Learning Seminars 2006 and 2007, look at the set of beginner's courses).

Next…The bonsaiTALK Forum has a lot to offer. Check it out thouroghly so that you can use it to your best advantage.

Having said all this, welcome the wonderful obsession, I mean world, of bonsai!

Enjoy.


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.

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md4958

Well said. Great advice.

Joanie

I would also like to encourage beginners to use the "search" function when they have a general question. By using "search" up on the banner above, and typing in a couple of key words, you may be able to find even more information than you were asking for. For example, "maple repot" will give you lots of threads about repotting maples... how, when, what soil to use, etc. Take the time to read them, learn from them, and then if you still have questions, post the questions. By becoming self-reliant in your ability to search and find answers, you get more advantage out of this forum, which contains a whole lot of knowledge. Posting very general, broad, simple questions and getting a couple of paragraphs of answers won't help you as much as really sitting down to learn about the subject. As Pat said above (and wiser words were never spoken) READ, READ, READ. This forum is like a free book, a great big book full of lots of stuff... always there, accessible and useful. Don't sit with the book in your lap, and ask easy questions!!


Joanie

__________________
"You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says,
'Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" ~ Dave Barry

PatArizona

"...Don't sit with the book in your lap, and ask easy questions!!"

Here, here, Joanie!

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.

Macross

Very good advice from all, I have read, and read, and read, my knowlage I think is fairly proficiant, and precise, but, the best way to learn is to do.
In my area there are not many clubs, and the ones that are avalible are expensive or very far away.
So, I read and ask lots of questions.
The other thing I do, and it might seem a bit silly, I allways buy two of a stock plant, unless its expensive or a pre shaped bonsai, but I find that if I make a mistake on one, I learn on the other.
In saying that, I need to get off my butt and get atleast one lesson under my belt,
I feel in mysellf that I have gone as far as I can on my own, I need a ladder to get over the next wall.

Thanks Mac

october

All good advice. Also, when you initially begin to understand the basics, visit the bonsai nursery often and study the specimen trees. The way the branches fall, the way that the trunk is curved etc........................ I have a tree that I purchased last year from a very reputable bonsai nursery. I believe that the tree was styled by Master Kenji Miyata. Who is one of the leading bonsai masters in the world. I have studied that tree over and over again and now I basically use that tree as a template for whenever I style an informal upright. This tree gave me a direct insight on how an informal upright can be created. Good luck

Bgw

All right folks, in addition to all the good advice you've given to beginners and advice that I'm following, here's one you missed. Right at the tip of your noses!!!

It is appears at the top of every page when you open up a thread!!

Quote:

bonsaiTALK Hint: Did you know you can double click any bonsai term on this page for its definition?

As a newbie to Bonsai, and to this forum, I am most grateful to the techie who thunk this one up!!! I can't say enough about it!!!! Thank you whoever you are!

B.

mike108

try john naka"s books very good for bigginers and advanced bonsai cultivists.

Joanie

Matt is the owner of the forum, and the techie wiz that created this universe for us. He appears here as "Treebay". Make sure to cruise the gallery, and the old contest areas, they are useful too. And the weather thingie. You can type in your zip code and get your weather forecast. The Quick Links up above, and the webring, have all sorts of link resources. The calendar is for putting up bonsai show and event dates, and the journals are like private diaries. You can easily start your own, so that you can look back and see your progress in a year or two. Lots to do here, and many good ideas.

Joanie

__________________
"You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says,
'Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'" ~ Dave Barry