Confessions of a Bonsai Addict

robert1955

Hello my name is Bob, and I am a Bonsai Addict.
In my greenhouse and the nooks and crannies around my yard, I counted 136, either finished bonsai, pre-bonsai, almost bonsai, or trees that I want to be bonsai.

I made a deal with my wife that I wouldn't buy any more. I resorted to digging my yard plants up. I had my sons buy me some, told my friends thats what I wanted as gifts. The only thing I haven't done is steal a plant.

Cindy(the wife)said, For the love of god, STOP IT! She said I was like a drug addict.

She was right. I was becoming over whelmed. I stopped going to my meetings and all I was doing was all bonsai stuff.

I Have enought plants for a long time. I should bring some to a meeting and have them given away.

Or you guys could stop by for a beer and a bonsai

Peace
Bob

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zoot

Tell me about it Bob!

I have a very small garden - maybe thirty-five feet by fifteen. It is jam-packed with trees, some growing in the ground, others in training pots and even some bonafide bonsai!

There is just enough room for some decking and a washing carousel. I have managed to form a Japanese-ish garden in a small area and that's about it. I have trees on the garden table, on the chairs, on the decking. I get a lot of flak from my wife about it but I'm hooked and can't stop - won't stop.

You just have to be broad shouldered, take the flak and carry on.

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Best regards

Zoot

'You got to be original, man...' Lester Young 1909-1959

zen

"Hello Bob", he says between sips from his coffee,...LOL

"I can quit any time I want."
Just don't see that happening,...ever.
I only have 8 trees right now,...only one of wich I call even close to bonsai (my yamadori nandina) so I have plenty of room for growth(no pun intended) I guess i'll have to get a plane ticket out there for that beer and a tree.
Hey I know,..how 'bout a trade? I'll swap you the pot in this pic (that I made from a heavy hypertufa mix) for something that has a trunk.The pic is a virt of Mike P's cali juni in the pot.

Attached Images

Pot4Cali.jpg (17.7 KB, 95 views)

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"Although profoundly "inconsequential," the Zen experience has consequences in the sense that it may be applied in any direction, to any conceivable human activity, and that wherever it is so applied it lends an unmistakable quality to the work."

~ Alan Watts (1915-1973)

hortriot

hmmm, is the good ship 'im addicted to bonsai getting packed out.
( im in the same boat )
i have stopped buying plants for now. i have resorted to propagation and digging from garden beds.

helllllllllllllllp!!!! my shelves are collapsing.

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another day, another leaf

Just_Mike

hi bob, my name is mike, and im a bonsai addict...my wife caught on to my "problem" earlier than yours, and is seeking me some help...i never got to 136, i would like to get to 136...i guess you could classify me as a "closest addict"...she says no more, i say ok, but i have to pass 2 nurseries on my way home from work everyday, and im not a strong enough person to just keep driving...i tell myself, "ill just stop and take a look...i wont buy anything, i have plenty of trees"...for some reason that pep talk never works and before i know it, there i am, rushing home to get my new tree (the one i wasnt going to buy) home and blended within my other trees before wife finds out...now...here is the funny part...for some reason i always convince myself that my master plot at getting a new tree home undetected will work...it never does...shes like magnum p.i...nothin gets past her...then i find myself making the same lame comments that have never worked before, like "babe thats that one tree i got awhile ago, you just dont recognize it =))...then i get the look (everyone with a wife knows the look i speak of)...to her credit though she will help me water sometimes...but that could be her ploy to take inventory...

...as for the beer and a tree idea, i could buy the beer, and you give away tress...=0
...but try getting that to fly...i can see it now..."cmon babe were going to san diego" then i wake up, wondering what happened and why my head hurts so much...

good luck to us all...Mike

BrianBay9

Hi Bob,

My name is Brian, and I'm a bonsaiholic. I'm a little further down the recovery road than you, having given away about 150 plants.....I must admit I was forced to give them away as part of our move, and (shhhhhh) I'm secretly taking cuttings again.

Now that I'm in San Diego county, I'd love to stop by to meet you and see your trees. I'm afraid my wife won't let me take any home. I could bring you a couple though?

Brian

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Joanie

Bob, I'm an addict too. My hubby is supportive but my hobby is taking over my life. Watering takes almost an hour a day now if done right. I get up at 2 am if I think that the trees need to be protected from wind or rain or roving raccoons. Instead of cleaning the house, I spend hours playing with the trees.

Maybe someday we could all come to your house and do a tree swap. Bring trees that we have lose interest in and swap with someone else. That helps everyone....

And I'll bring the strawberry daquiris.

Joanie

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robert1955

I feel better that I am not alone. It takes 3 beers to water properly.

Tree swapping??The wife didn't say anything about that.

Carry on, troops.

Peace
Bob


P.S. La Jolla and Carlsbad are right down the highway.

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The older you get, the older old is.

Joanie

Or would you guys like to come to my house? Like, the first part of July sometime??

I'm fixing up the patio for outdoor "entertaining"... well, at least for a nice place to sit....

Joanie

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