Frozen!

FredL

Many, many years ago, when I was a USMC Junior Officer in Japan,I was very adventurous on liberty. I would go far and wide, mostly by myself, in search of adventure. Before long, after learning a smattering of Japanese, I thought I was ready for most anything.

One early afternoon, I walked into a fairly crowded restaurant and, when the waitress appeared, pointed to Sukiyaki on the menu. I assumed that's what I'd get but, lo and behold, a few minutes later, she reappeared with a big tray of sliced, raw vegetables, some raw meat and some other components of my meal-soon-to-be that were unknown to me. She then proceded to fire-up a gas grill that I hadn't really paid much attention to, put a sort of wok over it, put some oil into the wok and then piled into it about 1/3 of the meat and vegetables.

Then walked away.

I froze! I was completely clueless as to what should happen next. The meal started to cook, then to smoke. I sat in front of it dumbfounded. Fortunately, a very nice man sitting nearby noticed my distress and rushed over to help me. He stirred and turned the meal, then explained to me in broken English that I should do the same, eating the meal as it cooked. He was so nice and helpful, as was everybody in Japan at that time with me.

Well! I must say, some of those exact same feelings have returned as I survey the material I have collected and cultivated over the past 2 1/2 years. Some of it is obviously ready for initial styling. In fact, two of my pieces, a Pine and a Blueberry, are really excellent. I find myself quite worried that rather than initially stylling them, I will mess them up horribly and unrecoverably, which, particularly in the case of these two, would be a real tragedy. I mean, they are REALLY nice.

Several other pieces are adequate to work with. However, I find myself approaching the whole Spring season with great anxiety. No more simple collecting and repotting. This is it. Making real bonsai!

If anybody out there, especially anybody self-taught, would care to tell about how (s)he got over his initial "stage fright", I'd love to hear about it. I understand basic design principles and know how to wire. Nevertheless, the prospect of actually turning my trees into bonsai has got me worried!

Fred

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agraham

i've been growing bonsai for about 25 -30 years now.....i wasted a lot of time and plant material trying to learn eveything by myself...(i know one person within 100 miles of my home who also grows bonsai)

start on your less than good material,because more than likely your going to screw some up.....you can always collect more

if there is a club in your area...JOIN IT!!!!

...........if you can't or won't get help....just go for it,enjoy it,and expect some failures as you practice

TreeBay

Joining a club is a great suggestion. There's only so much that kind gentleman could have helped you on the sukiyakiTALK.com forum, even if he had the best intentions.

You'll find a lot of great people, and you can work side by side with someone doing repotting and training and get instant feedback.

Of course if you post pictures of your stock, we'll do our best not to spill hot oil on you.

Regards,

Matt

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mkonig

Hi Fred
Welcome to the SCARY world of bonsai.

I know exactly how you feel. I started with bonsai about 10 years ago and still consider myself a relative beginner (or slow learner as my wife calls it).

When I started, I did not have access to the internet and i knew noone else who did or had any interest in this hobby. Books from our local libraby helped a little and so did my previous hoticultural experience as a keen gardener.

So I started to work from instructions in books and two dimensional photos. It was a start and I still have my first bonsai (alive and thriving, but no master piece!).

What turned it around for me was finding a bonsai club not too far away and I learned more in a month there than from all the books and photos in the previous three years.

So my advise is the same as that of the others. Try and find a club and join. I travel 30 miles to our meetings and belive me, it's well worth it.

BTW, I still get that churning in the stomach when I start on the initial styling of a tree. I think thats only healthy and shows a respect for the material you are working with.

My philosophy is:
Look at as many photos or real examples of the kind of tree you are styling.
Look at your tree from all sides and angles, try not to think in straight lines.
If your not sure step back and look and think again and then if you are happy with your choice, GO FOR IT.
If in doubt wait another month (or Year) or post it here for suggestions. Remember, it's not a race.

MOst of all enjoy and learn from any mistakes!

All the best

Mike

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FredL

Well, thanks, all. As for the club idea: Been there; done that. And it helped. ALOT!!! How I wish it was available to me now. I'd absolutely take back all my unkind remarks about my old instructor! Who cares if he was the meanest bonsai instructor that ever walked the Earth. And, even better, I'd like to be back in my second club with all the nice old Japanese guys. But, alas, they are now about 1800 miles away.

I've heard there's a club over in Tulsa. Does anybody know anything about that? It's a LONG way away, but is probably closer than any other club.

Well, I guess that leaves me with the option of trying once more to master digital photography and sending some half way decent pictures into this forum.

I guess its better than sacrificing my beautiful, innocent trees.

Fred

GaryS

Fred,
At this stage of the game I'd just snap a few digital photos and put them on the board.

Remember, the photos don't have to be perfect. With all the kind help here you can soak up a couple of weeks of ideas and and then do the deed.

It's probably only perfectionism that's standing in your way. I think all bonsai people have it, I know I do, but when it rears it head I know it's only an illusion.

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GaryS

Jay Wilson

Fred,
I feel your pain. I too am being gored by the horns of that same dilemma.

Jay wilson

toyota4wd94

I too feel confused when it comes to styling. I'm new at this and I also have trouble envisioning what a plant should ultimately end up looking like. I can pick up a plant at a nursery and think "this sure has a nice trunk and nebari" and then look at the big wad of branches at the top, and immediately get that glazed far away look on my face because I just can't seem to envision it. I've watched people style a tree before and they can take the same plant I was holding at the nursery, turn it around and look for a while , then snip, snip ,wire, wire, bend, bend. TA..DA..
A finished tree. I hope with time and experience that I too can do this.

Regards,

Dave

pdbbonsai

Fred,

You can always use 35mm film as well, and most 1hr photo shops will put your pictures on disk for you (for about 3 or 4 bucks).
The disk even has a photo editor that will allow you to compress them to fit on here....just some thoughts


Paul

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