Thought Provoking Questions From High School Students

dbz12fan

Several weeks ago, Jim VanLandingham had asked me if I wanted to go with him to Satellite High School for a day to assist him in a bonsai program for the high school gifted class. Satellite High is known in the area for having a very large gifted group- about 300. Jim had felt that I might be able to connect well with the high school students and hopefully spike the interest in bonsai for more kids my age. I gladly agreed, and on Monday, we drove up to Satellite High to do the program. Jim brought along nine or ten finished trees to show the group what quality bonsai look like. My Ben Oki bougie was flowering at the time, and Jim had suggested earlier that we bring it along. However, on that day, the flowers had begun to slightly wilt, and would have surely fallen off if we had brought it. So, it stayed at home. On the way, Jim mentioned that this high school group has given him some of the most thought provoking questions he has ever heard over the years he has been doing bonsai programs. His statement was, in fact, correct. One student asked a question about bonsai that I have never even considered before. He asked:

"Does growing bonsai give you a sense of power in that you can control the destiny of the plant?"

I have never thought of bonsai in this manner. I am not the controlling type, so I have never recieved fulfillment out of bonsai simply because I control their destiny. However, maybe others out there do enjoy this aspect of bonsai. What's your thought? Do you find fulfillment from controlling the destiny of your trees?

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"Success demands understanding"-Andy Rutledge

Charles Bevan
Vero Beach, Fl

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jo schmoo

Not really, especially when they don't turn out like I'd hoped (the amount of times that happens is becoming less and less thank God).

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History stopped being interesting when people stopped killing each other with swords.
-Me during US History class

sauce

A sense of power? Certainly not. A sense of fulfillment? Most certainly

pootsie

Charles:

Interesting question.

My own personal belief is that everyone who practices bonsai is, somewhere in their being, a real control freak.

Everyone.

Whether we experience it as an overt feeling of power and domination in controlling the destiny of another living being, or whether we feel it some other way, I believe it is in there somewhere. Some believe that bonsai is a cooperative act between two beings, but really the tree has little choice in the matter.

Maybe I'm just a smidge bit cynical, though.

pootsie

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p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master.
Columbus Bonsai Society

Joanie

That is an interesting question. Personally, it isn't the destiny thing, but I do feel the need to control the tree's environment and growth. Between the horticultural requirements of keeping a tree in a small pot, there is also the artistic requirements of working with the tree to shape it as it grows. Destiny is more of a metaphysical concept. Can a tree have a destiny if it has no self awareness?

A few of us were pondering whether the need to control the living trees may be a way to bring order to a life that has/had chaos. The idea came up because we were comparing our childhoods and found a common factor.... we all had extreme difficulties in our childhoods, that made them insecure and unsafe. A small sampling, of course, but interesting. To safely "control" something as a hobby may be giving us the feeling of security that we lacked in our early years. At least our trees have it better than we did!

Joanie

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Aaron_K

Interesting question, one that I haven't heard before.

I can't speak for everyone, but my own view on this is that I don't get a sense of power from controlling the destiny of the tree. I enjoy trying to create something beautiful and natural. Poots I don't agree that the tree has no say in the matter, quite the opposite. Ultimately the tree holds the reigns, because if you try doing anything too extreme, either above or below ground, then the tree will turn up its toes and die.

I've always loved trees and been in awe of them in many respects, but I definately don't get a power trip when I get the concave cutters out..... unless I'm threatening the local kids with them

All the best,

Aaron

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Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Muriel Strode

Vulpes pilum mutat, non mores!

"A fox may change its skin but never its character"

Joanie

You know, there's positive control and negative control. We think of "control" as being negative... manipulative, overpowering, etc. Not many people on this site get their kicks from cutting off branches (we hope)

But there is also a positive control, closer to nurturing. It has more to do with supplying what the tree needs, with interacting, and with give and take. You control the life of a pet also. You give it water and food, you lock it in or out, you walk it or you don't. "Control" in itself is a neutral term, because your interaction can be positive or negative. There are probably people who span the entire spectrum from either positive, interactive, nurturing control... through benign but distant control.... and into the overpowering, strong-arm control. Each person's personality is different.

I feel very nurturing when working with the trees. They are in my care, and they have requirements. If their requirements are met, they become beautiful. Their growth patterns are considered, and worked with. A trunk chop is reluctantly done, but it is the price one has to pay for the end result.

Joanie

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sauce

Pootsie that is an interesting summation and may generally be true, but speaking for myself I get no sense of power or dominance, if you will from wiring and chopping trees. I do get satisfaction from seeing the end result of my labors and decisions. Sorta like raising a child. You train them as best you can and hope everything comes out right in the end. No ego involved just looking towards the end result. But that is just me.

Aaron_K

Yup Joanie and Sauce have hit it on the head for me... nuturing, labour of love, like raising a child or even a pet... bonsai do become your babies lol (and they are diaper free!!)

__________________
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Muriel Strode

Vulpes pilum mutat, non mores!

"A fox may change its skin but never its character"