BonsaiTALK, known as “A small growing concern” became active August 26, 2001. Al Keppler, first member at bonsaiTALK signed up August 27, 2001. In those first few months there was not too much action at this fledgling bonsai forum. Gardenweb and IBC were in full swing and many of the future participants of bonsaiTALK were at a forum known as “bonsaiPage.” Future residents Tony, Soildoc, Rene Voortwist and Bonsainut were there also.

All was good in bonsai cyberspace till 9/11/2001. The Trade Towers would become a terrorist target and would knock down bonsaiPage for good. Matt had just posted an animated gif. of bonsai wire being wound around a stick. The animation was very well done and I sought to find out what this bonsai genius had in store at his web site. I came to bonsaiTALK and posted this short message of welcome to anyone that would read it. I sent out emails to all that I had addresses for and was able to get a few friends to move over here. Ripsgreentree was one of the first to help out and make some posts here. This first post by Rips was a preview of what was in store for the future of this forum. Tony and soildoc followed. Those first few months were a grand time. We were all getting our feet wet at a new web site. Matt was a regular poster in those days and was always asking questions on how the forum could be improved.

On the first day of the site, Matt posted a picture of a tree asking nearly the same questions that would be used in the TOD format years later. A few responded but most were too shy in this early time. In that thread I posted one of the first virtuals ever posted at bonsaiTALK. Matt’s original picture of the pine is gone due to the hyperlink, but the virtuals remain in the archives for all to see.

Walter Pall and Wolfgang Putz are new members in 2001 and welcome additions to a fledgling web site. Having talent like that around is no laughing matter. Walter posts his logo tree for review and it is eagerly accepted as one of the first offerings of a world class tree at this new web site. Most of us recent members are still in awe that Walter would even come to a new web site. This is something that Walter will do for years to come with each new addition to cyberspace. This is also the first mention of the Naka-ism of leaving space in the branches for the birds to fly thru.

I posted the first coverage of a convention here at bonsaiTALK. And went on to do it each year I attended. Pictures were hard for me in those days without a digital camera, and many of my pictures were scans from photo’s. Andy Rutledge makes his first appearance on the site and we engage in our first exchange of wisdom. Andy makes it clear to argue for mediocrity is not the way to go, and this is something I have never forgotten. It is something that I hope all those that have not been here long will read and understand.

Weather, Chat, and the registering feature were all added in 2001 as well as Bonsai Jim, Jay Gettinger and FredL

2002

bonsaiTALK pushes ahead like a snowball picking up some of its most influential members in these first years.

Tony
Bonsaimon
Gary S.
Leesa
Juliet of Oz
Old Mister Crow
Treebeard
Carmi
Adam
Geodude
Emperor Fish
Ralph
PDBbonsai
Attila
Craig Cowing
Vance Wood*
David Chauvin
Ron S
Thomas J
Kazuki
Dale Colchoy
BonsaiTALK also undergoes its first facelift with a new start page during 2002. This is the first of three facelifts that will change the look of BT over the coming years. Matt offers a page of bonsaiTALK collectables to purchase thru cafepress. Mugs, t-shirts and hats with colorfull treesmilies from the recent start page change. This is the first use of “A small growing concern”. I thought this was a most brilliant tag line for a bonsai forum and one that has grown steadily since its first days.

The FAQ and links page are added and the forum takes its first steps in helping new members find needed information without clogging the forum with hundreds of repetitive posts about the same thing. Too bad it didn’t work so well.

Ripsgreentree would offer his expertise to a feature that would bomb profusely. He wanted to engage a cyber workshop. He would post a tree in show and tell and then we would hold a live workshop in chat. Matt as usual has archived the exchange in chat within the thread to keep forever. It is a wonderful read and one that should not be missed. I love the part where Rips tells me that he has finally come to the conclusion he no longer respects anything I have to say. It doesn’t get any better than this folks.

Also in 2002 the first real dialog about the “A” word pops up. It is a record number of posts for the time and keeps that record for most of 2003

* Vance Wood would sign up in 2002 but would not make his first post until 2004

2003

This year at bonsaiTALK is quiet in comparison of what is to come. This year seems to be the calm before the storm. Most of the clan here is comfortable in their surroundings and we have had a few contests and all seems good.

FIRE! A fire at the building housing the server forces bonsaiTALK to go under for a week or two. Chaos insues as bonsaiTALK forum members flock to sites still on and they begin to post there. Everyone is in shock on how this could happen, was it terrorists again?

Banner ads make their first appearance on BT and the Journal feature is added in August of 2003. Due to the increase of bandwidth, the first notifications of exceeding bandwidth make their way to the pages of BT. Many months only have 28 days due to bandwidth exceeding its size limit. During this time forum donations take place and have been here ever since.
These notable members make their way BT during 2003:
David Yedwab
H B Smith
Ron Martin
Grampz
RockM
Jerry Mieslik
Candy J Shirey

2004

The Storm! 2004 is the most tumultuous year ever. Garden web has its meltdown and Spike Hernandez sends someone to Disneyland for the last time and, instead, sends them here. A mass exodus of lurkers without a website begin posting at BT for the first time. Vance Wood, signed up in 2002 but did not make his first post until 2004. Mark Rockwell, Poostie, Mike Page, Vance Hannah, and Fly Bri all make their appearance here after Garden web is no more. 2004 also makes its debut with:

Redpine
Bill V.
Chris M
Alasdair
Bonsai KC
Bruce Winter
JLDoggett
John Dixon
Maria Kapra

The possibility of an auction site is discussed in the forum. Matt feels that this could be another venue to help with revenue in a sagging economy and huge gains in forum patronage and exceedingly large bandwidth problems. Later that year the “Auction Café” opens with great reviews. It receives a huge amount of patronage in its early months and begins to fall off by years end.

2004 brings us the incomparable Will Heath. He comes to us as Badbyte and this name should have been retained as it was precursor to what was to come. In this thread we learn that Will has been banned from gardenweb in Sept and I make my first prediction that RockM is mark Rockwell. Will wonders why Vance, Mark and Pootsie are not posting here, but that would take care of itself soon.

The forum gets its third and final facelift with the installation of new software. This new software brings many innovations like; Bonsai cam., The Wiki, the double click word lookup feature and IBC Rec. arts. Bonsai. The most noteable feature is the new reputation system of rewarding reputation points to those by way of voting. The problem with the system is that it is not foolproof in that anyone can become reputable whether they are or not. This satire thread I started would be the starting point for Master Bates and the demise of Will Heath. The system leads to Will Heath’s untimely banning from this site for manipulating the system and he would go on to be banned from bonsaiChat as well.

The short tenure of Will Heath at this site caused many ir-repairable wounds within the fabric of this site and talk between Carl and I would go on as to how to make a site where the art of bonsai could be talked about within the confines of a site where everyone thought of bonsai at the same level. Carl would move on to start Art of Bonsai.

2004 did bring one thread that would go on in my opinion as one of the best art threads on BT. Artistry in Bonsai, A simpletons view.

2005
The TOD first envisioned by Matt way back in 2001 comes to fruition. Many trees are offered here for review. Matt soon runs out of trees and the forum steps up to the plate but the idea will soon fade. One notable TOD was that of John Dixon.
Many new faces stand out with posts daily:
Midwest bonsai
Joanie
Vonsgarden
Vicky Ensor
Malhomme
Sauce
January 2005 would see the site of Art of Bonsai take off. This new site would pull many members from here to the new site. Carl, Walter Pall, John Dixon, Atilla, Candy J. and Emperor Fish. They might check in, but posts from them would be occasional at best. JLDoggett and Bonsainut have moved to bonsaiChat.

Due to the forums large size, moderators other than myself and Matt would be added. Moderators would go on to kill many threads that would have self destructed, and in many cases ruin friendships forever.

I could not compile this history of bonsaiTALK without noting the contributions of those no longer with us.

Bill Sullivan
Bobby Burr
Capt. Jack Mickleburg
Hey Mikey (Mike Manos)
Bart Thomas
Mas Imazumi
John Naka
Jim Moody
Tadashi Yego
Sherwin Animoto
Taipan

2006

Its history is not yet written. There are many weeks left to make an influential contribution to be included in this year. I feel that my editorial series will become future history of this fabulous web sites past, present and future. The names mentioned in each year are persons that have impacted me either directly or indirectly through their daily posts. I feel that this group has had the most influence on the web site and has made it what it is today. If I have missed a name or two I apologize and it was not on purpose. Feel free to add any significant additions to this post so that we may better chronicle the history of bonsaiTALK.

Happy Holidays, Al Keppler

__________________
It's about time that the proper respect be given to the fine art of balloon animals...

Al,

Good work.
Apart from missing me off, anyway! ;-)

Regards,
Ian.

Al,
Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane,
brings back memories MOSTLY all good.
Lets look to the future with growth in our individual knowledge and in our trees.
Jay

Gday Al!

Nice work - although I am a little taken aback by the lack of editorializing in your editorial. More historical fact than personal opinion, in my humble opinion. Thanks for taking the time to educate us on that which has gone before. In a world often dominated by the "What's New?" button, it is easy to neglect the founding members who helped shape the character of bonsaiTALK.

Thanks.

Fly.

PS: I think you may have left Charles Bevan (dbz12fan) off your list.

This isn't an editorial. Its a holiday newletter. But we need to know who has new kids (Fly for sure), who made the honor role (those listed?) and if the dog had puppies...

Call me a sap, but I always liked those newsletters...

Happy Holidays everyone.

Brian

May Tai RIP, he, as one of many, particularly inspired me to further my Bonsai hopes and dreams, he will be sorely missed.

Many thanks for recognising those come and gone in your editorial Al.

REgards
Rowan

Hi Al, I really appreciate you historical account of BT and the links that go along with it. I particularly liked Rips first post, that was hilarious! I was taken aback but at the same time honored that you mentioned me in the year 2005 update. I have learned much more here than I have contributed. I truly enjoy your passion for bonsai and your contributions to this forum!! To those who have been here since the early days I say, Thank You for keeping this great forum going! RIP Tai

Al,

Surprise!!!! I still haven't carved up that rock planting (TOD) yet.

Happy Holidays everyone.

John

Hi Al and thanks

As a newbie member and one that loves history, it's great to be able to have a brief look at where the community came from.

one though that comes from your post is the poosibility of an "Honour Roll" where we can remeber those members that have passed on to the great Bonsai gardens in the sky.

Ken

That sounds like a good idea. An honor role. And Al, I agree this was a great read to learn about how the site came to be.

Great Job

sincerely,
Fred Beshara