Fair enough!

Thanks for the contact information, Andy. I'll try to write as well.

Best regards,
Carl

Here's the letter I mailed a little while ago. I hope he gets to read it:
---------------------------------

Dear Mr. Parkenham,

I am writing to you to express my disappointment and concern at your unfortunate and baseless observations when expressing your disdain for bonsai in the New York Times interview, 11/12/02.

You were quoted as saying:

“They give me the creeps. I never would want to be involved with
a bonsai. Because they cut all the living material of the root
except the youngest growth, in order to confine it to the prison of
its pot. It's like binding Chinese women's feet. Natural bonsai can be quite moving. Sometimes you see them growing out of rocks on mountains and surviving in terribly hostile environments, and that is moving.”

I’m afraid that in your statement, you displayed a significant ignorance of both man and nature and your characterization of bonsai was utterly specious. You are a respected writer and your words, therefore, carry weight that demands that you not harm others or harm ideas through the willful spouting of misinformation based on nothing more than your ignorance. You have lost at least one fan and probably more by this unfortunate and thoughtless action.

The great attention given them by enthusiasts ensures that bonsai are more cared for and generally far healthier than are most trees in nature. If you understood the specific requirements of trees grown in containers and the science of doing so to the trees’ best advantage, you might begin to appreciate just how ridiculous your observations were. It is my great hope that in the future you may decide to remedy your ignorance rather than merely displaying it for the world to see. There are many excellent resources for information specific to bonsai and I will be both happy and eager to assist you in finding them should you care to ask for help.

While I apologize for the underlying tone of contempt in my letter, I believe that it is important for you to have insight into what is likely a widespread sentiment in response to your baseless observations. I hope that you get to read my letter, as indeed you need to. I hope to soon learn of your interest in seeking information on bonsai and wish you good health.

Sincerely,
Andy Rutledge
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Excellent Responce! Andy!
I couldnt have done better myself.

I do hope this guy does a public apology.
He obviously has no notion of how bonsai are cared for.


"Because they cut all the living material of the root
except the youngest growth"
what a crock!

I cut away the new stuff too!

I hope he gets undreds of letters, because i am sure that a large group of his readers are bonsai enthusiasts like ourselves.

I think i will give his new book a miss.

Dear Mr Parkenham,

I was horrified to discover that the publication of your books has resulted in the senseless killing of thousands of trees. In the interest of creating the finest "art paper," the publishers cut away all the living material except the pulpwood, bleach that with strong chemicals and press it tightly to bind it into pages! It's like binding Chinese women's feet.

Viewing natural trees can be quite moving. Sometimes you see them growing out of rocks on mountains and surviving in terribly hostile environments, and that is moving. But seeing these images of trees tattooed on the fossilized remains of their dead friends is loathsome to me.

he hee!

Excellent Treebay. That are my sentiments exactly. What a moron this author is.

Great letter Andy.

David

rotfl

It's just ignorance, since my trees are more healthy than natural ones, one of my Bahuinas, is already flowering, and it's just a year old seedling (even younger) while Bahuinas in nature take up to almost 3 or 5 years to flower, I believe that a tree in the nature won't get folliar and soil fertilizer EVER, but our trees are well feed, and well treated. I was talking with a friend once, and he told me, that my trees looked happy, since their colors are better than the ones in the streets, they get their water and their food on time, and I told him that some people like this man said we were cruel or whatever, and he told me, "Trees don't feel, so their reaction to bad situations is fighting, if they don't make it they die, so if they are alive and look better than other trees, then they are doing great" And he is not a bonsai enthusiast, he only have seen my trees, and had a proof just enough to tell that we were not cruel.

What I meant is: As long as he stays closed to bonsai, he won't change his mind, because, he has to know how we treat them to be entitled to talk, or at least watch some of the World's real amazing trees, which are in pots... Because without considering some bonsai in his books, he is just missing some of the really more amazing trees. Since I've never seen somebody wonder on a natural tree, but I've seen my friends and relatives impressed with some of your bonsai so let's just don't pay attention to him... Although his book can be a really good source of inspiration for us So, even if he doesn't want he is helping to Bonsai World!!!

AMEN

C'mon people...he needed "a new challenge" and was "fed up by war."

Salix, thanks for including the link. I believe he's a spoiled little Earl.

And good point Matt, about the killing of trees for paper, etc. Thomas is a bit short-sighted.

K.A: The letter was just perfect, it is on our responsability to tell him what we think of his text if we want to make bonsai more known.
I must agree with you others that our bonsai gets alot better care than some of the wild living trees, it's funny in some way