I have been interested in bonsai since I was stationed in Okinawa while in the Marine Corps back in 1965…..but being a Marine was not conducive to having and maintaining a bonsai collection. However, when I got out and moved to Oregon I was able to start my bonsai life with the help of Ed Woods, who spent several hours of his time to teach me and help select my first bonsai materials. Later I was able to train and learn under a great Japanese gentleman named Masa Furukawa. He was the old school of bonsai training and stressed the basics above all else.

 

Larch grove, Hornbeam grove, Shore Pine, Blue Spruce 

 

These photos were taken out my back sliding door this morning before I watered.      Watering properly takes me about an hour or see if I do it right.

You can make a bonsai from about any type of tree there is, but there are a few exceptions. I prefer the evergreen, but have a lot of deciduous ones also.

 

Bonsai come in various styles. The styles are: Broom style Bonsai (Hokidachi), Formal upright Bonsai style (Chokkan), Informal upright Bonsai style (Moyogi), Slanting Bonsai style (Shakan), Cascade Bonsai style (Kengai), Semi cascade Bonsai style (Han-kengai), Literati Bonsai style (Bunjingi), Windswept Bonsai style (Fukinagashi), Double trunk style Bonsai (Sokan), Multitrunk Bonsai style (Kabudachi), Forest Bonsai style (Yose-ue), Growing on a rock Bonsai style (Seki-joju), Growing in a rock Bonsai style (Ishisuki), Raft Bonsai style (Ikadabuki), Shari Bonsai style (Sharimiki).

Bonsai come from many places: you can collect them from nature, buy them at nurseries, from bonsai shops, or bonsai clubs, or other bonsai people wanting to reduce their collection. A great way to start is to take a class that has raw bonsai material available and you work through each stage of development: trimming, styling, wiring, and care.

Having bonsai is almost like having children. You have to feed them, water them, care for them, and on constant watch for bugs, other things that could cause issues, and the weather. Today, in Oregon City, it was 115* which was an all-time record high back to 1928. I hate to think what my water bill will be next time.