A life with trees. The essence of bonsai.
Living a life with trees. As far back as my childhood, I was fascinated by trees. One of the clearest memories of that time is playing with the other kids in the local forest just five minutes away at short skinny legs.
The inspiration from trees
This mood still sits in me, although it is 50 years ago.
One of my smallest bonsai reminds me of that Oak. The bonsai is not nearby that tree, it just passes on the same feeling.
Not long ago I revisited my childhood forest and the tree still stands. Much smaller than I remembered, but everything seems bigger from a small boys point of view.
The bonsai forest
I am surrounded by trees every day. The Kisetsu-en garden is located in the countryside and trees are all around the property and in nature just one step from the house.
In the video is a clip from the coast side with trees having their feet covered with soft mosses and roots exposed. At the end of the article, you can watch my own bonsai presentation of that type of nature.
A bonsai display with a Japanese maple forest at the outdoor Tokonoma reflects the nature nearby and at the island where I live. The video gives a hint of the coastal setting with the forest growing at the edge. This is what I try to bring forward in my bonsai forest creation.
It gives that sense of beauty and silent moments I explore when taking a hike around the countryside. The silence when raindrops fall at the leaves, or when the light breaks through early in the morning.
The Japanese maple is featured as this month species at Kisetsu-en. The beauty of the tender leaves makes it a perfect match for bonsai.
With hundreds of varieties with all kinds of amazing leaf shapes and colour variations, the Japanese maple is a favourite. Learn to grow Japanese maples for bonsai. Released September 1st.
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Cornel
We have recently started our new tree service company and came across your blog.
Your article beautifully reflects your lifelong connection with trees, evoking a deep sense of nostalgia and appreciation. It’s heartwarming to hear about your fond memories and the way bonsai helps keep those feelings alive.
Fun fact: Did you know that the oldest known bonsai tree is over 1000 years old? Nature’s resilience is truly remarkable.