Appreciating Bonsai
By Amber Snow

I m one of those people who has no artistic talent. I can t draw or paint, I
can t write music, let alone sing or play an instrument, and while I can
certainly grow flowers (drop em in the ground and water them, and up they
come!) I can t arrange them into arranging patterns. Oh, believe me, I ve tried,
but I can t do it.

But just because I m unable to create beauty of that kind, doesn t mean that I
can t enjoy the beauty created by others. Indeed, most of us are that way,
aren t we? We admire what other people create, buy it, and display it in our
homes so that we can enjoy it whenever we like.

Don t misunderstand me. I have certain tastes and I know what I like. I like
seascapes - towering waves with dark skies full of menace, perhaps a lighthouse
in the background, I like music with lots of drums and/or trumpets, and with
words that I can actually understand, and when it comes to flowers I don t care
for the American way, with dozens of flowers all stuffed together in a vase. Oh,
I don t deny that they look pretty, but I like a simpler touch, Japanese
ikebana, for choice. A single flower, or a leaf in a bowl of water. Nothing to
overwhelm the senses.

And I like bonsai.

Now, I would never have the patience to try to grow a bonsai tree of my own, but
then, I don t have to. There are plenty of talented people who design and
nurture bonsai in various shapes, and then sell them to the consumer, in other
words, myself.

As with any other creative design, there are many ways to design a bonsai tree,
each design intended to evoke a certain emotion in the viewer.

Formal Upright Style
I don t care for the formal style - the trunk of the tiny tree grows straight up
toward the sky, and the branches form a typical tree silhouette. It s just a
miniature tree, to me.

Informal Upright Style
Still not a favorite style, but better than the formal style, in my opinion. The
trunk isn t perfect, it s been shaped by wind, shade, competition for light and
moisture, it looks like it s put up a fight to survive. It s bent a bit here and
there, but the branches still manage to grow well.

Semicascade Style
This style emulates the look of of watrside trees, with the trunk canted over as
if it were reaching toward the water…but can t quite make it. Now I like this
if the pot is bisected in two, with the tree in its soil on one side, and calm
water on the other.

Cascade Style
The semicascade is meant to evoke reaching towards water, the cascade style
evokes a tree growing on a mountainside…the trunk of the tree is trained of
downward below the level of the pot. Now this looks a bit messy unplanned to my
eyes…I like a tree that raises above the pot.
Literati Style
Similar to the Informal Upright Style, in this style the long trunk line “flows
and twists” upward, with a crown only at the very top of the tree.

Slanting Style
Similar to the Semicascade style, although the trunk isn t quite as horizontal
as that. Another tree battling for survival against the elements, and a design I
like.

Root-Over-Rock Style
Made to resemble trees on rocky ledges that have had to send roots down a mighty
long ways to find nourishing soil - you need a rock and a tree and some long
roots. I don t care for this style…roots belong in the ground!

Clasped-To-Rock Style
On the other hand, I do like this style, because once again the tree is a
battler, and you get a dramatic look from it. This style represents trees on
mountainsides, yes, but the roots grow over the rock…not trying to reach
toward soil.

Twin-Trunk Style
This style consists of a tree with a twin-trunk. One trunk predominates. This
style is okay, but not a favorite.

Clump Style
Several trunks growing from the same root are what this style is all about, and
thus is not simple enough for me.

Straight Line Style (Raft Style)
A tree falls over, but instead of dying sends up branches vertically toward the
sun…which become trunks.

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Sinuous Style
This style requires a type of tree that produces suckers from exposed roots,
like the quince, which can cause low-lying branches to sprout trunks of their
own. Too busy for my taste

Group Planting
This style mimics the effect of several trees growing together in a forest.

Saikei Planting
My favorite style! It s also called “tray landscape” and presents a natural
landscape in miniature, with rocks shaped to look like identifiable mountains,
or famous trees (as in Minnesota s Witch Tree, for my preference.)

About the Author: Amber Snow is a amateur bonsai enthusiast and contributor to http://www.bonsaigardener.org Visit Bonsai Gardener and find out more about how to grow, prune, and care for all species of bonsai trees.

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