101:
BONSAI
By Brookelynn Morris
Miniaturize your
favorite tree with
this ancient art.
Bonsai plants are, in their essence, little trees.
Yet the art of bonsai has a much greater scope:
it strives to replicate nature. It is an art that
emulates the elements and their action on living
plants. A tree is just a sapling until the roots grow,
the water comes into the soil, and the forces of
sun, wind, and gravity sculpt it into shape. The
bonsai artist uses a variety of tools to replicate
these effects and create a perfect miniature
Photography by Nat Wilson-Heckathorn
version of life on Earth.
Watching your tiny tree as it cycles through
the seasons, going dormant, pushing out leaf
buds, blossoming, and then producing fruits or
berries is very rewarding, and a wonderful way
to connect with the natural world.
»
