Introduction to Bonsai 101

The killing fields
Introduction to bonsai,101
Why, killing fields? Strange choice for a title? Really? Don't be too sure of that my friends and fellow bonsai enthusiasts. To begin with; I've been interested, both actively and sporadically in bonsai for several years now and in that time I've managed to kill more trees than a backwoods lumberjack. It was not my intention to euthanize trees; in fact, my intentions were originally (with little or no guidance or formal training) to produce pleasing, aesthetic, and thriving miniature trees. It didn't work out that way initially though. I've killed so many potential bonsai trees that one day while visiting a garden supply center I found my picture on the wall in the form of a wanted poster.
Sound familiar? Been there, done that? Good, then you're off to a good start. If you haven't killed a single tree by now, go for it. Learning by one's mistakes is perhaps the best way not to repeat the same mistake repeatedly. Remembering what you did or did not do and getting some expert advice on each failure is your key to opening up an adventure in nurturing and growing the best bonsai trees you can possibly grow.
If your patience is limited or virtually non -existent then perhaps you should be looking into another hobby.
Just remember that the tree or trees you will produce are a reflection of yourself and your ideas, not mine or anyone else’s. They need to be pleasing to you first or you're doing the work for someone else. Of course we would all love to produce similar trees as the ones we see on bonsai books and at the shows, and in time we will. Enjoy the experience and allow your imagination to guide you and apply what you learn along the way and I promise you that in time you'll be happy with the end results. Speaking about end results; there is no end to a bonsai project with the exception of expiration, (death of a tree) of course.
To conclude, I and the people of BSSJ, (Bonsai Society of South Jersey) would like to invite you to join us or contact us for helpful information and supplies so that you too can experience the wonders, frustrations, and personal gratification of Bonsai. We invite you to enter into the world of bonsai and participate with us and others who have found this to be an enjoyable and rewarding pass time and hobby.
C. Larke, BSSJ