Bonsai Guide

It is a great privilege to begin compiling this "Bonsai Guide" which is the result of Dennis 25 years journey into one of the most ancient art forms in the world.

This bonsai guide is his and I am happy to share it with all my visitors.

If you are in the Ft Lauderdale area, come and visit the largest bonsai nursery.

Bonsai classes will soon be offered in Ft Lauderdale from 2012. Send us an email if you want to receive further information please contact me.

To read more of the art of bonsai check Dennis Bonsai Gardens

Beginner Bonsai

If you are unfamiliar with these terms and in order to define them, it may sound funny but, perhaps it is best to start with the basics and ask: What is a tree?

By definition: a tree (when mature) is a plant having a permanently woody main stem or trunk covered by bark, ordinarily growing to a considerable height, and usually developing branches at some distance from the ground.

Bonsai

As a matter of course, such a tree would have undergone various (sometimes drastic) training procedures and techniques to have arrived at this miniature tree state.

Normally, and with almost every species, this takes a period of several years!

In addition, careful attention would have been paid along the way to insure that each developing bonsai, adheres to various time honored standards and principles normally associated these days with the art world.

Like any creator of any "masterpiece" in fine art for example, any serious bonsai artist knows the ultimate purpose of his or her tree is simply...that it is meant to be viewed.

As such, a good bonsai like other works of art should convey a sense of balance, eye movement, a point of interest within the overall composition, and careful attention should be paid (in particular) to the relation between line, form, and shapes. As trees take years to grow, so then, do these principles to apply!

Pre-bonsai

Specimen Trees

Bonsai Tree Information

If you looking for real value and--DO--have an interest in bonsai, just know that in small shops and big box stores alike, you will be offered your pick between three or four species with as few as one or two of each being available to you to make your selection.

In other words, you may very well have a total of as few as six or eight juvenile plants in pots to choose from despite the fact that hundreds of species can and do make excellent bonsai.

Bonsai Style

Similarly, since bonsai itself is meant to depict our awe for what we see in nature, there are many, many styles and techniques needed to even attempt such a feat. To name a few of these styles we have: the formal upright, the informal upright, root over rock, exposed root, the twin trunk, the clump planting, the group planting, the cascade, the simi-cascade and on and on...

Unfortunately, we have listed more styles of bonsai than our competitors even have trees and we haven't even begun to discuss the various time honored techniques used that dramatically effect a tree's appearance yet!

The sad truth is that when such places do offer "bonsai" and on the rare occasion they are not really just regular plants in fancy pots, these stores carry one style only, the very basic and most common informal upright.

As they only handle one or two each of the three or four species based on their suppliers success rate of cramming them into small pots, one has to ask before buying, how many of these eight or so "trees" are actually showing any signs at all of vigorous healthy growth?

Over the years we learned to identify and avoid these types of assembly line suppliers and have searched out instead, reputable competent growers who share our dedication and respect for this ancient art form. One visit to Dennis bonsai gardens will tell you instantly you that he is not interested in duping anyone with fast-buck short cuts!

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