My Fascination with Bonsai
How Potting Trees Awoke my Interest
in Photography and Gardening Techniques

On This Page:

factoids
miniestore
teachable moment
--photos galore throughout, some as product ads--

• Share my interest
• Factoids
• Bonsai Mini-eStore
• Mini-Gardening Comments
• About Photos and Photo Safari
• Teachable Moments

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Teacher Resources

monsiermonchat © Marina COCHET - Fotolia.com

Share my Interest

After trying my non-green thumb on a bonsai kit, I found myself looking at trees in nature and planning how to prune them to be aestheically pleasing. I looked for natural shapes that could be models for bonsai. I shared my fascination with bonsai with my students across a few biology units. Now I would like to offer some photos of bonsai and trees, comments, links and products to share my enthusiasm with you. Be sure to read the 7 factoids.

No, not all of the photos are the result of my personal photo safaris. I discovered that affiliate product photos showed beautiful bonsai as did photos purchased on line. This page is set up to display a variety of these photographs as well as to offer information. Be sure to check out the gardening discussion and the other bonsai pages listed in the breadcrumbs above for even more pictures. For a tree that inspires, see the photo near the bottom of the page. There is a mini-lesson based on that picture, too.(OK, I have written a paragraph long enoug to display the photo of the bonsai. Originally, the page was too crowded at the top, but I do like the photo, so I wrote this copy to make space! It was either that or leave off the "monsiermonchat which surely you enjoy and I refuse to leave out!)
Photo in the above paragraph is "Bonsai" © knostpix - Fotolia.com
Have you taken a photo safari? More of same.

Bonsai A VCCTI Mini-eStore

From the basics to the sublime,
get yours from.
trees .. seeds .. pots .. how to

Bonsai Trees Under $30

Bonsai Sales & Discounts

• Juniper Bonsai Trees
• One-of-a-kind Bonsai Trees
• Flowering Bonsai Trees
• Outdoor Bonsai Trees

Juniper "Karate Kid Tree" - Extra Large (Juniper Procumbens "nana")
- $ 149.95
This dwarf Juniper from Japan is the most popular evergreen in the U.S. When we think of a traditional bonsai and what it should look like, we think of a "Juniper Procumbens Nana." They are very hardy, long-lived, and tolerate many adverse conditions. Trained in the traditional style, this Juniper Precumbens is popularly known as the "Karate Kid" tree. 11 years old 11"-13" tall Suitable 8" x 10" humidity tray is recommended.
To purchase add $4.95. Shipped via UPS 2-3 days - $14.95.

Starter Kit
Make Your Own Bonsai
- $ 24.95
Make Your Own Bonsai
Everything you need to create your own bonsai. Kit includes the following: Glazed ceramic imported container Juniper Procumbens Nana (3 years old) Anneaaled copper training wire Bonsai soil (conifer mix) Fiberglass drainage hole covers Multi-colored textured rock Separate typewritten instructions for potting, training and maintenance Ceramic miniature figurine Humidity tray Plastic plant marker
Shipped via UPS 2-3 days - $10.95.

Japanese Maple Seeds - $ 2.95
from Bonsai Boy of New York

Japanese Birch Seeds - $ 2.95

Willow Leaf Ficus-Small (ficus nerifolia/salicafolia)
- $ 24.95
Also known as Mexicana Ficus. Elongated, light green leaves have a striking resemblance to the popular weeping willow tree. This tree does particularly well indoors in low, moderate or high lighting conditions. 4 years old 5" - 8" tall Suitable 4 1/2"x 6 1/2"
humidity tray is recommended. To purchase add $3.50. Shipped UPS 2-3 days - $10.95.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis)
- $ 24.95
The leaves of this Rosemary herb have a pine-like aroma. Use fresh or dried leaves in fish, meat, poultry, soups and teas. Small purple flowers. Likes sun. 4 years old. 10" tall. Suitable 6"x4" humidity tray is recommended.
To purchase add $2.95. Shipped via UPS 2-3 days - $10.95.

Bonsai Video Instructional Guide
- $ 19.95
Produced by the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Excellent instructional guide for the individual. Watch repeatedly to learn general care, culture, shaping and pruning in exacting detail. 22 minutes long.
Shipped via UPS - ground - $7.95.

Indoor Bonsai Brooklyn Botanic Gardens
- $ 9.95
Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. Tips on growing bonsai indoors, lighting humidity, trimming, training and wiring. An indispensable encyclopedia of 100 great plants for indoor bonsai. An illustrated guide to bonsai styles. How to grow bonsai under lights. What to do with bonsai when you go on vacation. 96 pages 6" x 9" - soft cover ISBN: 0945352-58-1
Shipped via UPS ground - $7.95.

The Bonsai Handbook
by David Prescott
& Colin Lewis
- $ 24.95
The Bonsai Handbook is the essential, modern, practical guide to this ancient art. This finely detailed book combines expertly drawn step by step artwork with beautiful full color photographs. Clear descriptions highlight every facet of the practice of bonsai. Both the author and consultant editor are award winning bonsai experts, and their passion and involvement are so apparent that it is impossible to read this book without wanting to rush out and plant a seedling or dig up a mature tree to make a start on its long training. Hardcover, color photographs and sketches 160 pages
Shipped via UPS Ground - $8.95

Get this 7 inch dragon for less than $10.00 +s&h

Fukien Tea - Forest (carmona) - $ 10900.00
Bonsai Boy of New York

Fukien Tea - Forest (carmona)
- $ 10900.00
Bonsai Boy of New York

Comments on Indoor and Small Space Gardening

A NASA scientist lists plants that will clean the air in a building with lists of the polluting chemicals that will be removed by each plant. This is a wonderful resource for home gardeners and students of bioremediation within the home.

I was pleased to discover that Amazon.com carries some of the Bonsai Boy products, too. Of course a few other brands are included in the Amazon.com listing. Among these is a book by a retired NASA botanist reports on plants that can be used to cleanse the air in you home. He originally did the research as part of the search for plants to use in biohabitats in space. It is a fascinating little book -- yes, I own it.

Growing bonsai takes special techniques and plant care. Indoor gardening requires articificial lighting. Try this one from Glentronics. It makes seasonal adjustments in its lighting.

GED is also available through Instacert.

Imagine this Tree on your Bookshelf

You can make it happen with a large rock, a pot, & a bonsai!

© drakis - Fotolia.com
Note: All fotolia photos have been modified for display on this site.
Click on images to see original.

Teachable Moments
(Yes, this is an OLPC that was being
sold on Amazon for a time.)

The photo above is rich in geology. Ask students about the layers of rock, why the split occurred beneath the tree, what evidence for weathering can be seen, and to tell what kind of rock this is.

Ask biology students to classify the tree and to comment on both soil formation and succession over the next century.

Photo safaris are fun, especially when there is a theme governing your hunt. Looking for the perfect tree is one of my themes, although I often get sidetracked--and there are days when I find few trees of interest or suited to my talents, which are not quite nil.

From Fotolia.com I can get beautiful images of bonsai and more taken by highly talented individuals. For 100+ pennies I can purchase the photo and the license to use it in dozens of ways. Enjoy your exploration of the site for bonsai. Just search for bonsai, and for trees, and for landscapes, etc. It's as fun a visit as are Google images searches.

 

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Disclosure: I am an affiliate of many merchants. Even so, the opinions expressed are my own, and I do not speak for the merchant. Being an affiliate, however, does mean that the possibility of compensation does exist. --Valerie

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Essay and unlabled photos ©   Valerie Coskrey, 2007-2009. All rights reserved.
This page first posted 10/27/09 and revised 11/23/09.