Although often associated with Japan, the art of bonsai actually began in China.
Bonsai, which means "tray gardening" in Japanese, is an art that involves pruning trees grown in a pot to keep them much smaller than they would be in their natural settings. Species commonly used for bonsai include larch, pine, azalea, maple, elm, Japanese wisteria, juniper, flowering apricot, and flowering cherry. They're not genetically altered to keep them small. Instead, the miniaturized effect is achieved through very careful and skilled pruning as well as the limitation of the root base by the pot itself.
Drawings of trees grown in pots date back over 4,000 years with sketches being unearthed in Egyptian tombs. The drawings show trees grown in pots, often with rocks or other decorations. In addition, caravans traveling throughout Asia were known to carry along trees grown in containers. These trees were brought along for medicinal purposes to treat those in the caravan and people met along the way.
Though trees have been grown in pots for 4,000 years, the art of bonsai didn't develop until about 2,000 years ago in China. It was brought to Japan sometime during the 7th-9th century.
The art of bonsai incorporates several different styles. Some of those styles are:
Formal Upright: These trees have an upright and tapering trunk. Branches are balanced.
Cascade: These trees resemble those seen in nature growing over water and on the sides of mountains.
Semi-Cascade: These are basically the same as cascade trees, but don't leans as far down.
Literati: These trees have a small number of branches that are situated toward the top of a long, crooked trunk.
Group or Forest: This style uses more than one tree per container.
Bonsai trees are a lovely way to bring nature's beauty into your home and give it a bit of an artistic flair. However, it's an art that takes time to learn. If you're interested in growing bonsai trees, talk to your local florist. While they may not specialize in bonsai, they may be able to order your first tree and put you in touch with resources in the area.
Copyright: Copyright © 2006-2008 Wesley Berry, AAF
About the Author:
Article Source: thePhantomWriters Article Submission Service