Banzai,

[Hugh R]

My son’s wife’s grandpa has made them for about 75 years, yes he is Japanese

[Hugh R]

[Steve Carlton]

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

My son’s wife’s grandpa has made them for about 75 years, yes he is Japanese

Pronounced: "Bone Sigh"

Spelled: "Bonsai"

Very cool, Hugh!

The first photo is a Japanese Black Pine. Very popular!

[Hugh R]

Thanks Baz, must have been a typo, yeah, I’m going with that.

The last one he apparently inherited from his Dad and is around 150 years old!
He makes them and sells them, the last one is not for sale.

[sc_rufctr]

I've always loved these but my Gwad they can be very expensive.

An early 911 can look like a bargain in comparison.

[rusnak]

oh damn, those are sure nice.

[flatbutt]

I've tried but I always make them dead.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

I've tried but I always make them dead.

Buddy tried and killed quite a few. Told him his place is where bonsai trees go to die.

[LWJ]

Wow. Impressive.

[Jim Horton]

Originally Posted by sc_rufctr

I've always loved these but my Gwad they can be very expensive.

An early 911 can look like a bargain in comparison.

Join a local bonsai club; you might be amazed at how reasonably decent trees pass for between members. And, you can then learn how to start making your own. Its a very relaxing hobby imho.

[masraum]

I've always loved bonsai. I've never tried owning/making one.

And FYI -

Banzai vs. Bonsai. ... Bonsai are tiny little (3′ and under) potted trees. Banzai is a Japanese exclamation meaning “ten thousand years” (of long life) which was used as a cheer of enthusiasm or of victory such as in sports.

“Banzai” is best known as a Japanese war cry, but it was originally a generic cheer uttered by both soldiers and civilians alike. The word literally means “ten thousand years,” and it has long been used in Japan to indicate joy or a wish for long life. Japanese World War II troops typically yelled it in celebration, but they were also known to scream, “Tenno Heika Banzai,” roughly translated as “long live the Emperor,” while storming into battle. As the war dragged on, this battle cry became most famously associated with so-called “Banzai charges”—last-ditch human wave attacks that saw Japanese troops run headlong into American lines. Japanese kamikaze pilots were also known to howl “Tenno Heika Banzai!” as they plowed their aircraft into Navy ships.

[Jim Horton]

Vaguely related trivia: “kamikaze” refers to a “divine wind” that twice saved Japan from Mongol invasions:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamikaze_(typhoon)

[herr_oberst]

Nice thing about hobbies like this is that you get to invest in beautiful tools:

[Jim Horton]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Nice thing about hobbies like this is that you get to invest in beautiful tools:

Ha! I am not even within viewing distance of being a pro bonsai grower, but there is just no freaking way that a pair of bonsai scissors for production use are worth $35K! Insane! Too bad he didn't show them. Cool video, though. Thanks for posting.

(BTW: Carol, Matthew and I are dreaming of taking an extended trip to Japan that will focus specifically on the artisans in Japan, like blacksmiths, carpenters, potters, bonsai growers, paper makers, etc.)

[Hugh R]

He’s 90 years old and says he’ll give me a couple for free, he’s downsizing and selling the house and moving in with his Son. I’m sort of moving to FL six months a year and don’t want the responsibility of keeping a few 50+ year old wonderful living pieces of art like these alive.

Heck, I really don’t think I’m worthy, nor should I be entrusted with the responsibility, I have a black thumb.

A few botanical gardens here will take all 100+ of them in an instant.

IIRC, the Emperor of Japan awarded him some plaque/medal 20 years ago for his work.

[Baz]

Here are a few of my specimens. All were eventually given away or sold to clients.

I have 2 left now that are not in the photos. They are fairly easy to maintain, water relations being the #1 cultural need, IMHO.....

[Geronimo '74]

My ex wife loves bonsai trees.
Can’t keep one alive forklifts than two weeks even if her life depended on it. Eventually we stopped buying them.