Bonsai Obsession

      Trees can grow for thousands of years. Bonsai trees, if well kept, can also become very old. How long does a bonsai tree live for? Some of the oldest Bonsai in the world are over 800 years; the result of many generations of patience and hard work. This article lists some of the most famous and oldest trees, enjoy!   (#1) Ficus Bonsai tree at Crespi, Italy - over a 1000 years old! This Ficus Bonsai tree is reported to be over a thousand years old; the oldest Bonsai tree in the world. It is the main tree on display, at the Italian Bonsai museum "Crespi" (image courtesy also by Crespi).   (#2) Old juniper Bonsai tree at Mansei-en, Japan - tested and proven to be over a 1000 years old! This juniper is tested to be more than 1000 years old, collected in the wild in Japan. It is still a rough material, as it is in training. It is at the Mansei-en Bonsai nursery of the Kato family in Omiya, Japan. Photo by Morten Albek.   (#3) 800 Year old tree, at Shunka-en

      On August 6, 1945 , at a quarter-past 8 a.m., bonsai master Masaru Yamaki was inside his home when glass fragments hurtled past him, cutting his skin, after a strong force blew out the windows of the house. The U.S. B-29 bomber called the “Enola Gay” had just dropped the world’s first atomic bomb over the city of Hiroshima, at a site just two miles from the Yamaki home. The bomb wiped out 90 percent of the city, killing 80,000 Japanese immediately and eventually contributing to the death of at least 100,000 more. But besides some minor glass-related injuries, Yamaki and his family survived the blast, as did their prized bonsai trees, which were protected by a tall wall surrounding the outdoor nursery.  For 25 years, one of those trees sat near the entrance of the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum at the United States National Arboretum in Washington D.C., its impressive life story largely unknown. When Yamaki donated the now 390-year-old white pine bonsai tree to be

      Growing a healthy bonsai is pretty straight forward, but we’ve all made bonsai mistakes. For many beginners, the learning curve is fraught with frustration and dead trees. In this article, we’ll cover 5 mistakes you might be making that could spell the demise of your miniature tree. A bonsai tree is a truly unique addition to a home, part decoration and part house-guest. Bonsai trees are no mere houseplant! These are genuine trees, bred from mother nature, with the potential to live as long as you. But they need proper care and handling. It’s easy to think of trees as “taking care of themselves,” but bonsai have special needs that must be met. They’re easy to care for, but there are still a few important rules to follow to ensure they’re able to fully express their inner beauty for many years. Biggest of the Bonsai Mistakes? 1. Impatience! Bonsai is an art in which trees are trained and developed over years, and even decades. You’ll probably see trees online from bon