Bonsai culture, an exciting hobby indeed!

Hobby is a must for one who has leisure - to spend his/her time creatively. But it is more required for a person who is always busy with his profession - to sooth his/her mind. I had, and have many hobbies. But of the late, I realized the immense joy one can derive from a wonderful hobby like making bonsai. Despite being a scientist in plant science, I too earlier had a wrong notion that bonsai making is a very tough and a professional job, and that I may not be able make or maintain one. But about 5 years back, when I happened to a see a beautiful bonsai exhibition in my city, I was so excited, and wanted to try some. I gathered some basic information from books, and started my experiment with locally available hardy and wild plants. The results were so thrilling, and it exploded all my earliler misconceptions about this art. Now I understand that bonsai making is not that tough a job, and it can be done by anybody with a wish. And it does not take so many years to get the results. Now I have a collection of over 80 plants, mostly of locally available species. All my plants are less than 5 years old in my collection, but look much older... like the one shown above (Ficus virens) which is just 3 years old. Yes, I am an amature artist in this field, but I am successful, and I wish more and more people come forward to experience the joy of bonsai making. Bonsai culture is an amlagam of science, art, imagination and philosophy. A tree is made to grow in a small, shallow pot; it grows slowly and slowly as per your imagination, and as per your training. It is like growing your own baby. The pleasure of watching a beautiful bonsai shaped by yourself, is inexplicable. I beleive, no other hobby can give you that much pleasure and satisfaction. Try, you too can do it. And enjoy the pleasure of seeing your own baby bonsai!