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So what you have then is bonsai and it could be “Ameri- can Bonsai” or “African
Bonsai ”or “Albanian Bonsai”, or “Bonsai- In-America” or “Bonsai-In-Africa” or
“Bonsai-In- Albania” and all would be right. But the real question, is bonsai art or
craft? Well, Yuji answered that question in 1993 and we didn’t listen, but being
backed up by modern day teachers Bill, Arthur, Walter, Bjorn, Ryan, Rob, and others
maybe now we’ll listen. Without question bonsai is both. So integral is one to the
other that you can’t have a successful tree without creating a beautiful balance of
these diametrically opposed nouns. Art and craft run hand in hand in the journey of
bonsai, just as in life. Study both, practice both and above all, Happy Bonsai!
Author
In 2008, Saimir Ogranaja got inspired by Professor Amy Liang’s book, The Living Art
of Bonsai, and has been growing bonsai ever since. He still has his first tree, a
Brazilian Raintree in a South African flat-top style, a design quite popular thanks to
Erik Wigert’s efforts. He is a global traveling, award winning, professional
photographer with a focus on architecture, hospitality, and finding good coffee
shops. He lives in southwest Florida and is currently searching for a long term, close
distance relationship with a really cool Casuarina, so if you know someone that
would like to pass a fine old specimen to a bald young man, send them his way. 

Rhodohypoxis baurii accent and phot by Rose Marie Voelker

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