Bonsai

Bonsai, art of cultivating ornamental, artificially dwarfed trees and shrubs. The literal translation of bonsai is 'plant in a tray,' but the practice of bonsai is more than the cultivation of dwarf trees; rather it is a re-creation of nature in miniature. Although bonsai originated in China, Japan adopted it as an art form around the 8th century. Western interest in bonsai only developed in the 20th century, but the hobby has increased in popularity in the West over the past 20 years.

The trees traditionally used in bonsai are pine, bamboo, maple, and juniper, together with flowering shrubs, such as azalea (see Rhododendron). However, most species of tree can be trained to create a bonsai. Bonsai trees are trained to grow into miniature forms that resemble their normal habits of growth through wiring, pruning, clipping, and root confinement, techniques that require an element of skill. A well-balanced bonsai design has an interesting root formation, a well-tapered trunk, a visually balanced arrangement of branches, and a container that is in proportion to the tree.