((PKG)) BONSAI
1st proofing done…..01 17 2019
((Banner: Bonsai))
((Reporters: Alam Burhanan, Rafki Hidayat))
((Camera: Alam Burhanan))
((Adapted by: Zdenko Novacki))
((Map: Washington, D.C.))
((MANDATORY/MUST NOT DELETE “We’re part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.”)) ????
((NATS))
((Michael James, Curator, Arboretum))
Welcome to the Arboretum. My name is Michael James. I’m the curator here. We’re part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
((NATS))
((Michael James, Curator, Arboretum))
Bonsai is an art form that originated in China and then was spread throughout the world by Japan. And it is really, literally just a tree in a tray, a shallow container. So, it can be done with almost any type of tree – woody tree species.
((NATS))
((Michael James, Curator, Arboretum))
This fruit in Bonsai does not reduce in size. Through the training process, we can reduce the size of leaves, which makes the little tree look bigger but we can’t reduce the size of fruits. So, this is the natural size of this fruit.
((NATS))
((Michael James, Curator, Arboretum))
A good Bonsai has a good, flared, radial root system. And that, in Japanese, is called the Nebari. And oftentimes, good Bonsai have a feeling of movement or sway. And this tree is a good example of that.
((NATS))
((Michael James, Curator, Arboretum))
The oldest known-aged tree here at the National Bonsai Museum is Japanese White Pine. Oldest tree, we call it the Yamaki Pine, because it was donated by a Japanese master called Masaru Yamaki and it was in his family for generations before he donated it to the museum in 1976. That tree was in the city of Hiroshima during the bombing and it was protected by the walls of the nursery. So, it was safe and it still lives healthy today.
((NATS))
((Michael James, Curator, Arboretum))
There is a tree that has been named Goshin by Bonsai master John Naka. And he was someone who spread the art form in the 60s and 70s and 80s, even 90s throughout this country and it’s one of his most famous creations. It’s a forest. It’s very iconic of our redwoods.
((NATS))
((Michael James, Curator, Arboretum))
In the wild, they have age limits they get to. But in Bonsai, you’re always pruning and you’re rejuvenating. And they are also taken care of and prevented from disease and insect outbreaks. So, they potentially could live longer in Bonsai care than they would in nature.
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