WELCOME
YUKIYAMA BONSAI KAI
Yukiyama Bonsai Kai is a non-profit organization dedicated to bonsai education. Although the organization has been in existence for a little over 10 years, essentially all of its instructors have significantly over 25 years experience and have studied under bonsai masters from both the U.S. and Japan.
Yukiyama translates into “snow capped mountains” which is essentially the Japanese equivalent of Sierra Nevada. The club is an affiliate member of the Golden Sate Bonsai Federation (GSBF) in California, the largest such organization in the United States. As such, it has access to some of the finest teachers in the world. The club usually meets the first Saturday of the month from 10 AM until noon. The schedule may vary to accommodate special events or the availability of visiting instructors for demonstrations or workshops.
So, what are Bonsai? Literally, Bonsai (pronounced “bone-sigh”) translates into “tree in a container.” Centuries ago, much of the development of Bonsai began in China, but when Buddhism moved to Japan in the 6th century, enthusiasts in Japan embraced the art. And yes, Bonsai is an art – a visual art and a horticultural art. Putting a plant in a Bonsai container does not immediately transform the plant into a bonsai. A Bonsai is a living sketch of what one sees in nature and the successful artist is able to recreate this beauty on a miniature scale. Although the beginner is encouraged to read available books and magazines on the subject, it is also recommended that the individual take advantage of the knowledge local enthusiasts have gained by years of experience. Authors of most articles on Bonsai are not familiar with the environment in Western Nevada, and the beginner will often be discouraged with less than stellar success.
For the most part, Bonsai are outdoor plants and should only be brought indoors for short periods of time. Tropical plants are considered more appropriate for “indoor” cultivation since they will not survive sub-freezing temperatures, but they will also enjoy being placed outdoors during warm summer days. Pines, junipers, maples, elms, hawthorns, quince, and other hardy plants are particularly well suited for Bonsai and should be kept outdoors, but with some winter protection.
“Bonsai are living works of art. They cannot be compared with any other art form. A painting or piece of sculpture is complete once the painter has put down his brush or the sculptor his chisel. A bonsai can never be a finished work of art in this sense because it will always be a living piece of nature, continuing to live and grow.
It is not enough simply to admire the beauty of these miniature trees. The admirer ought to be able to gain from them something much more fundamental: an awareness of the laws of evolution and growth, the realization that we are all, Man and nature, bound together in these laws.”
-- John Naka --
For additional information about growing bonsai or Yukiyama Bonsai Kai please contact us at info@bonsaireno.org
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