Sep 16, 2016

Photos and text by Kenneth K. Lam

: George Wrede, of Churchville, turns a nursery juniper into a bonsai in training in about an hour during a monthly meeting of the Baltimore bonsai Club. “The Baltimore Bonsai Club; founded in 1972; is an active and growing group of bonsai enthusiasts in Central Maryland. Club activities include exhibitions, workshops, collection trips and visiting artists,” according to its website. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)

: Arschel Morell, 85, left, an original club member, talks about a Scottish Pine tree that has been in training as a bonsai for 45 years with owner Jim Sullivan during the monthly meeting of the Baltimore bonsai Club. “The Baltimore Bonsai Club; founded in 1972; is an active and growing group of bonsai enthusiasts in Central Maryland. Club activities include exhibitions, workshops, collection trips and visiting artists,” according to its website. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)

: A bonsai in training is worked on during a monthly meeting of the Baltimore bonsai Club. “The Baltimore Bonsai Club; founded in 1972; is an active and growing group of bonsai enthusiasts in Central Maryland. Club activities include exhibitions, workshops, collection trips and visiting artists,” according to its website. (Kenneth K. Lam, Baltimore Sun)

: Sheldon Greenberg, of Ellicott City, worked on this juniper for the last two years during monthly meeting of the Baltimore bonsai Club. “The Baltimore Bonsai Club; founded in 1972; is an active and growing group of bonsai enthusiasts in Central Maryland. Club activities include exhibitions, workshops, collection trips and visiting artists,” according to its website. (Kenneth K. Lam/ Baltimore Sun)

: The root ball of a juniper shrub is pruned by a member to prepare for its training as a bonsai during a monthly meeting of the Baltimore bonsai Club. “The Baltimore Bonsai Club; founded in 1972; is an active and growing group of bonsai enthusiasts in Central Maryland. Club activities include exhibitions, workshops, collection trips and visiting artists,” according to its website. (Kenneth K. Lam, Baltimore Sun)

: George Wrede, of Churchville, turns a nursery juniper into a bonsai in training in about an hour during a monthly meeting of the Baltimore bonsai Club. “The Baltimore Bonsai Club; founded in 1972; is an active and growing group of bonsai enthusiasts in Central Maryland. Club activities include exhibitions, workshops, collection trips and visiting artists,” according to its website. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)

: A wire is used to shape a tree for its training as a bonsai. “The Baltimore Bonsai Club; founded in 1972; is an active and growing group of bonsai enthusiasts in Central Maryland. Club activities include exhibitions, workshops, collection trips and visiting artists,” according to its website. (Kenneth K. Lam, Baltimore Sun)

: Different sizes of wires used to train bonsai by a member sit in a box during a monthly meeting of the Baltimore bonsai Club. “The Baltimore Bonsai Club; founded in 1972; is an active and growing group of bonsai enthusiasts in Central Maryland. Club activities include exhibitions, workshops, collection trips and visiting artists,” according to its website. (Kenneth K. Lam, Baltimore Sun)

: Pictured are tools used by a member during a monthly meeting of the Baltimore bonsai Club. “The Baltimore Bonsai Club; founded in 1972; is an active and growing group of bonsai enthusiasts in Central Maryland. Club activities include exhibitions, workshops, collection trips and visiting artists,” according to its website. (Kenneth K. Lam, Baltimore Sun)

: Club president Berry Figerd, left, discuss the possibilities of a bonsai with novice Julie Carson, right, of Belair, during a monthly meeting of the Baltimore bonsai Club. “The Baltimore Bonsai Club; founded in 1972; is an active and growing group of bonsai enthusiasts in Central Maryland. Club activities include exhibitions, workshops, collection trips and visiting artists,” according to its website. (Kenneth K. Lam, Baltimore Sun)

: Arschel Morell, 85, left, discusses with George Small, right, of Baltimore, the look of his bonsai during a monthly meeting of the Baltimore bonsai Club. Morell is one of the original club members from 1972. “The Baltimore Bonsai Club; founded in 1972; is an active and growing group of bonsai enthusiasts in Central Maryland. Club activities include exhibitions, workshops, collection trips and visiting artists,” according to its website. (Kenneth K. Lam, Baltimore Sun)

: Jim Sullivan, left, who has been working on bonsai for over 45 years, discusses the possibilities of a new tree with novice Kip Pierson, right, during a monthly meeting of the Baltimore bonsai Club. “The Baltimore Bonsai Club; founded in 1972; is an active and growing group of bonsai enthusiasts in Central Maryland. Club activities include exhibitions, workshops, collection trips and visiting artists,” according to its website. (Kenneth K. Lam, Baltimore Sun)

: Samples of bonsai in different stages being worked on by members during a monthly meeting of the Baltimore bonsai Club. “The Baltimore Bonsai Club; founded in 1972; is an active and growing group of bonsai enthusiasts in Central Maryland. Club activities include exhibitions, workshops, collection trips and visiting artists,” according to its website. (Kenneth K. Lam, Baltimore Sun)

Baltimore Bonsai time lapse from Baltimore Sun's The Darkroom on Vimeo.

Bonsai is the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese words pun-tsai, which literally translated means “planted in a container.” It involves combining horticultural and artistic techniques to create a miniaturized natural scene in the form of a living tree.

A skilled Bonsai enthusiast can turn a common nursery shrub into a beginning Bonsai tree in about an hour but spend decades to train it into a prized specimen.

The Baltimore Bonsai Club, founded in 1972, provides education, workshops and activities for participants to develop their skills and visions in the art of Bonsai.

Baltimore Bonsai

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