TO THE BIGINNERS OUT THERE
 

G'day all...

It looks like we're getting some activity from beginners again, so:


TO THE BIGINNERS OUT THERE

We hope that the following information will help you to get off to a good
start, and that your interest in bonsai becomes a life long pursuit.

There are three things (plus NEXT, below) that a beginner should do, right at
the start:
1. Read...read...read...then read some more.
2. Join a local club.
3. Take a beginners class.

READ...READ...READ...go to your local library and read every book on bonsai
that you can put your hands on. In the US, the book most often recommended for
beginners is BONSAI, published by Sunset...an excellent first book for
beginners. Be sure to get the 2003 edition.

Among my favorite authors a Herb Gustafson, Deborah R. Koreshoff, Colin
Lewis and John Naka...and, many, many more. The more you read, the better
prepared you will be to ask questions here (on the IBC), or at your local
club...in Step 2.

JOIN A LOCAL CLUB...here is where you can get the best advice available, since
the local club members are the ones who are raising bonsai in YOUR geographical
area. The local club can help you avoid the pitfalls that you may encounter
when you get advice from, maybe, half way around the world. Many things in
bonsai are pretty much universal, but you need to know what it takes to keep a
bonsai healthy in your location...be it Tucson, San Francisco, Sidney, or
Toronto. There are many more benefits to being a member of a local club.

TAKE A BEGINNERS CLASS...this is where you begin learning the basics, like
selecting a nursery plant, which plant to start with, identifying the front,
branch trimming, wiring, and on and on. You will begin to learn what works
best for your area, what tools you need, and how to use them, etc. A good
beginners class will get you off to a good start.

NEXT…the Internet Bonsai Club (IBC) has a lot to offer. Check out the IBC
HOME PAGE at http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ where you will find such
things as FAQs, ASK THE DOCTOR (where you can describe the symptoms of an
ailing plant and get suggestions from Dr. Nina as to how to fix them), The
BONSAI KNOWLEDGE BASE, and more…much more.

Now, having taken these three steps, welcome to the wonderful obsession, I mean
world, of bonsai!

Enjoy.

Pat

Dez of the Arizona High Dezert, at 4550', Oracle, AZ,
2000' above Tucson Sunset Zone 10 USDA Zone 8
aka: Pat Patterson 'riding off in all directions'