Forbonsaitrees, there's nobetterplacethanOmiyainSaitamaPrefecture, about 45 minutesawayfromTokyo.
NearTotalStationis a museumandbonsaivillage, a centerforbonesignForalmost 100 years, theopenairmuseumisaneasystrollaround a centuriesoldbonsaitreecollection.
Thisonelookssmall, butifyoulook a littlecloser, italsoresembles a giantancientforest.
Here's a 120 yearoldJapanesemountain, Mabel, whenyoulookatitfrombelowtheminiatureshapeofthetrunkandbranchesairsymmetricallypleasingtotheeye.
Thisoneis 350 yearsoldandcalledtheBlueDragon.
It's leaningfartotheside, gettingbiggerattheendliketheheadof a dragon.
Whatdoyouthinkthis 60 yearoldwhitepineisgrowingoutofIraqon a woodentray?
This 40 yearoldminiatureChinesecrabappletreemakes a colorfulbondsidetheshape, size, styleandcoloroftheleavesandpop, andthesettingthatitsitsandallleaveanimpressiononthebeholder.