PREFACE FOR '' BONSAI SECRETS " NOVEMBER 2002 BY
CHARLES CERONIO
WORLD RENOWNED BONSAI FUNDIE AND
FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE PRETORIA BONSAI KAI,
AND THE AUTHOR OF VARIOUS BONSAI BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS
THE JAPANESE HAS A SAYING
"HE WHO LOVES NATURE WILL BE RICHLY REWARDED BY NATURE"
MOST BONSAI LOVERS HAVE A GREAT RESPECT FOR NATURE AND ESPECIALLY TREES.
WHAT BETTER REPRESENTATIVE OF NATURE CAN BE FOUND OTHER THAN THE TREE.
THE GREAT BONSAI MASTER JOHN NAKA SAID WHEN HE FIRST SAW THE MAJESTIC BAOBAB OF
AFRICA "I WAS SO OVERWHELMED BY THE TREE AND THE GREATNESS OF NATURE, I FELT LIKE A
TINY PIECE OF DUST LYING ON THE MOUNTAIN."
KIPLING ONCE SAID, "EAST IS EAST AND WEST IS WEST AND NEVER THE TWAIN SHALL MEET".
THAT IS NO LONGER TRUE, AS PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE COMMUNICATING VIA
INTERNET OR E-MAIL, RESULTING IN A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF ONE ANOTHER'S CULTURE.
IN THE PAST BONSAI WAS CALLED "DWARF OR STUNTED TREES" BUT BONSAI IS NOW AN
INTERNATIONALLY UNDERSTOOD WORD.
I BELIEVE BONSAI IS LOVED THE WORLD OVER BECAUSE THE HECTIC PRESSURES OF OUR
EVERYDAY LIFE MAKES US ALL NEED SOMETHING TO RELIEVE OUR TENSION. WHAT BETTER
WAY TO DO SO AS TO ENJOY THE DAILY CARE FOR YOUR TREES.
BONSAI HAS TAUGHT ME MANY LESSONS, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS PATIENCE. HASTY
DECISIONS RESULTED IN MISTAKES, AND I HAVE LEARNED THAT YOU CAN'T BE TOO CARE FULL
IN CULTIVATING BONSAI.
THAT IS WHY IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE TO RECOMMEND NEELS VAN TONDER'S GREAT EFFORT
TO EXPLAIN IN PRECISE DETAIL WHAT TO DO WITH YOUR BONSAI. NEELS PUT IN MANY HOURS
RESEARCHING THE TOPIC AND I CAN TRULY SAY THAT I AM IMPRESSED WITH THE WAY IN
WHICH HE HANDLED EACH TOPIC.
I HAVE KNOWN NEELS SINCE 1977 AS A DEDICATED BONSAI GROWER WHO PROMOTED
THE ART IN A SMALL WAY TO MANY BONSAI ENTHUSIASTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
MOST PEOPLE ARE FASCINATED BY THIS ORIENTAL ART FORM AND NEELS PROVIDED IN THOSE
NEEDS. I AM OF THE OPINION THAT THIS CD CALLED "BONSAI SECRETS" WILL STIMULATE
THE GROWER INTO UNDERSTANDING MORE ABOUT BONSAI AND THE NEXT STEP WILL BE
WHERE HE OR SHE CAN BECOME MORE ENGAGED TO TAKE PART IN THIS WONDERFUL AND
REWARDING HOBBY, BY JOINING A BONSAI CLUB.
TATSU YAGO A Japanese MASTER'S REFLECTIONS ON BONSAI IS.....
CHALLENGE , INSPIRATION , INTERTWINED WITH PERSONAL FEELINGS OF THREE PRINCIPALS
PATIENCE
PLEASURE
PEACE
PURE AND SIMPLE ENJOYMENT OF POETRY IN NURTURE .
THE END RESULT .......... BONSAI