May 15, 2007

A new “baby”

My Mother’s Day gift arrived in the mail last week. When I opened the box and unpacked all the styrofoam peanuts, what greeted me was a miniature tree, a bonsai tree. The card was from "your karate kids" and it was a sweet and thoughtful gift. Once I had the delicate tree out of the box, I saw a sheet of paper at the bottom of the box.

The sheet was single-spaced, and typed on both front and back. . . the instructions for my bonsai tree’s care. For most plants, the care instructions can be fit on something the size of a small bookmark, but for the bonsai. . .

-Watering is crucial, but don’t over-water and FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, don’t under-water.

-Sunlight is crucial, but not too much direct sunlight and you better have a window that faces south or else the Bonsai Police are coming to take you away!

-Bonsai tree’s do best outside, but ONLY when there is no threat of frost. Bringing the plant inside once it starts to get cool again is a gradual process. You actually have to bring the tree in for a few hours at a time to reacclimate the tree. Talking to the tree to let it know it’s going to be o.k is highly recommended (o.k. I added that last part).

After reading the entire two pages, I started wishing the box contained a massage therapist instead, and started feeling like I now had three very temperamental children to care for. And then, right at the end of the second detailed page? A recommendation to buy the book about the complete care of the bonsai tree, because really, these two pages are just the basics.

I’m including a picture of my bonsai tree now, because this is probably the best it will ever look.