Mangalore: Wonderful Things Come in Small Packages - Bonsai
by Melka Miyar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MM/CN)
Mangalore, Oct 2: Many of you must have heard of ‘bonsai’ plants. In Japanese, ‘bon’ means ‘tray’ or ‘pot’ and ‘sai’ means ‘plant’. Therefore, the term ‘bonsai’ translates to ‘plant in a tray’.
A plant that can become a huge tree is grown in a small pot for decades. Surprising, but possible. Jane D’Souza, a resident of Highlands and her neighbour Harriete Lasrado, have proved it through their constant efforts and patience.
Grown from a seed, propagated through cutting, grafting or air layering, and using young as well as mature trees, one can cultivate a bonsai. Knowledge of a few basic techniques like pruning, shaping, growing in containers, and plant care, are essential for this.
The actual age of the plant is not as important in bonsai, as apparent age is. There are various ways to create an appearance of age; pruning-off bark from the trunk, branches, or exposed roots, to make deadwood or scarring, and hollowing the trunk, explains Jane.
She is the wife of well-known Konkani writer Edwin J F D’Souza and is an active member of Mangalore Ladies Club besides being the former president of Rotary Ann’s Club. She took up bonsai as a hobby about 15 years ago.
Jane trained with one Mallya residing in Attavar, before starting on her own. She even has a 14-year-old bonsai tree. One can also see varieties of bonsai trees like turmeric, pomegranate, bamboo, banyan, bougainvillea, hibiscus, orange, and guava.
According to her, all types of trees and shrubs can be made into bonsai. The height of the plant may be anywhere between a few inches high to three or four feet or even more. Jane also sells the plants and prices range from Rs 300 to Rs 1,000.
She says that selling the plants is not her chief aim as she had started growing them as a hobby. The person who purchases plants from her should look after it very well, and it needs a lot of patience to do so, opines Jane.
Harriete, who joined Jane, works at St Mary’s High School, Marjil, and is a winner of many prizes in flower arrangement. Harriete also has stamp collection as a hobby. Jane and Harriet will be having an exhibition-cum-sale of bonsai trees from Tuesday October 7 to Friday October 10, at Fountain Head, near Highlands Hospital. Contact: 9845950021/2432413.