Close eyes. Think only tree.

A long time ago, in a strange land, teenage boys wanted to learn how to fight, and so they were taught how go for the kill, and ask questions later.

A youngster from Brooklin visits this strange land.

He is bullied by the local boys.

He decides to learn how to defend himself.

He fails.

Until an old men who trims trees teaches him an ancient artform.

To train the body, one must sharpen the mind.

Close eyes. Think only tree.

Bonsai.

So began his first lesson in learning to be a better part in a greater world known as...

California!

Today I present to you my bonsai of the day. This tree variety has been selected because it reminds most of one of my all-time favorite scenes in movie history.

ID: 0009
Nickname: Allison
Type: Juniper
Age: 4 years
Grown: nursery stock
Last repotting: 2016
Wired: never

Skip ahead to 1:41 to view the Bonsai scene
Video credit goes to the avildsen1221 channel on youtube for sharing this video.

Hopefully if you watched the correct segment in the video above, you would have seen the masterful behind the scenes rehearsal for the infamous bonsai scene which occurred in the film The Karate Kid. The Wise Sensei, Mister Miyagi invites young Daniel into his life, and shares with him lessons for life. The kind words he shares wouldn't just prepare Daniel how to better defend himself, but also to set a good foundation to rely on for many years. Though Daniel had a natural charisma due to his untarnished youth, he still needed to learn the "soft and hard style" of the Miyagi karate which would grant him a depth of character that could grow strong roots to ground him against even the mightiest of storms.

Every time I look at the miniature juniper tree, I am reminded of this story again. A troubled boy learning how to become the man of his house. Yet he could not do this without the help of the wise master. And yet, the wise master could not overcome his grief from the time in his past when the war tore him apart from his beloved wife and family. This young boy was the key to so easily remind him of his own youth that was so quickly squandered. A boy needs a father. A father needs a son. The Yin needs the Yang, and the Yang needs the Yin. Together, two sides form one complete story.

But that's another story...

The bonsai tree represents that completed goal to me. Absolute perfection achieved through nature and technique. I chose to nickname this particular juniper I am growing after Daniel's girlfriend in the movie, Allison. As Daniel struggles with himself, the bullies, and also learning from his Sensei, he discovers that his relationship with Allison is only able to blossom after he is able to merge himself with the teachings of his master. Allison also reminds Daniel to trust in his friendship with Mister Miyagi, as she knows that this is the only way that Daniel can reach his full potential to face off against his greatest enemy.

Forgive me. I am rambling a bit. Let's get back to this little tree...

The photo above shoes the natural spiraling pattern of growth that this particular tree has chosen for itself. Can you see the Yin and Yang divided by the branches?

The leftward branch of this tree has not been developing well. I will wait one more season and let it remain, but I think that the tree is ready to discard this segment soon. The right side is full and the buds are green and dividing into more branches. If it continues to develop this way, it may become a cascading tree style. The little fisherman watching that branch is possibly trying to tell me some great wisdom about this tree. If only I knew.

This is what a young healthy branch looks like. Lush, thick, soft, blue-green, and curving up. Surely it has good root system.

This is the old dying branch. This branch has remained relatively unchanged since I first purchased this tree. Very dry, thin, brittle, yellow-brown, and curled downward. It is does not have the same root system supporting it that it used to have. That is sometimes a drawback for growing a tree inside a small pot.

While the branch reaching over the soft, mossy soil is weakening, the branches growing over the rock are getting healthier and stronger. A healthy root system must have a steady supply of nutritious water to sustain life and a steady foundation to keep it strong. Wax on, wax off!

The warm rays of the rising sun nourishes the tree and sustains it through the darkness that follows. Its beauty will be our reward for years to come.

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I hope you enjoyed this post. It was more a reflection of thoughts about this inspired tree I suppose. Trust me folks, all it takes is one tree, and you'll be hooked forever.

Here is another photo to help inspire you.

This morning I spotted this dove. Noting its white body and gray wings.

During my lunch time walk I looked up and found what I think was this same bird. Though I was several blocks away in the city, it was perched on a similar wire. It was waiting there. It took notice of me.

Perhaps a good omen to find the same visitor twice in one day returning to watch over me.