Malpighia glabra – as a Bonsai

Glabra - Buds Upclose 

Common names include Acerola, Barbados cherry, Wild Crapemyrtle.

Pink Blossom - Up close

Malpighia glabra: Is a tropical fruit-bearing Evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Malpighiaceae, with spreading branches on a short trunk. It is usually 2–3 m (6.6–9.8 ft) tall, but sometimes reaches 6 m (20 ft) in height

Glabra - Fruit

Nothing is more satisfying for an avid gardener / plant lover, than constantly working towards adding n collecting, growing new varieties of plants, and yes working with them too … hands on.

In my personal quest, to add to my ever-growing Bonsai Collection at home, and collect new varieties of plants from time to time, I bought two small Malpigihia glabra’s, and a Brazillian rain tree, 3 years back. The plants where lanky n fragile, with little foliage, but had good branch ramification; an important prerequisite for any good bonsai.

Way back in spring 2008, while I was getting the plants potted into appropriate Bonsai pots, I discovered that one of the glabra plants had some amazing set of long roots, with a well-spread out branching pattern that could easily be trained to cling n grow on a rock, to achieve the coveted ‘Root over the Rock’ style of Bonsai and the other one could be trained into a ‘Twin Trunk Bonsai’ between rocks.

I immediately set to work……………..and even today, I am still working and enjoying every moment I get to spend with these teeny-tiny plants – watering n pruning them into shape, just like any other garden plant. ERGO, I maybe a little more bent n biased towards my Bonsai - showering them with a little more nurturing n care.

Twin Trunk Glabra & Informal Upright style Rain Tree

Rain Tree, Cascading Jade, Glabra

It requires a lot of patience n hard work to train a bonsai plant into ‘Root over the rock’ style as the take a long time to grow n cling to the Rock, securing the plant in position.

A Picture of the plant in early stage of Training

Recent Pictures of the same Plant… 

after getting it re-potted into a Proper Bonsai Container.

Thx to the ABA Grp President, Arora Aunty, 

who helped me re-pot it during one of our Bonsai Workshops.

Side View of the Roots, Trunk, Foliage

Glabra is an extremely  popular bonsai subject here in India because of its small leaf, dense foliage, beautiful pink, blossom, small fruit and fine ramification. It is also grown as an ornamental  and for hedges. As a Bonsai, it adapts readily to the weather conditions prevailing here and is easy to shape into a specified style.

Malpighia Glabra - Root over the Rock style

Finally as can be seen in the above pic....

 this slanting flow of the plant,... 'Root over the Rock LOOK'

 ....is what appeals to me the most.

The plant looks so different here.... Isn't it?

However, it is the same plant, but shot at a 'Different Angle'....

...displaying all the mesmerizing qualities of a BONSAI!

FIGS

In keeping with the Majestic Figs a.k.a, Ficus Tree’s burgeoning prevalence as a prized Bonsai, Avadh Bonsai Association’s, President, Mrs. Santosh Arora, & Chief Advisor, Mr. K.K. Arora, prepared and presented, a well-documented Slide Show pertaining to Ficus. It was based on Mr and Mrs Arora’s, three decades of ‘hands-on’ personal working experience in the field of Bonsai, coupled with extensive reference from eminent Bonsai Artist Jerry Meislik’s Book, ‘Ficus – The Exotic Bonsai’.

This interactive meeting / presentation exclusively for ABA members only; was held on Saturday, 16th May, 2009 at a Senior Member Dr. Saroj Malhotra’s spacious and plush Office Premises, where she had beautifully showcased some of her Bonsai plants complimenting the décor appreciatively.

The occasion also saw polite and soft spoken Mr. K.K. Arora, effortlessly step into AUNTY, Mrs. Arora’s ‘mighty-high’ shoes as he shared valuable insights, referrals, information and points to consider whilst training-maintaining, growing-nurturing and working with Ficus Trees.

He stated that no other plant genus offers such diversity in terms of variety as a Ficus does. This group has about 800 different species commonly found in nature, of which some 20 – 25 varieties were extremely popular amongst the Bonsai Fraternity in India. To name a few….…Ficus benjamina, F. salisifolia, F. retusa, F. nuda, F. macrophylla, F. nerifolia, F. panda, F. macrocarpa, F glomerata, Ficus natalensis, F. rubiginosa, F. virens, F. compacta, F.capensis, F.hispida, F.long island, et al

Additionally, FIG Trees gaining popularity as a Bonsai was also attributed to its ready availability & easy maintenance; its dense twigging pattern and vigorous growth; its inherent tolerance to great variation in climatic changes, hot / dry air conditions and also atmospheric humidity.

Ficus as group can readily be identified based on a sticky substance called the SAP or the LATEX which oozes out from the bark of the plant. These plants also have remarkably distinct AERIAL ROOTS which instantaneously differentiate them from other plants. They bear small to large berry like fruits in varying colors like green, yellow or even red, popularly referred to as FIGS, hence the name…. FIG TREES.

The V. President, Mrs Benu Kalsi, further elaborated and enlightened all in the audience, that this so-called ‘Fruit’ or FIG is basically the Flower of the Ficus Tree i.e. it’s an INFLORESCENCE formed by joining together multiple teeny-tiny flowers.

Placement of Ficus Bonsai:
Mr. Arora stated that Ficus trees were quite adaptive and so could be kept both outdoors and indoors, with little care.

They were especially suitable as indoors plants as they helped enhance the ambiance of both Residential & Official Premises, because of their evergreen striking visual appeal. However, these plants needed considerable aeration and so when kept indoors; they should ideally be placed in well-ventilated rooms only.

He explained that more fruiting was directly proportional to more lighting, so the plants should also be intermittently exposed to the fresh air and natural sunlight outdoors.

Drainage and Potting
Ficus trees usually posses well disposed spread of surface roots, aerial roots which add considerably to the aesthetic beauty of these plants, and most importantly nourish the plant, making them flourishing and sturdy growers throughout the year.

By way of observation, he specified that these plants did not like saline and hard water and so require a soil mixture which has good porosity vis-à-vis good drainage. They seem to like humid atmosphere and moderate winter conditions didn’t pose much problems for them in general.

Repotting
The best time to pot / repot was during the spring (February-March) and during monsoons (July-August).

Younger trees need regular and frequent….yearly repotting, while, mature and older trees, could be repotted every once in a while, as and when needed… i.e. when the soil mixture became too fine and hindered in good drainage or with accumulation of toxins in the soil over a prolonged period of time etc.

After repotting, the plants should always be kept indoors / under the shade, away from direct sunlight for a while. Care should be taken so as not to fertilize the plants, immediately after repotting them.

Trimming and Complete De-foliation
Trimming, pruning the Ficus can be carried out through out the year, more specifically at the onset of the dormant or slow growing season i.e. Winters or specially before showcasing the Bonsai for an important Exhibition. At other times the plants can be allowed to grow vigorously so that they derive maximum benefits from photosynthesis.

Most importantly, these plants can withstand complete defoliation, wherein all the leaves are cut leaving behind only the leaf stubble i.e. the PETIOLE. As an added advantage, the new leaves which are formed, subsequent to defoliation are considerably smaller in size.

Problems Encountered
Though easy to maintain, Ficus does have its own share of problems like curling of the leaves or their turning black, brown edging, or even yellowing of leaves and later falling off on their own accord.

Yellowing of leaves is often caused due to low Nitrogen contents and adding Urea or NPK with higher concentration of Nitrogen proved beneficial.

Senior Member, Mrs. Padma Singh suggested and shared her ‘tried and tested’ remedy exclusively to counter sudden yellowing of leaves, which regained its colour and vitality, when ½ tbs of Zinc Powder dissolved in about 1 L of water, was used on such plants.

Fusion Technique
Mr Arora also added that the uniqueness of Ficus was ascribed to its inherent Fusing Nature, wherein multiple individual trunks could readily be joined i.e. FUSED together, over a period of time, to give the appearance of one single trunk.

Moreover, individual young and tender Ficus plants having remarkably flexible trunks could gently be braided together, also giving an appearance of a conjoint yet braided trunk with a single Canopy at the top.

Conclusion
Having imparted, exchanged, discussed, beneficial information and personal experience on a concluding note Mr. and Mrs. Arora said that Ficus Trees were incidentally, also one of their personal favorites. These plants were indeed a pleasure to work with, as they readily and positively responded to trimming & shaping, effectively molding & adapting themselves as per the Artist vivid design imagination, befitting of a Bonsai.

PS: As Presented by Santosh Arora and K.K. Arora, ABA, Lko

When the Wind Blows...

When the wind blows....from Indonesia to India, it rustles, resonates and whispers the arrival of Robert Steven, a specialist, at designing the Windswept Style of Bonsai, amidst the cultural opulence & architectural grandeur of the City of Nawabs.

Robert, who is an internationally acclaimed bonsai master, was in the city recently to share his immense reservoir of knowledge & invaluable experience, with members of Avadh Bonsai Association, Lucknow.

Avadh Bonsai Association, as you already know, is a non commercial organization, actively engaged in the cause of spreading the art of BONSAI, aptly called ‘Nature in Miniature’ since the last eight years. It has been imparting basic & advanced training to students, interested in learning the nitty gritty of this creative art form. Most importantly, it also partakes equipping them with know-how’s for the systematic upkeep and maintenance of their prized bonsai through various classes, workshops, national and international bonsai magazine subscriptions and regular technical Audio-Visual presentations.

The association’s ever-augmenting learning & growth flame is kept, eternally ignited by the dynamic leadership & ceaseless efforts of the Group President, Mrs. Santosh Arora & dedicated team of committee members. Under her able guidance, in addition to hosting exhibitions every two years & encouraging member participation in National & International Bonsai Conventions, Photo Competitions, the group, continuously strives to stay abreast with the latest in bonsai techniques. The group, had therefore, invited prominent Bonsai Masters Jyoti & Nikunj Parekh, from Mumbai & provided its members with a world class opportunity to learn and enhance their knowledge of the subject.

Under the aegis of Sahara India Parivar, as part of this year’s marked agenda, the association had the honor to invite Mr. Robert Steven – ‘the Architect of a Green World in Miniature’ for conducting an interactive teaching, demonstration, workshop & critique session for all participating members, from 7thSept to 9th Sept, 2008.

Winner of various prestigious international awards & also author of a very informative book on Bonsai ‘VISION OF MY SOUL’, this multifaceted master, enthralled the audience, with his simple, straight forward, glib talk, mimicry & unique style of teaching.

Now, he is no ordinary bonsai master; rather he presided over the three day workshop as one ‘hard task’ master, who does not believe in any pleasantries, any compromises or any mincing of words when it comes to teaching & communicating his ideology about Bonsai. His energy, flair & passion for bonsai comes across as no surprise, as he connected, holding his audience captive and spell bound, even as he reprimanded, criticized and pointed out lacunae, during the endless Critique sessions.

At the same time, he inspired, motivated all, as he repeatedly beseeched & requested the students to understand the basic plant morphology & physiology, before attempting to stylize the ordinary garden plant into a thematic Bonsai, conveying a message. He implored to bring about a paradigm shift, in pursuing Bonsai, not merely as a part time hobby, but as a serious way of Life.

The master during his opening address categorically stated that a Good Bonsai Tree should be able to speak for itself. Rather, the tree should narrate its own story, reflecting the environmental factors & conditions which gradually lead to its miniaturized shape. It should aesthetically mimic a full fledged tree of the same species, commonly found outdoors. The foliage should ideally be compact, to give appearance of age & maturity. The plant should be structured in such a way, that it accentuates the dynamics, the motion, and the natural flow of the tree. While, considerable emphasis should be laid on its branching pattern & their overall ramification.

In the master’s words the Tree too portrays a Personality, a disposition, as they appear cheerful, sad, happy, sentimental, aggressive or even romantic. Each tree has a character, a focal point of interest, which should be highlighted. He explained how to work with the line, the shape, the colour and texture of the tree, and integrating them all together, to achieve an overall artistic, balanced look. Most importantly, he infused, that care should be taken to maintain an overall dignified simplicity of its design/style.

He explicitly expressed an observation, that in nature, it is characteristic of the roots to grow towards the source of water, while the branching pattern too merely tends to follow the direction of the root. However, depicting the same in an indigenous Bonsai is a quite a challenge for any bonsai artist.

The theoretical lessons, discussions and Question Answer sessions were interspersed with spur-of-the-moment demonstrations, where he showcased his expertise working on assorted variety of plants ranging from Casurina’s to Ficus, Witex, Jaquinia, Bougainvillea, Rain tree & cascading style Juniper, belonging to the select members.

As an impromptu gesture he restyled a Suihan Penjing (Land-Water Landscape), giving it his own personal touch, by placing the main tree and the main rock at an off centre position, as the main focal point. With uneven placement of flat rocks, erect rocks, and smaller trees bending over the rivulet, forming a groove, he gave this asymmetrical creation, a lot of contouring, variation, depth and mystery.

In the same vain, he skillfully re-arranged a Forest grouping of multi-trunk Ficus trees, by deftly separating out the individual trunks, into many single trees in varying sizes. Later he planted them all back together, after defoliating them completely, to form an asymmetrical, natural forest arrangement, bereft of leaves, depicting autumn.

During a special workshop session, he solicited few students to come forth and work on their respective plants while he observed & diligently guided them with considerable ease and panache. To name a few, KK Arora, Madhuri Halwasia, Nita Singh, Anita Narrain, Gunjan Banga, Usha Singh promptly accepted the challenge and set to put his teachings at test, while stylizing their respective plants into ‘Robert’s Style’ Bonsai. The master seemed visibly impressed and content with the enthusiastic audience participation & overall results. At the close of the workshop, each member was duly awarded a ‘Certificate of Participation’ for the same.

Robert Steven, convincingly preaches and demonstrates what he staunchly believes in; as he advocates to ‘Thinking, out of the Box’, although at the same time, he cautions, that ‘Unique’ does not always mean beautiful, yet one needs to explore all possibilities with regards to shaping of the plant, optimizing on its best quality. Rigidly following, the Bonsai rule books word by word and/or bending them as and when needed, while molding the plant, based on the tree’s innate motion / dynamics, seems to be the mantra propagated by him. After all, ‘Rules’ or ‘No Rules’; both are ‘Two sides of the same Coin’, employed effectively to create an aesthetically beautiful Green Art Form of BONSAI.

Last but not the least; this ‘master-blaster’ teacher graciously agreed to share with us his expertise in designing his prima-nova ‘Windswept Style’ Bonsai. Sighting an example of a car in Motion, he explained the concept of Anti-Gravity / Anti-Balance. Later, he playfully mimicked, as if he himself were in motion, whilst running and asked the photographer to click his snap ‘IN MOTION’. With that, he went on to explain the varied effect of a strong wind, a gentle wind, the effect of a continuous blowing wind on each branches, each twig of tree. He demonstrated the same by completing defoliating a Fig Tree, shaping & wiring its individual branches & then giving them each a wind blown effect. The mesmerizing result undoubtedly appealed to all senses, as it looked alluring, like a MOTION PICTURE of a Tree, portraying the effect of ‘When the Wind Blows...’

PS: Copy of my write-up which was published in BCI’s Ambassador Mail, Dec 2008 and an abridged version of the same published in Nichin Bonsai 032008.

Suihan Penjing

The Chinese refer to Bonsai (where a plant Sai) is grown in a shallow Pot (Bon) as Penjing…...

Sui Han Penjing…. (where Sui : Land & Han : Water) is the art of planting a group of small trees interwoven with rocks or stones and soil contouring on a marble slate. You can see distinct land and water areas well-demarcated on the slate….hence the name Sui – han Bonsai / Penjing.

This is an advanced form of Bonsai technique….. rather it’s a Living Miniature Landscape, changing & growing with you & your family….. within the premises of your own living abode. Bonsai needs constant care and attn, very much like your own child, for it to BLOOM and BLOSSOM, filling your life with unconditional love for Nature……

Material Required:

Lots of Love and adoration for these plants & Nature….

~ A set of Bonsai Tools & accessories… like wire, mud scoops, dusting cloth etc
~ Turn table
~ Marble Slate…. oval, rectangular, or uneven design.
~ Rocks or Stones…. in varying sizes.
~ Plants….Depending on the artist’s choice….
Same variety for a forest arrangement….
Different varieties for a mixed landscape….
~ Filler plants: Mondo Grass, Lal Bhaaji, Euphorbia milli

~ Medium Soil (Both dry and wet)
~ Peat moss (slightly wet) & Finely chopped Spagnum Moss (kept in water)
~ Water Sprayer
~ Cement

Method
First and foremost, visualize the arrangement in your mind and then once the picture you want to create is clear in your minds eye begin to give shape to it, in reality…… using your vision and skills, in accordance to the Bonsai rules, related to creation of a Sui han Penjing.

~ Place the slate on the turn table, so that you can turn it around and observe it from all possible angles…….

First step: Placement of the Rocks on the Slate

The largest & sturdiest rock, has to be placed first, & at an off centre position of the slate.
The second largest rock has to be placed second, followed by other pieces of rock, in varying sizes.
Once the final arrangement is in place…. we need to draw an outline around the rock arrangement and then one at a time, stick these rocks on the marble slate with the help of cement.

These rocks help in demarcation of land & Water areas on the slate and also help to hold the soil in place & at the same time give a natural undulating Contouring effect to the overall landscape.

Second Step: Erect a Boundary wall
Erect a Peat moss Boundary Wall (about an inch tall) around the slate, to demarcate the land area, on the slate

This is needed to keep the soil from being washed away with each watering….

Third Step: Preparing the Slate
Cover the slate with wet mud, (area which has already been demarcated by the boundary wall) giving a mud base for the placement of the plants.

Fourth Step: Placement of the Plants

Main Plant, (tallest & sturdiest) to be placed first…. @ off centre position on the slate…. near the vicinity of the main Rock. Add some dry soil to hold the plant in place

In this case the main tree used was an impressive twin-trunk small leaved Ficus.

This has to be well co-coordinated by the secondary tree (second tallest) and then a number of small leaved, individually wired, MULTI TRUNK plants (Multi trunk plants are single trees with multiple trunks thereby, giving an impression of a number of individual trees growing together in a group)

Placement of Plants should give an overall triangular effect ……to the landscape.

Add a lot of Soil to hold each plant in place….. giving a natural undulating contour to the landscape.

Spray some water with the help of the spray on the soil and later give final touches to the Penjing by placing a few filler plants where ever required, and covering the mud with sphagnum moss.

VOILA!!
Your own self made Miniature Landscape is ready to be displayed in your very own House….. be it indoors or outdoors….. These plants, breathe a new lease of life into your own mundane existence……. just by being there for you…. smiling & blooming, just for you, & ur family, …….for all times to come….

The awe-inspiring Penjing, showing the trees bent over the rivulet, forming an interminable groove over it, appears as natural as any man-made creation can be.

Last but not the Least: Upkeep Of this Penjing:

Can be kept indoors or outdoors….
First one week …. Keep it indoors, away from the sun. Gradually expose the plants to the sun.

Watering:
Preferably once everyday, or as n when the soil gets dry.

Trimming:
Trim the new shoots back in place as and when needed…..more often during the peak growing season.

Care:
Make sure you say hello….. to your plant every now and then and shower it with all your Love .

PS: A compliation : As demonstarted by Bonsai Masters Jyoti n Nikunj Parekh to members of ABA... Lko, April 2007.

A Dream Comes True....

For most people, their first encounter with bonsai is probably in a local garden nursery, but my first brush with this fascinating miniature representation of a tree came during a flower show at the Alipore Horticulture Garden in Kolkata about five years back. Back then, as a post graduate management student, it was love at first sight with Bonsai, when in between lectures; I found time to visit the flower show with my friends.

A chance meeting with Mrs Santosh Arora, the president of Avadh Bonsai Association, Lucknow and a visit to her Bonsai Garden a few years later, brought back the immensely captivating feeling & the resolve to learn more about the subject. The fact that Bonsai is a work of art, resulting from many years of patient care and constant attention by its owner came to light, by meeting Mrs Arora who has been creating some of the most beautiful Bonsai’s for over 30 years now and who has also been instrumental in starting a Bonsai Club in Lucknow and teaching this extraordinary art to new enthusiasts like myself. Just watching her conduct a workshop on Bonsai with such energy and dedication inspires me as well as, all her students to learn more about this vast subject and create a much admired Bonsai from an ordinary garden plant.

Even in my wildest dream, I had never thought that one fine day this fascination for Bonsai, would take me all the way to China to attend the BCI 2006 International Penjing, Shangshi Exposition & Convention. Attending the week long convention at the Chencun Flower World, Foshan, provided me the wonderful opportunity to travel with Nita Singh, Suman Agarwal & her spouse, Benu Kalsi, & her spouse from Lucknow & to learn more about the various aspects of this art form, from world renowned Bonsai masters & also meet like-minded enthusiast from different countries, across the world.

Chinese Penjing, or Bonsai, as we call it here in India combines the beauties of nature, art and artistic conception of plants by human beings to create splendid masterpieces appreciated by one and all. The Grand Master Masahiko Kimura from Japan demonstrated his skills on a huge Cypress Penjing while Lindsay Bebb from Australia created the impression of Aged Cypress implementing intricate wiring techniques and advanced carving techniques, using his high powered Bonsai tools.

Qingquan Zhao from China demonstrated his skills working on Fraxinus Chinensis to create a beautiful Shui-han (water and land) Penjing. An advanced group style Penjing by Yun hua Hu and Chun-gang Liu also from Mainland China impressively incorporated the idea of placing a flowing water fountain on the curvaceous marble slate with a group of Hai Nan Flambeau tree ( Bischoffia chunii) Penjing. The picturesque jungle created by them was so natural and harmonious, for a viewer to actually imagine the chirping of the birds amidst the trickling flow of water down a stream and the sashaying of the flambeau trees, in this miniaturized Penjing. Qin-fei Zhu, Singapore created the most amazing piece of art with completely defoliated trees of Wrightia Religiosa (Water Jasmine) placed together in a well balanced group interwoven with rocks of all sizes on a 1.7 mts. long marble slate.

Robert Steven, Indonesia while working on Triphasia Trifolia (wild Lemon) to create a windswept Group Planting on Rock emphasized on the essence of the key word “MOTION”. The movement of wind, gentle or strong and the winds effect on the group of trees and their individual branches and twigs.

Zhong- mingLiu/ Ke-ying Xie demonstrated their skills in creating a Lingnan Penjing on various plants using the clip and grow method, advocated by the Lingnan school of Bonsai (Penjing) from Guangzhou. Han-lian Yang / Song-en Wu also emphasized on few trimming techniques after completely defoliating the plant and later trimming the individual branches, sub branches, step by step while shaping the overall personality of the plant into a beautiful Lingnan Penjing.

The individual lectures on Global Penjing and Evolution of World Bonsai Friendship Federation (WBFF) by its outgoing President, Solita Rosade, Latin America; and on different types of Japanese Suiseki, by Arishge Matsura, Japan are worth mentioning.

It was indeed a Dream Come True…… for a novice like me, to meet our very own Bonsai Masters from India, Jyoti and Nikunj Parekh who are the pioneers of this wonderful art of Bonsai in India. A gala get-together was organized for them with lots of singing, dancing, to celebrate the auspicious occasion of their wedding anniversary in China along with lots of friends from across India.

The trip to china has been truly enriching and worth the while, as I now appreciate the variable splendor of nature in the form of a delicate, lovingly crafted Penjing even more. The knowledge gained & the memories of the convention will definitely linger on in my hearts rendezvous for a long time to come…………..

PS: An abridged version of my write up has been published in Nichin Bonsai 2006.

To Ma'm With Love....

Lucknow’s got a special Bonsai Artist in Mrs Arora - the Founder President of our Bonsai Association. A warm welcome awaits all guests visiting the Arora House. There balcony garden houses some of the most exotic varieties of Bonsai alongside an immensely captivating wall mural.

Her brush with Bonsai dates back to as early as the 1970s when she started working with India’s best, Jyoti and Nikunj Parekh, Mumbai, who are the pioneers of this art form in India.

She is trained under world renowned Masters like John Naka, Chase Rosade of USA, Peter Chan of UK and others. She has visited Rome in Italy to attend a workshop by Mr. Sandro Signeri, who runs a famous Bonsai School in Italy, while she herself delivered a talk on Indian Bonsai to them. She also attended the World Bonsai Convention in Washington DC last year, along with her husband.

She has also featured in the very popular women magazine FEMINA, with a caption “Grow oranges on the window sill.”

In the last couple of years, that I have known her, she comes across as a wonderful human being, a good administrator and a great teacher who loves to share her immense wealth of knowledge with as many students as possible, coming from all walks of life.

She encourages each one of her student, to Create & Nurture their very own self designed “Nature in Miniature” and pursue this endearing hobby… as an elixir of life.

“Aunty” as she is lovingly called by most of her students is “Our Guru” literally, as she adorns many a feather in her GREEN BONSAI cap.

Today, she is a name to be reckoned with in the pristine world of Bonsai, as she has been teaching this extraordinary art form to enthusiastic plant lovers for over 30 years now.

Just watching her conduct a workshop on Bonsai with such energy and dedication inspires me as well as, all her students to learn more about this vast subject.

The following lines............. are dedicated specially for Aunty on “Teachers Day” ................. on behalf of all her students and members of the Association:-

Guru Brahma guru Vishnu, Gurudevo Maheshwara,

Guru sakshat perbrahma, tasme shree gurve namah

Guru is equivalent to the God Brahma, he is God Vishnu and he is also equivalent to God Shankar. Not only that, but Guru is equivalent to one and only the God and knowing this I salute my Guru.


**** This photo of Mrs. Arora, is taken with a 380 years old pine Bonsai, by Grand Master John Naka, at the National Arboretum, Washington DC. USA

** This is a copy of my article published in Hindustan Times..... supplement HT Weekend LIVE for Teachers Day, in Sept 2006.