Bonsai Creation or Purchase
Observational Commentary: July 21, 2025
Today in Los Angeles, the sun was hiding behind a cloud, casting a coolness over the day. The temperature hovered below. normal, a perfect summer day for exploring a different suburb. As I step outside my residence, the air is filled with the distant sounds of traffic and commuters. The hum of city life flows around me, a reminder of the vibrant energy that pulses through LA.
In the heart of the local garden store, I find myself at a crossroads, contemplating a choice that feels both simple and profound. Before me lie two bonsai options: one, a potential masterpiece crafted from an oak tree sapling in a gallon pot, its large leaves promising a future of grandeur overshadowing; the other, a small bonsai already formed high on a shelf surrounded by other bonsai; its roots anchored in rock and glued gravel, a testament to the artistry of nature and commerce.
As I weighed my options, I’m reminded of my own limitations. I can only carry what I can carry. The small bonsai, though heavy, is manageable, while the oak, with its acorn of potential, feels like a weighty disaster. I wander the aisles, searching for a box to protect my choice, but the shelves are industrial, leaving me with no option but to slip the bonsai into a flimsy bag.
As I walk carefully to the bus, I navigate the lack of sidewalks, dodging cars and trucks, each absorbed in their own journey. The small bonsai sits solidly in the bag, a reminder of the strength and beauty I’ve embraced. In a city that thrives on ambition and growth, I found happiness in the delicate, the compact, the manageable evergreen.
Today, as I write in Los Angeles, I carry with me not just a bonsai, but a piece of someone else’s patience—The pine is a reminder that even the smallest choices can have an impact.