Police officer nurtures 230 bonsai: “I even sleep better these days—I wonder if it’s thanks to the bonsai”

“Bonsai trees have taught me that even something unfinished can be beautiful. It’s been a bit of an adjustment for me, since I’m someone who likes quick results.

I’m a restless soul. I can’t sit at the dinner table until my wife has finished eating—I’m already clearing the dishes. Because of my impatience, I’m not at my best in traffic jams or long checkout lines. I also have a bad habit of over-scheduling my days. But with bonsai, I can toss my schedules aside.

A small pine seedling starts to look like a bonsai after five years, though it’s still just a rough draft. Only after 20 years of tinkering and shaping does it truly resemble a bonsai.

These plants have taught me that slowing down can be enjoyable. I can easily get caught up wondering whether to remove a branch or bend it another way. I might start shaping a Moyogi-style bonsai that mimics a naturally growing tree, then a year later change it into a Bunjin style, which has a twisted trunk and very few branches.

Afterward, I’m amazed at how calm I feel when working on bonsai. It might be comparable to meditation.

Even in elementary school, I was interested in plants, and my room was like a jungle. I would buy monstera, umbrella trees, snake plant, and African violet from flower shops. I would have studied horticulture, but I have a pollen allergy.

About fifteen years ago, I read a Japanese gardening book. The images radiated peace and harmony. Everything was meticulously planned, which appealed to me. I wanted the same style in our yard. That’s how bonsai entered the picture.

I got some pine seedlings but didn’t learn how to care for them. My interest fizzled pretty quickly once I realized how slow the process was. I was still young and impatient.

A couple of years ago, I decided to start again, but this time I did the opposite: I soaked up every care tip I could find on YouTube. I only got a couple of trees and took a slower approach. Another reason for my renewed interest was that my retirement from police work was on the horizon. I wanted something fulfilling to do once that time arrived.

In just a couple of years my bonsai collection has reached 230. I check them every day, it’s like visiting friends. They’re easily a ten-hour commitment every week. I check for pests, apply fertilizer, and do shaping.

Watering is its own project, especially in the summer. When we went away for a weekend, I asked my grown daughter to help with it. She was shocked by how time-consuming it was, even though I only asked her to water the thirstiest ones.

I’m still impatient enough that I don’t grow all my bonsai from scratch. For example, I picked up japanese white pine and japanese maple that were basically established, so all they need is occasional shaping. That way, I can appreciate them right away.

Lately I’ve also been drawn to flowering bonsai, like wisteria. Their blooms last just a couple of weeks in early summer, so I savor them while I can. I move one flowering bonsai at a time to the garden tables in the front and backyard so they’re easier to enjoy.

Spending time in the yard is a form of mental self-care. Being around these plants leaves me feeling at peace. These days I even sleep better, and I’ve wondered if it’s thanks to the bonsai.”