Bonsai – the million-dollar art

A first glance at the art would probably let viewers think that it is just a type of tree with dwarf genetics resembling a mature tree or a forest environment. But, it is not. The word bonsai means “tree in a pot” or “tray,” which in Japanese expression translates to “tray planting.”
The origins of bonsai are ambiguous and possibly dates back to over 600 B.C, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. However, the art first practiced in China as Penjing before it was popularized and developed in Japan. In the west, it was known as ‘pigmy trees,’ ‘dwarf trees,’ or ‘miniature trees’ and had appeared at the 1873 Vienna International Exhibition.
Bonsai refers to the cultivation of a miniature tree or the art of altering a healthy and normal plant or shrubs into a miniature one. It takes years of practice to master such perfection. A minor mistake can kill the plant or restrict it to reflect the perfect miniature version of a mature tree. And to grow one that resembles a tiny forest or trees, it can take 2 to 4 generations. That means if you start one now, probably your great-grandchildren can finish it. But, waiting this long might worth it because of the whopping price tag at which they get sold off – about 1–6 million U.S dollars.