Senior has strong roots in Bonsai

Senior has strong roots in Bonsai. Jim Campbell tends one of his Bonsai trees at the Misseto Bonsai Clubs annual exhibition held over the weekend at Sherway Gardens. August 28,2010. Staff photo/ IAN KELSO

The soft-spoken senior is a Bonsai expert, choosing his plants as carefully as he chooses his words.

The co-founder of the Misseto Bonsai Club joined his club counterparts to show off their creations during an annual exhibit at Sherway Gardens Aug. 28.

Campbell walked slowly past the plants, eyeing each unique specimen. With so many variations of Bonsai, how does he decide how his end products will look?

"The style of the tree is determined by the tree," he offered.

Some of the original plants - including junipers, cedars, gingko bilobas - are found in the nursery, while others are found in the wild, he explained. "That's where you get some of your best trees," he said of the latter option.

Then it's a matter of deciding how the tree will be 'sculpted', and that's where the art of Bonsai comes in. For example, said one club member, a Bonsai shouldn't have two branches at the same level. You also don't want the branches pointing upwards, added Campbell, noting wire can be used to 'mould' the tree into a desired shape.

His love affair with the ancient Oriental art of Bonsai - which translates to 'tree in a pot' - has lasted decades, he said.

"It's fun for me; I've been at it for over 40 years," Campbell said of his horticultural hobby.

His more outspoken wife June - another of Campbell's bonds lasting 62 years and counting - explained her husband studied the art of Bonsai in Canada under the direction of a Japanese man who Campbell calls his 'sensei'.

"He learned the spirit of Bonsai," said June.

Campbell also shares his knowledge of the art, attested a fellow club member.

"When I joined the club I was the new kid on the block," said Luigi Venturuzzo, also on hand for the Sherway expo. "Jim encouraged me ... I learned very quickly, but never stopped learning. Jim gave me some basics."

Venturuzzo said he learned to 'communicate' with the plants.

"The tree doesn't speak but it shows if it's deprived. Bonsai teaches patience before anything else."

Campbell's long tradition of caring for his small trees is nearing its end, he said. "Next year or the year after I'll be getting out of it," he said. "The trees are getting too heavy."

During the show, club members turned down offers to purchase their plants. But Campbell said he will sell his trees when he is ready to move on from the hobby, but not to just anyone.

"You have to know what you're doing or you'll spoil the tree," he explained.

As for the future of the art, Campbell said when he started there was only one Bonsai club in Toronto. Now there are five, he said.

During the show some younger people milled about taking in the display, a couple even expressing interest in using a Bonsai tree as a wedding centrepiece.

However, as far as young people taking up the craft, there doesn't seem to be an influx, explained club members.

But, "that's what this is all about," said Campbell about the show. "This is how I got started too."

Campbell and his wife were recognized by the club recently; Misseto presented him a plaque honouring his years of dedication to the club, and the Campbells were handed lifetime memberships, according to club member Barbara Pope.

While Campbell is planning to shelf his beloved pastime, he also has a love of cars to keep him occupied, he said.

"I was into cars before Bonsai," he said with a slight grin.

But for now, his roots in Bonsai remain strong.

For more information about the Bonsai club serving Etobicoke and Mississauga, visit www.missetobonsai.org