When people ask me if I am ever going to stack up some gold, I look at them confused.
"What kind of gold?" I might say.
"Physical gold," they would say.
"Does this count?"
I point to my bonsai trees and maintenance supplies I spent my money on.
March Golden Lamps
In the bonsai world, we practically believe that money really does grow on trees.
The beauty, the art, the history, the legacy, and the simple joy and peace that it brings into our lives is considered precious indeed.
A philosopher might wonder whether it is better to store gold here on the earth, or up in heaven above.
What good is physical gold if it turned our heart black as coal?
A person who is overly generous by nature may have a heart of gold, but who will know? Their pockets are always filled with only holes.
Abundant Gifts
For a glint of yellow blossoms on a tree with a well-developed structure and a large trunk, a simple bonsai tree like this could sell perhaps for hundreds of dollars to an interested buyer.
For a photo cover on a popular book or magazine, the photo alone might sell for the same price.
At an exhibition, a popular bonsai tree could be featured to help attract sales for hundreds of tickets.
When I, the artist grower, tells viewers the story of how I plucked this tree as a cutting from my former neighbor's tree overhanging our fence, the day before we moved out, this tree perhaps gains even more value.
A Living Story
Forsythia was originally an exotic species.
Most likely, it originated in the temperate regions of Eastern China. After it was introduced to the United States, it became quickly acclimated, and is now considered a native species to the Appalachian Mountains region.
Perhaps knowing this, a buyer might pay even more for it.
Mountains of Gold
It grows extremely well in sandy loam, clay, and well-draining soils. It is hardy enough to withstand freezing temperatures and occasional flooding, and it is very draught tolerant as well.
It is so easy to grow, in a backyard garden lacking the harshness of biting winds, blistering heat, and hungry forest animals, it can be considered an invasive species due to its long-spreading root system.
For the unexperienced gardener, this might decrease their opinion of the plant.
To anyone who might have been previously tasked with removing an established Forsythia embedded deep into a backyard landscape, they would certainly not want to go anywhere near this cursed plant ever again.
The Midas Tree
To the experienced eye, perhaps there is more value stored within these ceramic walls than originally imagined.
It takes an adventurous spirit to recognize the potential value a unique treasure might hold in the future.
After all, golden bells cascading off scaffolding branches, organized neatly within a small moveable container makes a welcomed ornamentation outdoors in late winter.
A Treasure Trove
This particular tree pictured throughout here, I have been growing for 10 years now. Isn't that amazing?
I do think this is the most flowers it has worn, to date.
Exponential Gains
So, how do you rate my gold stacking skills?
24 karat gold doesn't go up in value, in itself. It is only perceived to go up in value, because world currencies used to buy it are constantly suffering the effects of inflation. Gold never disappears. It is used for many commercial applications, but it cannot be burned or destroyed. A skilled goldsmith can always melt it out, or chemically purify it. The supply of gold will always increase as we mine more from the earth.
Why not grow a bonsai tree instead, as an expansion of an investment portfolio? Fancy enjoying and appreciating a piece of living fine art that grows in value, oh so slightly, every day?
Like all investments, there are risks involved. Bonsai can suffer from damage or sudden death if not protected and maintained properly.
When cared for and loved, a beloved bonsai can reward us with beauty, peace, and prosperity.
A bulb growing in the garden divides and multiplies every few years. The Dutch once valued their tulip bulbs so highly, it was considered a more reliable trade currency than gold, and traded sometimes for vast fortunes. Today it retains worldwide value, because it grows as a living testament in vast flower gardens, showing how a single plant could boom into a billion dollar industry.
Perhaps this year I will succeed in rooting some cuttings this year. I've got my propagation box all set up, after all. Why not multiply my portfolio even more?
Call me the bonsai alchemist: the art of making gold out of mud and wood. The sorcerer's stone, is the alchemical mixture of rocky soils, unique to almost every practitioner. 😉
Thank you for viewing my recent bonsai tree photos.
Above is pictured some of our garden blooming Daffodils. They love growing in the muddiest areas as well as in the drier areas under the eaves of the house. They do need some icy cold winters to help them rejuvenate their energy every year.
Photos in this post are all #originalworks by @creativetruth, unless stated otherwise.
[Bonsai]
#yellow #journal #deep-thoughts #winter #gardening #gardening