Introduction

I have been interested in Japanese culture for several years but I had never really studied Bonsai.
When I was 12 (almost 13) years old I bought a "bonsai" at the local market voor 5 Guilders (about 3 US dollars) . Wonder above wonders, it stayed alive. I later discovered that it was a Carmona.

When I was on holiday near Tiel (Netherlands) I spotted a bonsai book in a shop. I bought it immediately and 2 days later I saw Het Bonsai Blad (Dutch Bonsai magazine) so I took out a subscription.
I quickly became interested in these living sculptures and wanted to try out all the techniques on my "5 guilder tree" when I got home.
Unfortunately, when I did get home my tree was dead. Undetered by this, my interest grew and grew.

I found the address of the nearest Bonsai center in the Bonsai magazine and signed up for a beginners course with Piet Hoek. It was a bit strange sitting there as a 12 year old.
Hesitantly I began to wire the tree, and soon I had a "real" bonsai in front of me.
Slowly the pile of Bonsai books grew, as did the number of trees. The first bonsai shelf appeared and I became a member of the NBV (Dutch Bonsai Association).

Due to an accident I had to stop for a while. It's a bit difficult to wire a tree if you have a broken arm !
After recovered I carried on with a follow up course, again with Piet Hoek.
When the owner of the Bonsai center decided to close down I had to go in search of another one. I decided to go to Farand Bloch. After a course I went to many, many workshops where I am still learning a great deal. Farrands "own style" appeals to me. Recently I have also started participating in workshops by Marc Noelanders.

Then I heard that the preliminaries of the New Young Talent competition were being held. With encouragement from, among others, Farrand I hesitantly entered (can I do it?) . . . and I won !!!. After the euphoria of winning the preliminary came the reality of the National competition. I came 2nd, which I thought was pretty good considering I've only been "at it" for a couple of years.
I am definately going to the European Championships in Pisa, Italy. I don't want to miss this event.

The ever increasing number of Bonsai's in my collection has lead to a space problem. Thanks to my parents I now have a beautiful 'bonsai corner' where everything has it's place.

I work mostly with needle-bearing trees (such as cedrus and taxus) and conifers, primarily Chamaecyparis and Junipers. Up until now I haven't done much with deciduous trees. Maybe that's because you need a bigger helping of patience for them, but one of these days I will try them. The conifers are strong and powerful, but the deciduous trees are so delicate.

I don't think I will take up bonsai as a profesion. First I have to finish off my school education, then I want to go to University. I expect that I will remain very busy improving my bonsi techniques and expanding my knowledge and experience.
It is, of course, a marvelous hobby which I will definately continue to do.

N.B. The trees in the photo's are still in training pots. They will, of course, eventually get a display pot.

Editors note, January 1999:
Kirsten won the National New Talent competition in 1998 and will represent the Netherlands at Stratford-upon-Avon in summer 1999.