What is Bonsai?

The word bonsai is derived from two Chinese characters, meaning a tree planted in a shallow container. The word is pronounced "bone-sigh".
Bonsai is an art form that is composed partly of horticulture and partly three-dimensional design. To qualify as a bonsai, the growing miniature tree must be both a representation of nature and creative expression.
Bonsai can be a philosophical experience, a means for feeling the spiritual harmony between man and nature.