It is an art form that has spanned thousands of years developed by the Chinese and made popular and perfected by the Japanese. Bonsai trees were, at that time, handed down from generation to generation mainly because developing them took years and a lot of patience. A person has to know the techniques behind creating a miniature tree and it takes years of grooming before you can actually call it a Bonsai. One of the few Bermudians who has become drawn to this art is Norvell Wright, who first became interested in Bonsai trees many years ago when walking through Chinatown in New York. "When passing through Chinatown, I used to see the Bonsais in store windows and I was fascinated with the look of miniature trees because they look like real trees in nature and I have always been a lover of plants,'' Mr. Wright said.

He added: "So what I did, once I brought my property in Southampton, was dedicate an area of my yard to creating Bonsais.

"I first started buying books, and looking at videos on how to make your own Bonsais. Then it progressed from there and I started going away and taking courses,'' Mr. Wright said.

"It started as a hobby but has since turned into a part-time business. When I am not working as the aquarist responsible for the North Rock exhibit at the Aquarium I am working on the trees.'' Mr. Wright said Bonsai is an art form many thousands of years old and it was initially started by the Chinese and made popular and perfected by the Japanese.

The definition of Bonsai is a tree or plant grown in a container and is small in size but expresses the beauty and volume of a tree grown in its natural environment.

The literal meaning of Bonsai is a tree planted in a pot or tray.

"One of the fascinating things about Bonsais is they can live for hundreds of years, properly cared for.

"What happens in Japan and China is these miniature trees are handed down from generation to generation. Basically, they are living works of art,'' Mr.

Wright said.

He added that in this day and age one of the benefits of doing Bonsai is also stress release. "That is why you find more people doing it.

"It takes many, many years of careful pruning and copper wiring -- which helps shape the trees into different styles like formal upright or cascade -- to create a Bonsai. There are about five or six styles you can do.'' Mr. Wright also said before using wire on the trees the Japanese used to use a method called clip and grow which means they would clip the branches to shape the trees. But with wire you are able to create a tree faster.

"Your aim is to make it look like a tree in its natural state with no faults.

"A Bonsai can be anywhere from four inches to four feet -- a lot of times when people get into it they think a Bonsai has to be small.'' Mr. Wright said for all the Bonsai lovers in Bermuda he will be starting a club in the new year.

"Once I did some research on Bonsais I got in contact with other people who were already doing it on the Island and there were only a few people then.

"But now, the population of people in Bermuda interested in creating Bonsais has grown so much in the last few years and people have asked that there be an association so they can learn how to style their own trees.'' Mr. Wright added that part of the reason creating Bonsais has become so popular is because "this art form relieves stress.'' "The association will be open for ages 10 on up and I am hoping to have monthly meetings. Anyone interested in this art can contact me at 238-2664.'' Mr. Wright added that he sells some of his trees as Christmas presents which can cost $80 to $400.

"Every Saturday until Christmas I will be at the junction of South Shore Road and Middle Road selling Bonsias.

"Most Bonsais thrive outdoors but there are a few varieties that can be kept indoors,'' he said.

Mr. Wright added that it takes many years of wiring and trimming to call a plant a Bonsai.

"You can use any type of tree for a Bonsai but you want to use something that initially has a small leaf so it is scaled. But, if need be, you can also reduce the size of the leaves however, the size of the flowers stay the same.

"In order to get the trees to stay small you also have to clip back the roots every year so it can stay in the same small pot. This causes new roots to grow creating a healthy plant.'' Mr. Wright also said that the other important aspect of a Bonsai is the moss you use to cover the roots.

"The moss helps keep moisture in and give the elusion of grass under a tree.'' He added that the soil you use is also important. "I use a combination of peat moss, Bermuda soil and aquarium gravel.''