A Book Review

Bountiful Bonsai: Create Instant Indoor Container Gardens with Edible Fruits, Herbs and Flowers by Richard W. Bender

This is author Bender's second book on a bonsai subject. His previous effort, Herbal Bonsai was published in 1996. As the title suggests,he advocates for the increased use for herbal plants as bonsai.  I thought he had an interesting take on the  hobby but rather an limited grasp of the artistic aspects of bonsai.  The example trees were generally over potted,had thin trunks and masses of undefined foliage.  

Bender's new effort is much more of the same.  His topic this time is summed up in the jacket flap copy, stating "(he) expects his plants to look good but also to play a supporting role in the home by supplying  fragrant fresh herbs and fruits for the dinner table". What Bender is advocating is bonsai that are useful as well as good looking.

The way that he accomplishes this is fairly easy to predict and proven positively by examining any of the multiple color photographs in the book: Bender's bonsai don't look very good.  Check that-these are obviously healthy, vigorous specimens that grow well and bear their particular crops with enthusiasm  Bender gets wine,jam,marmalade, tea and cooking herbs from his 'bonsai', so they certainly live up to the "Bountiful" mentioned in the title. They just stray from the usually accepted rules for bonsai.

The author acknowledges that 'bonsai' grown in his method will of necessity have larger that traditional pots, and will have larger foliage areas.  He presents these situations almost as freedom from rigid bonsai rules, but while may assure that his bonsai bear fruit, it also means that his bonsai are to my eye indistinguishable from any houseplant. Well cared for,handsomely potted, but not a bonsai.

Design aspects aside, Bender has a firm grasp of the horticulture involved in this endeavor.  The types of plants he recommends as 'bountiful bonsai' are a wide range of growing things-old friends like natal plum, myrtle, dwarf pomegranate and the myriad of citrus as well as some very nontraditional choices like sage, scented geraniums,papaya and hot peppers! He not only offers care and culture advice, but provides recipes for those interested in making their own bountiful bonsai.

A promotional video can be seen here :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrU6xC5kbV8

Some of the comments and the author's response to them are instructive.