Jim and I returned home last Thursday after a week in San Diego visiting our son, Joe, who is stationed there with the U.S. Coast Guard. We spent a day at Balboa Park with its many museums, gardens, and other attractions.

For several hours, we explored the magnificent Japanese Friendship Garden, presented to San Diego by its sister city of Yokohama, Japan. I was fascinated by the exhibit of mature Bonsai trees. Some were older than 50 years. Both deciduous and evergreen specimens were displayed; there were even two “forests,” one of Chinese elm, the other of juniper.

I have a special interest in Bonsai. I twice received Bonsai trees as gifts from my son and his wife. I killed both plants. Technically, Jim caused the demise of the second tree by over-fertilizing, but it would have died anyway. I didn’t water it properly. The first one perished from thirst as well.

Did my visit to the Japanese Garden re-ignite my interest in growing Bonsai trees? Not really, at least for the pr...