Nurturing a problem, turning negative into positive

The street I live on in Tokyo is so narrow a car can barely make it through. Because of this, a system for lining up everyone's bicycles on one side of the street is necessary.

As instructed when moving in, my wife, my daughter, and myself, park our bicycles across the street in front of my neighbor's house. Their house sits just 21 inches (53 cm.) back from the curb. Such a scale of living makes it obvious where the aesthetic of "bonsai" plants comes from!

Eight years ago a hardy looking weed began growing right next to where I park my bicycle. You might think a weed growing next to my bike is not a big deal, but let me explain because initially, I didn't think it would be a big deal either.

The weed started life in a humble manner, sprouting up in a crack between the street and the curb. Initially there didn't seem to be a reason to pull it out, and indeed I cheered it on and marveled at its pioneering spirit.

The humble weed grew quite rapidly from day one, and after about 6 months, it was beginning to look tree-like and formidable. Some of the growth was wrapping itself around the front wheel of my bike and birds were coming to rest on its branches. All of this activity led to bird droppings on my bicycle seat, and after wiping off the mess several times, I took out my pruning scissors and cut the little devil down.

Or so I thought.

Ignoring the weed tree in the beginning was my first mistake. Cutting it down to just above ground level was my second. It grew back with a vengeance, as if my cutting it down was a call to arms! In no time at all, it had more branches than before, and the base coming out of the crack was now woody and less weed like. Foolishly, my relationship with this little upstart remained way too casual. Two months later, bird droppings once again started winding up on my bicycle seat!

This time around, needing hedge clippers to get the job done, I cut the weed-tree down as close to the curb as possible, and I must say that I had a sense of "Good riddance!" when I was done.

Well, I think it was the very next morning, or 2 days at the most.... I went outside only to find the hardy little son of a gun was once again sprouting new growth! I marveled at its will to live, and I began to concede a shift in the balance of power. Regardless of my size, my tools, and my supposed intelligence, the little weed-tree was not to be deterred! Kind of embarrassing actually.

What to do? I knew by now there was only one viable course of action. Respect the plant and its life force, and stop considering it to be a nuisance.

I made room for my courageous friend by moving one of our bicycles into my tiny yard. Next, I went out and purchased some plant food, and I began to water and feed the tree. My little beauty grew gloriously, and I soon began to lovingly cut it back in a "bonsai" fashion.

Some years later, it's looking truly magnificent, and my neighbors often stop and marvel at it. I love this little tree now, and only hope my life force can be half as strong as the spirit it exudes.