There s always something new to learn about the art, because there s always something new to learn about the tree. There s an infinite leap from beginner to intermediate and it never ends. But you do get better and better. Like with any sport you see the leap early on, but it never ends. With all that s involved, you d think bonsai would attract mostly hardcore gardeners and those interested in Eastern culture, but that s not necessarily true.
Most people pick up bonsai as a hobby because the trees just look cool.
Some people with no interest in gardening or Asian culture will see a bonsai and think it s pretty cool. Most people don t start out as gardeners. It s just so different than people s experience with gardening and house plants, so some people not familiar with gardening do well with bonsai because they re not confused with what they re supposed to do. While it s certainly not ubiquitous in this country, bonsai is something that s slowly catching on. Levin says people see the beautifully sculpted trees and want to create one themselves.