Page 47 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2014Q3

here are two sorts of people in life: the first
are those who give up early when given the
opportunity to do more for themselves, who
don’t take any chances, who always choose
Tthe “safe road” in life. The second, are those
who want to live an extraordinary life, who aren’t sat-
isfied with what they’re given, and who fight for their
dreams. These are the ones who make the impossible
possible
Mark and Ritta Cooper make extraordinary couple
with an equally extraordinary passion—Japan and all
things Japanese. Mark and Ritta, both scientists, met
and married through working together and have be-
come even closer through their love of Japan. Their
interest in bonsai, like that of many other people,
evolved from an interest in Japanese gardens and
koi collecting. First visiting Japan in 1986, they were
completely stunned by what they saw there and have
been back at least once a year ever since. They have
visited all the top Bonsai Shows in Japan many times,
and bonsai nurseries have become familiar territory,
in many cases, becoming firm friends with the nurs-
ery owners. It was inevitably going to lead them to
bringing their small share of Japan back to the United
Kingdom. Someone with this strong a passion will to
go to great lengths to ensure their bonsai collection in-
cludes trees selected and purchased in Japan, whatever
the difficulties in bringing them back home.
Mark & Ritta, have been keen gardeners, since
they had their first garden 37 years ago. Interest in
gardens was nurtured from the start by both parents
and grandparents alike. Mark was the proud owner of
tropical fish in his childhood. It is hardly surprising Top and Middle right; The white
then, that they developed their love of Nishikigoi (Koi pine, Pinus parviflora, and
Carp). Many koi-keepers have followed their early for- companion panting Mark and
Ritta exhibited at Taikan-ten
ay into keeping fish in a garden pond, to learning how and the subject of a future
to keep bigger and better Koi. From this simple start article on importing trees from
developed a deeper and lasting passion for Nishikigoi, Japan to the UK.
Japanese Gardens and the whole Japanese culture, and Middle left; Chirimen Katsura
would subsequently follow with a passion for Bonsai. Bottom; Mark and Ritta’s entry at Noelanders Trophy XIV, awarded awarded Best Shohin at Best of
Their interest in bonsai began, as did most of us, Best Shohin XIV. Zelkova serrata and Pinus densiflora. British Bonsai, 2011.
from very humble beginnings. Their first thought, ‘it
would look good with the koi pond’ goes back to the
early 1980s and with true sentimental value, their first
ventures into bonsai are still there today. The true cata-
lyst for a serious passion goes back to their memorable
first trip to Japan in 1986, a year to remember, when
life changed forever. Going to Japan began with the
intention just of selecting and buying Koi on a tour
organized by a UK koi professional. Totally entranced,
they toured many koi farms, this fast growing love
fuelled by daily visits to temples and gardens. They
developed an increasing passion for the beauty and
simplicity of these Japanese gardens. They returned
home inspired with an abundance of ideas to improve
their prized garden and Koi pond, not to forget the
new koi that, of course came home with them!
As is the norm in Japan, most koi-keepers and
gardens they visited included bonsai. This to Mark
and Ritta was new; it was the first time they had seen
photo by Willy Evenepoel, Belgium., courtesy Bonsai Association Belgium.
July/August/September 2014 | BCI | 45