What’s in a name?

Shiten, (pronounced sch ten) means "branch" of a bank or group of shops, as we are branching off from mainstream clubs we thought this word was appropriate.  Also the anglicised spelling of the word gives any detractors an opportunity to say that we both, and our trees, live up to our name!

Since the “launch” of the SBS there has been some interesting alternative names being bandied about, here’s just a few:-

Secret Bonsai Society
Special Bald Squadron
Stupid Bloody Slackers
Storey Bashes Simon
Secret Bonsai Squirrels
Silly Buggers Society

…………. and the most convoluted,
Simon Haddon's Impeccable Tree ENsemble

Seems like some are having too much fun at our expense but what the hey, you only live once (although the evil one’s tend to live forever!)

2 become 1

Shiten Bonsai Society was born out of friendship, frustrations and failings - so here we are 2 slightly daft and aging Bonsaists muddling our way through life with little trees. Already seen in some circles as a “double act” we are here to enjoy the Worldwide Bonsai scene and maybe poke some fun at ourselves as well as our trees – we hope that you enjoy Bonsai from the daft-side! 

Who are we and why are we here? 

People have been asking the latter for years but we are just 2 ordinary blokes “doing our thing” really. Having travelled the length and breadth of the UK for many years, under various “banners”, the opportunity arose for us to fly solo without the aid of a Club or Society safety net, so we took it. One of our original incarnations was suggested as “Shiten Shohin Society” in deference to the quality of my trees and our joint appreciation of trees at the smaller end of the Bonsai spectrum but as we do grow larger Bonsai we agreed on the SBS. 

Our goal? 

Enjoy the hobby, the people, and learn a few things along the way. We have no egos or arterial motives just a shared passion for Japanese inspired trees and ceramics. Not saying we don’t “do European” but maybe we just enjoy the more relaxed, and maybe, more feminine approach – who’s calling who a big girls blouse?