The following is a series of questions posed to Bob Grealish, a longtime member of the Pittsburgh Bonsai Society who has held various positions including vice president, corresponding secretary, and president. The interview was conducted by current Pittsburgh Bonsai Society President, Ian Evans.

1) What is your earliest memory of encountering the art and practice of bonsai?

5 years old. I decided one day I wanted to do bonsai and play the Irish tin whistle because I thought they were cool.

2) What was the first bonsai you acquired, when did you get it, and what was the outcome?

Dwarf mugo pine and two others I got at a nursery about 1985 because I finally decided to try bonsai. Close to 40 years ago. It’s long gone.

3) When did you go from casual enjoyment of bonsai to your more serious and dedicated pursuit?

Year two. I went from 7 plants to over a hundred. I joined the bonsai society and bought some books. I was hooked, (in more than one figurative sense).

4) When did you join the Pittsburgh Bonsai Society, and what elected and volunteer positions have you held?

About 1985 or 86. I have been vice president, corresponding secretary, and president. I have run the spring show, I wrote and ran the first website, and put out the newsletter (by mail).

5) How many years has the Annual Picnic been held at your place?

About 18-20 years.

6) I’m sure you have some funny or even terrifying bonsai anecdotes. Please share one with us.

At one point in the past century, I worked with Don Gould on Keystone Arts. I set up a studio and provided the equipment, salaries, and the business while he made and sold pots. One time we did a joint catalog with Jim Doyle (tools) and Dave Knittle (stands).

Around that time, I invested in North American Bonsai and Trading Company, a group of 10 of us which imported bonsai trees, pots, and other items from China. We took a trip to China and sought out several sources of material and pots. It was a memorable trip all over Southeast China by bus. Our drivers decided that they would find “delicacies” for us to eat for every meal. These included things like chicken feet, beef tendon, duck tongue, sea slugs, and other unusual foods. No meat. No rice. No familiar food except once.

In Yixing, a local official decided to accompany us to lunch. We had one fish for 9 of us. The locals deferred the best part to the official, and he offered them to us. We declined, since the best part was the eyeballs. We got the cheeks instead. We were very happy to get to Guangzhou (Canton) where we got some excellent French fries.

The trees came several weeks after we got back, all dead of course.

7) What is one technique, idea, or conceptualization of bonsai that you wish everyone knew more about, or could do more effectively?

Developing a root base.

8) What is your favorite species to work on?

Hinoki cypress.

9) What’s the last scope of work you completed? What kind of tree, age, what did you do to it, etc.?

I haven’t completed anything. I’ve been working on a large larch forest, naturalizing it. Worked on a large Carpinifolia elm and a Chinese elm. I guess the last “completed” project was a Chinese elm I got from Mike Stern, who grew it in his field. After I got it, I planted it in my yard and repeatedly grew it out and pruned it back for several years, until a couple years ago I wired it and potted it in a pot I had brought back from a bonsai show in Paris. I had it in the PBS show this year.

10) What are you looking forward to?

Having time to actually style some of the trees I have instead of just constant maintenance.