Today marks the opening of a unique exhibition at Center of Joy, featuring a collection of bonsais, many of them native to Guanacaste and each one a living testimony to time care and patience.
Among the highlights is a 32 year old bonsai shaped over more than three decades. The next oldest, at 28 years, is just as impressive. Most of the trees on display are over 7 years old, each one grown from scratch by Greivin Sandoval, a local expert who cultivates these miniature trees on his hacienda La Norma, in Santa Cruz.
What makes a bonsai different from a regular tree is not just its size. Bonsais are guided to grow in a specific way. Their root systems are intentionally shaped to allow only the nutrient absorbing roots to remain while those that try to anchor deeply into the ground are gently removed. This delicate balance is what allows them to thrive in small containers and in turn be part of indoor environments bringing life tranquility and a sense of stillness to any space.
In the exhibition you will notice QR codes next to each plant. By scanning them you can find detailed care instructions. Because like all living things, bonsais require presence and intention. In fact tending to a bonsai is a grounding practice in itself. Many who care for them describe it as a way to calm the nervous system. A slow ritual that brings focus and peace.
Center of Joy, dedicated to inner peace and conscious living, is the perfect setting for this experience. We invite you to visit the exhibition take a moment to slow down learn more about this centuries old practice and maybe even take a bonsai home.