Bonsai art focus of library program

The Friends Guild of the Destin Library invited the public to experience the Art of Bonsai recently at the Destin Library.

Rosemarie Voelker, a trustee of the Bonsai Society of Florida, introduced the history of Bonsai trees and explained how to create and maintain these plants during a presentation on Friday.

“I help people choose plants that are indigenous plants to the area and will grow easily,” Voelker said.

Bonsai tree maintenance originated in China and is also a part of Japanese art that includes pruning and maintaining miniature trees grown in a container.

“People mostly ask me on how to maintain the plants… like what kind of soil, water temperature and what fertilizer to use,” Voelker said.

Friends Guild of the Destin Library President Becky Williams said these programs are a great way to educate the community and bring people to the library.

“Maybe after the program is over, visitors can walk and see what the library has to offer,” she said.

Voelker said she has over 400 Bonsai plants at her home in Gulf Breeze and travels around the world educating the public about this form of art making.

“It’s art because you are styling and sculpting the tree,” she said. “The tree is telling you what way it wants to (be). … It’s a living art.”

To check out programs the Destin Library is offering, call 850-837-8572. The library is located at 150 Sibert Ave.