# Is it a Bonsai?

**URL:** <https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-it-a-bonsai/13269>\
**Category:** Design\
**Created:** [October 28, 2026, 11:37pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-it-a-bonsai/13269 "2026-10-28T23:37:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![NEBeech](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/nebeech/32/37888_2.png) [@NEBeech](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/NEBeech)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 2026, 11:37pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-it-a-bonsai/13269/1 "2026-10-28T23:37:05Z")

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I had a project this year that I thought this group might appreciate.

The job was to replace a failing 5-foot brick retaining wall with native natural stone to preserve this old weeping Japanese maple growing directly behind it. It Required a substantial root reduction, roughly 40–50%, and an opportunity to expose the nebari.

I integrated a natural edge into the stonework and added native ferns to bring the whole composition together.

It’s not a bonsai, but the approach used all my bonsai knowledge

.

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/3X/0/0/0040e613ace87d7926d1d4e09d188aae676d2ce9.jpeg)

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/3X/1/f/1f44b819a1aed5361aa43195eb7b910d4b21be22.jpeg)

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/3X/3/b/3be707a80388ceff76fb00af5eee9ec2cc5a7b2b.jpeg)

 ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/3X/9/0/90b177924671cd839127bb53f3c18b1a00b98d94.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![SoCalNative](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/socalnative/32/39999_2.png) [@SoCalNative](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/SoCalNative)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 2:18pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-it-a-bonsai/13269/2 "2026-10-29T14:18:43Z")

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Beautiful!! I love the stone work

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![NEBeech](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/nebeech/32/37888_2.png) [@NEBeech](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/NEBeech)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 7:52pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-it-a-bonsai/13269/3 "2026-10-29T19:52:39Z")

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Thanks I appreciate that & #keepingitnative on the stone work too

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**Author:** ![SoCalNative](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/socalnative/32/39999_2.png) [@SoCalNative](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/SoCalNative)\
**Post date:** [October 29, 2026, 9:25pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/is-it-a-bonsai/13269/4 "2026-10-29T21:25:22Z")

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So awesome! I wish I owned a house that had a yard for stuff like this 😍