In general, what you start working with today is a nice and finished looking tree within two years.

The typical person here is retired, probably has an interest in the outdoors and plants, and an interest in the Japanese culture a lot of times. It doesn't take a lot of experience to do bonsai well, but it does take a little bit of an artistic eye.

We had so much damage I came out here full time. It took a long time to get caught up.

I've always had agriculture in my blood. And I've always wanted to do something artistic. I've never been able to draw or paint. But with bonsai I did it. This is what I'm good at. I like the artistic element and the teaching element.

If I thought I was going to die tomorrow, I should nevertheless plant a tree today.

The first win sets the tempo for the next game (today at 1:05 p.m. in Des Moines). They're going to have to come out and play with some urgency now, and then they have to come back to Houston and play us in our building.