Ill admit Im one of those whose interest started with seeing the Karate Kid.
My older sister bought me a bonsai when I was 14 and not knowing what I was doing, no internet and no one to learn from. it promptly died.
Fast forward ~ 30 years to 2011, out of college with a good job, my own house and stability.
Walking through the grocery store I see a mallsi juniper in the floral section for $10-$15. Interest is resparked and I buy it on an impulse.
I ignorantly take the thing to work and put it on the desk next to the window.
Just to continue cause I know all of you are rolling your eyes going....well that tree died
I go on vacation for a week and leave it with a co-worker that has a lot of plants in the office.
When I return she is upset that the tree looks like its turning brown and dying. I tell her its probably not her fault and take the tree back to my desk.
I do a quick online search cause thankfully we now have the internet and there is information online and discover, junipers are OUTSIDE trees.
Well duh.... So I take the poor thing home, trim the dead foliage out and put it out on my back deck.
That little tree went through hell, lost most of it foliage and just looked terrible.
I put the thing in the garage over the winter, watch it carefully and keep it watered when it needed it and put it back out on the deck in April.
Low and behold! The little thing rallies and starts to grow!
Well here it is in 2016, still alive and has grown a lot since 2011 when it almost died a horrible newbie death
Its still alive but alas, I have no current pictures...lol Ive been so bad at keeping that up
Yes its not a great tree and it will probably never be a great tree but its my first tree and its a survivor. Its taught me a lot and I cant get rid of it.