Antonio’s Bonsai Trees

I knew I liked Antonio when we first met three years ago, an encounter that came about via the sprouting of a close friendship between his daughter, Sara, and my son, Tom.

The roots of our childrenʼs friendship have taken hold and, through the inevitable twists and turns of young friendship, grown deep and spread out into a strong brotherly-sisterly affection.

And from their beautiful friendship, branches of new friendships have emerged as our two families have intertwined towards something that both resembles and yet stands separate from that germinated by Sara and Tom.

I am very proud to call Antonio, and his wife Elsa and their son Joao, close friends.

Roots and Branches

Antonio and his family arrived in the UK just five years ago from Portugal, primarily for Elsaʼs work as a nurse.

The family did not migrate alone. With them came Antonioʼs vast collection of bonsai.

The trees, like the family as a whole, have had to adapt to a different world - one that is colder, wetter and more variable.

All, to a greater or lesser degree, have struggled. Some continue to struggle. Antonio watches and listens to his bonsai and responds to their needs. Through diligent nurturing, they have passed the cusp of survival and begun to thrive.