I been a bonsai artist for over 12 years or more, I lost count . I have had the privileged to work with some bonsai masters from around the world. President Clinton when in office and a bonsai master "Erni Kuno" presented the emperor of Japan a bonsai at a special event ; I had the privileged to work with Ernie along with other great artist like Bob Eskeitz.

Bonsai are like other special items on the market now they sell them in garden centers and places like Walmart . It is like buying jewelry the better quality you want the better place you shop . You can get a bonsai from a street vendor for $25 . or from a bonsai enthusiast for $2500. or more .

It is like koi the Japanese carp that you can put in your pond they can cost at Walmart $5. or a good pet store $25. the prize koi in Japan can be worth $2500. or more.

Bonsai means in Japanese "tree in a tray or on a slap ,in a pot " . It is not pronounced Bon si but bone zi . During world war 2  the Japanese pilots jumped from their planes they yelled "bonsai" which means (praise to the emperor) . Tree in a tray is bone zi .

Bonsai originally came from China , it was not as much an art form then but was a tree in a pot . Later the Japanese culture used a little more innovation and trained the trees with wire to look more the way they wanted and reflect different natural positions ; cascade,wind swept and several different styles .

In the 50's during the World's fair the Japanese introduced bonsai to the United States . Bonsai had been known in Europe and popular in Italy many years before that . 

Just a little information if your not already familiar .