The Bonsai Reprieve

When we first entered Boys’ Town, we were met by two women who worked with the boys and translated Italian into English for us so we were able to understand the boys and some of the adults who worked in the town cantina.

The two women gave us a tour and one of the stops along the way was a garden that contained many rows of individual bonsai tree plants. There were many different kinds which varied in color, height, width, and shape. I had wondered if this was some type of science class or experiment so I asked one of the ladies what this garden was used for. She said that the bonsai trees were planted and cared for by the boys in their spare time. She said that they provided this space so that the boys could take on a hobby; the plants helped them to relax and to take their minds off of anything bothering them. I was immediately impressed by her response. How nice it would be to go out to this serene garden and work with nature for an afternoon! Boys’ Town provides so many activities and learning spaces for young boys. It is definitely a path leading to future successes as the boys grow up, and it was an inspiring place to visit; I wish them the best!