Durfee serves on the homefront

by Daniel J. Fitzgibbons, Chronicle staff

Capt. Peter Holmsten of the 439th Airlift Wing at Westover Air Reserve Base delivers his bonsai tree collection to Durfee Conservatory on Oct. 11. The captain, who is being deployed this month, arranged safekeeping for the trees with conservatory director John Tristan. Jean Crossman of Creative Services, who was visiting the greenhouse, helped Holmsten unload the trees. (Stan Sherer photo)

or military reservists, a call-up means squaring away personal affairs and ensuring their families will be cared for during the deployment. But when Capt. Peter Holmsten of the 439th Airlift Wing at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee received word that he was being activated, his loose ends included finding a home for his collection of 33 bonsai trees.

     Holmsten found safe haven for the trees at Durfee Conservatory, where director John Tristan offered to care for the trees, which require daily attention and watering, until the captain returns from active duty.

      "My interest in bonsai began as a child while my older brother worked with his trees," said Holmsten. "Growing up and going off to college, I never had the opportunity to really get into the art due to living in dorms or small apartments. Bonsai need outdoor air and space. It wasn't until I was stationed in the Florida panhandle and bought my first home that I was able to really begin to create bonsai."

     Since that time, Holmsten's become quite skilled at the ancient art of bonsai, though his arrival in Massachusetts posed some climatic challenges for the trees.

     "The first year I built a cold frame and was able to winter the trees there while I was on my first deployment for Operation Enduring Freedom and the global war on terrorism," he said. "I was deployed from January to April of 2002 to Incirlik, Turkey. When I returned the trees were just ready to come out of cold storage and it worked out fine.

     However, I did lose four trees that winter so even when all is done to prepare, nature can still decide to take a few away from you."

     Tristan said Holmsten's trees are on public display and will be individually posted on the Durfee Web site (www.umass.edu/durfee).

     Holmsten said bonsai has provided him an avenue for developing a creative art form for pleasure and personal growth. "As with the Japanese samurai who were not only schooled in warfare but also music, tea ceremony, calligraphy and painting, so am I with bonsai. I love what I do and hope the trees bring inspiration for the tradition and art form to others as well."