At 4:16 on this gray and dismal (but dry) Easter Sunday afternoon, I took this picture of my not quite eight-year old Chinese elm bonsai. The tree spent the afternoon outdoors in preparation of tomorrow’s obligatory trim. A few weeks ago, more than half the leaves were yellow or brown; those have since fallen off and have been replaced by new ones that feature that delicate and very bright shade of green so typical of spring. In another month, the bonsai will have to be repotted, a task I will leave to the folks at the nearby Bonsai museum (who also look after the tree when we’re on vacation) as I cannot take any chances at all: this bonsai was a gift from colleagues, and once a year I’m expected to furnish pictorial proof of its well-being.