LEGO is a brand that is almost synonymous with childhood. We all had some form of LEGO as kids, and the brand has grown so much since many of us were children. In today’s day and age, LEGO has turned many fandoms into plastic little bricks, such as Friends, James Bond, Star Wars, and Adidas shoes. I mean, we can even build SNES systems and TV that recreate a level of Super Mario. However, depending on how much time you’re willing to dedicate to a build, it might be a daunting task to put one together.
That’s where smaller sets like the LEGO Bonsai Tree come in.
A Bit About the Set:
If you’re looking for a unique piece to add to your home, then look no further than the LEGO Bonsai Tree. Ringing in at 878 (very small) pieces, this build is a part of the brand’s criminally under-utilized botanical collection. If you were looking to spruce up your decor with a bit of greenery but don’t have the gift of a green thumb, then this little gem might be perfect for you.
Complexity:
As far as complexity goes, it is honestly a fairly simple build. It does contain some of the brand’s more unique bricks in order to get a more tree-like structure. For instance, it utilizes a thread-like piece to form a winding vine around the structure and curved, tube-like pieces to make the branches. The most tedious part of the build is the leaves. There are a lot of small bricks involved with this process, and it just slows down your momentum.
What really made this build difficult for me was the instruction booklet. That might sound like a silly complaint, but it’s best not to try and read the instructions in a low(er) lit setting. Many of the pieces are brown, dark brown, or black and some of the details of the bricks blend in with those colors. There were a few moments where I found myself using the flashlight on my cell phone to decipher which brick was what.
Length:
In comparison to some of the other sets I’ve built, the LEGO Bonsai tree is a pretty quick one. It’s a relatively small set, so once you get past the small bricks, you’re basically at the end. I want to say I clocked in about four hours building this piece, that’s with interruptions to take care of my two-year-old. If I was alone, then I’d probably have cranked this build-out in about two or three hours.
As a casual LEGO enthusiast, I have put together Star Wars AT-AT’s, Star Destroyers, and a bunch of space-related sets that have taken me upwards of a week to complete. All of my builds have been done while binging something with my wife, in between taking care of children. That will absolutely not be the case here. If you’re just looking to curl up with some music, a drink of your choice, and build a set in a night or two, the Bonsai tree is what you’re looking for.
It’s worth it:
What I love most about this piece is that it’s an incredibly versatile piece. It’s beautiful, offers the option to change its leaves depending on your mood, and it’s small enough to fit where you want it to. While reviewing pieces of the set, I saw one where a builder even combined the green leaves with the pink blossoms for a third option. The botanical collection is one I wish LEGO would build more onto as the tree really does fit in anywhere you want it to. I currently have it sitting on a side table in the middle of my game controller collection.
What I really loved about this build is that, at one point, there’s a step where you just pour fifty circular bricks into the basin of the tree. It gives it that earthy tone of the soil around the tree, and it was just fun mixing them around once poured into the set. The set brings a little bit of zen to your desk or bookshelf without the apparent necessity of caring for an actual plant. Considering the price of other LEGO sets, at $50, this lovely set is a steal and is worth the cost and effort.
