Every now and then you see a perfect wild uncontrived bonsai. A bonsai that isn’t a bonsai at all. No humans necessary (well, almost… in this case, there is the photographer). Photo borrowed from El Tim Bonsai. The caption reads: El Tim Bonsai with Alejandro Sartori.
El Tim
The photos in this post are from El Tim’s facebook page. In El Tim’s own words (translated and possibly butchered by me): El Tim is an idea, a way to understand Bonsai. A group of people with one goal, dedicated to the effort and necessary constancy to reach a greater understanding and knowledge of this art. El TIM is an attitude.
Here’s the original Spanish: El Tim es una idea, una forma de entender El Bonsai, que une a un grupo de gente con un único fin, dedicar el esfuerzo y la constancia necesarias para alcanzar un mayor entendimiento y conocimiento de este arte. EL TIM es una actitud.
Emulating nature
The three photos shown here are all from a large El Tim gallery of great photos of wild trees and landscapes (I took the liberty of cropping out the name El Tim from each photo shown here) The gallery is titled Emulando a la naturaleza.
Another natural bonsai. It’s not exactly cut from the same mold as the tree above, but there are some striking similarities.
Whoa. This one takes me away!
I want one of those in my back yard. Inspiring
Almost perfect translation ;-)
El Tim (…) only one goal: to use all the effort and necessary constancy in order to reach a better understanding and knowledge of this art. El TIM is an attitude”.
Best,
Wayne,
Sorry to say this but…..These pictures are from the ancient juniper forest of Juniperus squamata, Var. formosana located in Hualien Taiwan, as published in a two (2) volume book set by a well know Taiwanese photographer. This area is known as the Taroko National Park, the third largest national park in Taiwan, established in 1986.
From the pictures, you simply cannot fathom the true size of some of these junipers. In order to be able to see these in person, you have to request for a hiking permit, which sometimes takes a while to be issued. After a three day, humid and cold hike through inhospitable territory, you will reach Jade Mountain (Yushan /??) , the location where these junipers thrive.
The ‘grasses’ you see in the foreground are actually a dwarf form of bamboo endemic to that site. I have been there a few times.
Kind regards,
Jose Luis
Hi Jose,
Thanks for info and the great back story.
But why are you sorry to say it? Is it because of Taiwan’s embarrassment of bonsai and horticultural riches?
Wayne,
Of course not!!! I just wanted to let your readers know about the origins of the pictures, clearly, with no offense to El Tim. The book is called Song of Life, by Mr. Wang Tsun Hsian.
Regards,
Jose Luis
Hi again Jose Luis,
Thanks again and thanks for the tip about the book.
-w