Bonsai Truckin 1/9/13

Sheer power. This photo and one at the bottom of this post are from a chapter by Ernie Kuo in our Masters’ Series Juniper Bonsai book that’s titled ‘Two Studies.’ This now famous California juniper (Juniperus californica) also appears in a Bonsai Bark post from three years ago.

This photo is from Capital Bonsai (Aarin Packard’s excellent blog from the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum). Here’s Aarin’s caption: Gary Wood, (seen here) a bonsai teacher from Muscle Shoals, Alabama had driven from Southern California to D.C. in 3 days with two very famous bonsai recently donated by bonsai artist Ernie Kuo.

As you can see, the tree on the right is the same tree as the one at the top of this post and the tree on the left is the one below. Though both look to be in pretty good shape, a little work needs to be done to bring them back to show form. I’m guessing that if you stay posted to Capital Bonsai, you’ll be able to see how Jack, Aarin and rest of the good people at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum proceed with these amazing trees.

Ernie Kuo, the man who developed and donated these trees is well-known American bonsai artist and teacher. Ernie’s bonsai, especially his collected California junipers are always powerful and distinctive. For more on Ernie here’s a short biography that appears on the Art of Bonsai Project.

A little more about Gary Wood. I just spoke with our friend Felix Laughlin (President of the National Bonsai Foundation) about Gary’s trip. According to Felix, Gary started in Alabama, drove all the way to L.A. to pick up the trees, then to DC to deliver them (in three days no less) and then back home to Alabama. Just in case you haven’t done something like that, that’s a whole lotta diving and more than a fair share of bad food and worn out mattresses (hats off to truckers everywhere). And Gary donated his time no less. Just for the love of bonsai.

The other one, (also a California juniper) as it appeared in our Masters’ Series Juniper Bonsai book.