Bonsai Truckin

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 … Continue reading Bonsai Truckin

Twisted

Twisted in the extreme. My guess is that you’ve never seen a tree as twisted as this one. I’m pretty sure I haven’t, though there are some (I think they are Whitebark pines Pinus albicaulis) at the treeline on Mt Lassen in Northern California that come pretty close. This photo is from Carlos van der Vaart on facebook. The caption says: Carlos van der Vaart with Carles Lleonart and Bonsai Eduardo Budes, Medellin, Colombia. What causes trees to twist? I’ve always thought twisting is caused by a combination of persistent strong winds and the way trees grow towards the sun. … Continue reading Twisted