Project trees

One thing I noticed while visiting bonsai gardens in Japan – their “project trees” are pretty good. I found these junipers in Shinji Suzuki’s garden.

Shimpaku

This shimpaku is young and has only one branch – but what fun design potential! Fortunately these smaller junipers are easy to grow from cutting. And although they don’t all come out like this, limited trial and error can produce some pretty good starts.

The first name that comes to mind when I think of young shimpaku is Jim Gremel. Jim has been growing shimpaku for a long time and produces some of the best that I know about.

Tosho – needle juniper

This tosho is another story altogether. After a recent haircut the tree now has two main branches, but I’ll repeat – what great potential! In just a few years this will become a great tree. I don’t know if I’d be brave enough to cut so boldly, but I’d truly love the opportunity to work on material like this. Despite, perhaps, the legendary cuts that accompany tosho work.

Are there any outstanding tosho in the US? It would be fun to see them if there are.