Bonsai stories

What to do when a big branch in the front of the tree blocks your view of the trunk? Layer it and make a new tree. Last weekend’s Bay Area Bonsai Associates (BABA) show featured both halves of a boxwood created by Ned Lycett. Here’s a shot of the main tree.

Boxwood bonsai

And here’s the branch that’s now a semi-cascade boxwood bonsai.

Boxwood and suiseki

I’ll bet a number of the trees in the exhibit have equally compelling stories. The trick is talking to club members to learn about them. I’ve yet to visit an exhibit that published the juicy tidbits, but I’d love to do so. We’ve thought providing stories of intrigue in the Bay Island Bonsai exhibit program, but have yet to follow through. It would require a lot of up front effort, but could help visitors learn more about why the trees mean so much to us. The best effort I’ve seen in this area is the guide to the GSBF’s Lake Merritt Bonsai Garden. It’s a great starting point that can encourage us to share our trees’ stories. More on that later.

Jay McDonald keeps the show trees from drying out at BABA’s 28 annual show.