Ponderosa pines at Elandan Gardens

Dan Robinson has been growing pine bonsai for a long time. Some of trees on display at Elandan Gardens started from seeds Dan collected in Korea when he was in the service. Most, however, were collected from the mountains, including the awesome specimens below. All text accompanying the images comes from signs displayed with the trees. I’ve identified trees without signs simply as “pine”  – feel free to let me know the details if you’re familiar with these trees and I’ll update the post accordingly.

Ponderosa Pine – Pinus ponderosa
Year of origin: 1700

When I spotted this tree struggling for life in the crack of a granite boulder in Wyoming, I instantly had a plan to create a cascade style bonsai with its swollen base and short compact branches. To complete the design, heavy wiring would be needed to manipulate the branches. Heavy wire holds the branch in the position you determine for the tree’s artistic creation.

Ponderosa Pine – Pinus ponderosa
Year of origin: 1500

This untrained tree has an eminence about it that only a powerful stone pot could possible frame. The balance here looks a bit precarious; perhaps a larger post will be necessary.

Ponderosa Pine – Pinus ponderosa
Year of origin: 1750

I replaced the original Ponderosa Pine foliage by grafting Japanese Black Pine foliage onto it in 1970. The Black Pine foliage has a density, color and length that is very desirable.

Ponderosa pine

Eastern Pitch Pine – Pinus rigida
Year of origin: 1820

Collected in the Adirondak Mountains of New York with a young and enthusiastic Frank Heidt. Pitch pine is a favorite of East Coast collectors and it is easy to understand why. It’s amazing that within an hour of New York City gnarly stunted trees can be found.

Lodge Pole Pine – Pinus contorta
Year of origin: 1850

Collected on a collecting trip near Gold River, BC in 2003. Potted in September, 2004. The upper trunk was split and torn down in April 2005. Training has just begun.

Pine

Pine

Pine