• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Bonsai Tonight

An educational website about bonsai development

  • Blog
    • How-to Guides
  • Podcast
  • Shop
    • Bonsai
    • Books
    • Soil
    • Soil (wholesale)
    • Supplies
    • Tools
    • Video Consulting
    • Northern California Bonsai Resources
  • About
    • Workshops

Johnny’s juniper

November 5, 2013 by Jonas Dupuich

One of the trees at Yamato’s recent exhibit was familiar to me. I’d seen it, a sierra juniper, developed since the early 2000s and displayed along the way at local shows. While I don’t have a great photo history of the tree, I do have a couple of shots from a few years back to offer an idea of how the tree has changed over time.

Sierra juniper

Sierra juniper

Sierra juniper

As displayed at Yamato’s 42nd annual exhibit

Great deadwood

Deadwood detail

Johnny Uchida juniper

As displayed at Bay Island Bonsai’s 5th exhibit in 2004

Johnny Uchida juniper

After restyling – circa 2003

✕

Subscribe to Bonsai Tonight

New Posts Delivered Every Tuesday and Friday

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

Filed Under: Exhibits Tagged With: juniper

Previous Post: « More from Yamato Bonsai Kai 42nd Annual Exhibit
Next Post: An old procumbens juniper »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. redtearsblackwings says

    November 5, 2013 at 4:47 am

    I like the way that the green is perched right on the end of the dead wood, much like a tree on the side of a woody cliff.

  2. Zack Clayton says

    November 5, 2013 at 5:39 am

    I know this is personal taste showing up, but I think the 2003 and 2004 displays are better bonsai than the the 42nd Yamato display. The older versions look like trees with room for life in the branches. The Yamato version makes me think of a green dumpling on the end of a piece of driftwood – nice topiary. Like I said – personal preference.

  3. Merilee says

    November 5, 2013 at 6:00 am

    I have to agree with Zack. I like the older versions better! But that’s me.

  4. Trinity Rivers says

    November 5, 2013 at 6:52 am

    Wow that’s incredible. Thanks for sharing.

  5. Brian McGrath says

    November 5, 2013 at 7:31 am

    I agree that it’s 2003
    Qualicum Brian

  6. M. Daniele says

    November 5, 2013 at 12:43 pm

    They ruined the tree. Looks like a deadwood topiary now

  7. Chis says

    November 5, 2013 at 3:29 pm

    Retro (’03 & ’04) is much better. Now it looks like a lime flavored lollipop.

  8. M Murtaugh says

    November 5, 2013 at 7:05 pm

    Jonas,
    Thanks for the opportunity to see the same tree some 10 years apart. Some things change and some things don’t. A tree can stay about the same for a long time, which can be good! A couple thoughts here.
    1) The tree is in great health. It seems even more green than it was in ’04. If you can keep a tree alive and healthy for that long you are doing something right.
    2) The earlier styling had 2 foliage areas, a top and a lower left branch. This seems to have been lost in those years.
    3) It is a Sierra juniper, which has a lighter, more open type of growth pattern than Japanese juniper species. I feel, the openness and airiness should still be kept in the feeling of the potted tree.
    4) With the growth and vigor that is on this tree it could easily be taken to a older club member or local professional (and I know there are those around Yamato club-land) for a wiring and re-style. The foliage could be adjusted into several pieces and opened up to show more branch movement. Within a year it would be a show piece again.
    5) Did anyone else notice the tree had been replanted from a corner, to the side, in the same pot? Which is better?
    6) And last, what is the mention of Johnny’s juniper? Is there more history we might know about?
    Thanks as always. MM

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      November 6, 2013 at 12:03 am

      Thanks for the note, Michael, well said. I might have known more about the tree’s history at one point, but if so, I’ve forgotten it – I’d be happy to hear it if there is more to the story! The main reason I focused on the tree is because the deadwood is great – that and I find it interesting to see trees change over time.

  9. Don Quixote says

    November 5, 2013 at 7:55 pm

    Have we not learned anything from Ryan Neil? We are drawn to things that are alive. The foliage is what draws our attention. We use the foliage to guide the eye because it’s the color of the foliage, not the dead wood that draws our attention. By bringing the foliage closer to an area that is not as valuable, this will increase and not lessen the distraction of that area. That’s why we like the original pics because the foliage is closer to the trunk and not separated like the lolli at the end of a stick.

Footer

Follow Bonsai Tonight

Subscribe

Instagram ● Facebook ● Twitter
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • About

P.O. Box 6560, Alameda, CA 94501 · 510-915-2025 · jonas (at) bonsaitonight (dot) com

© Copyright 2009-2023 Bonsai Tonight · All rights reserved · Privacy · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You can opt-out if you wish. Accept Decline Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT