Bay Island Bonsai’s annual barbecue last weekend offered ample opportunity to wander through the marvel that is Boon’s garden. There are trees everywhere representing different sizes, shapes, styles and varieties of bonsai. Boon’s garden Small and medium-sized bonsai As Boon’s garden is not open to the public, BIB events and Boon’s Intensives are among the […]
Excursions
Excursion posts feature visits to bonsai gardens in the U.S. and in Japan, visits to the Kyoto's Most Renown Gardens, and trips into the mountains to see junipers and pines in their natural setting.
Matt Reel bonsai program at Bay Island Bonsai
After an incredible 8 years studying with Shinji Suzuki in Obuse, Japan, Matt Reel has returned to the US as a bonsai professional. Matt with recently styled Western juniper I first met Matt in 2009 – 3 years into his apprenticeship – on a visit to Suzuki’s garden (see “Taikan Bonsai Museum“). Already his work […]
The twistiest of junipers
This is the first juniper I fell for on my previous visit to Meiss Meadow. Twisty Sierra juniper It’s one of the twistiest specimens I know of. The deadwood is great. Deadwood detail From some angles it’s difficult to tell if the trunk line is coming or going. So many twists How large is this […]
Spectacular Sierra junipers
Among my favorite trees in nature is this Sierra juniper. Spectacular Sierra juniper The tree sits on a throne facing East where it enjoys limited protection from the wind. It gives evidence to a protracted and tortuous existence. How big is it? Standing on the rock behind the tree for perspective Pretty big. The deadwood […]
Junipers on the edge
The Sierra juniper, Juniperus occidentalis, is found in pockets throughout the Sierra Nevada. When exposed to particularly harsh conditions like those found at tree line – the elevation above which no trees can grow – junipers can display krummholz. Krummholz is the phenomenon whereby trees are dwarfed or contorted by the elements. Among the many varieties […]