A Juniper Bonsai Tree
from the beginning

I don’t think there’s anything quite like a juniper bonsai tree. Small or large they have a way of saying “I am a bonsai” in a very convincing way.

In 2007, David De Groot was the guest artist at the Bonsai Societies of Florida convention.

A large, full Juniperus procumbens nana nursery stock plant was purchased for his demonstration.

This is how the juniper looked when it first arrived in the nursery container.

Dave cut, trimmed and pinched needles.

He created jins (dead wood) to give it an aged look.

It wasn't long before it began to look like an old bonsai.

After this photo was taken, he spent quite while wiring the tree to get the branches started toward the plan he had in mind.

Many bonsai artists sketch pictures of what they hope the future of their work will look like.

Dave studied the juniper bonsai tree from all sides.

He determined a future plan for the new owner-to-be.

He also expressed his idea of what a future container should look like. This is the sketch he drew.

Everyone was impressed with the program and looked forward to auction night.

That's when this fantastic juniper bonsai tree would be available to the highest bidder.

And the Winner Was ...

Michael Sullivan, Ft. Lauderdale, FL sat through the entire demonstration and fell in love with this tree. He had to have it.

When auction time came, the bidding was hectic. Mike had the final bid, and as he recalls, it was in the neighborhood of $500.

I asked Mike to tell us about some of the changes he’s made since he acquired this tree.

“It has been restyled twice since I purchased it. I removed the lowest branch and turned it into a jin.

That jin ties into a natural shari that connects with another shari I created - that runs down the trunkline.

The latest change is the addition of a really beautifully rustic, nanban Tokoname pot.

I think this bonsai is very understated and elegant.

To me it has that elusive wabi sabi quality. Hard to explain, but you know it when you see it. And for me, this is it."

Four Years Later

November 2011 --

This was an updated photo from Mike Sullivan on the above juniper.

Each year this bonsai becomes more and more refined.

Mike has given a lot of thought to this tree's journey.

Some changes were big, others were more detail oriented.

So many of us forget or just ignore taking pictures.

We are fortunate to observe this work in progress.

The next time we see this juniper bonsai, it's hard to imagine, but it will be even better.

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Where to Go From Here

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If this page intrigued you, visit the page on other Beginner Bonsai Trees

or read about a special Juniper technique.