Yamadori Colorado Blue Spruce

I collected this tree in 1999, by permit in a National Forest, with some friends from the Bonsai Society of Greater Kansas City. We were nearly finished for the day, and were driving farther into the forest to find a place to turn around. As we drove by, I had to beg Gerard to stop and let me collect this one. As it was, he did as much of the work as I did. It's still my tree. Don't ask.

The bark was old, and the tree hadn't gained much size over the years. The only difficult part was that a major root ran up the hill for quite a way. We had to cut it off.

I came back and immediately cleaned up the cut root, and planted the whole thing in the garden. I did not know how to care for it, and although as a result it grew much taller than I would have liked, the tree survived and acclimated very well to our climate. The photo below shows the tree in May 2005, before our move, and the first time I had potted it up. It's the largest pot I had. Now I wish I had built a box for it, and had some help with the potting.


A detail of the bark. It has plated up extremely well over the last few years.

At some point in its past, some hiker had cut this tree off about 18 inches from the ground. The new leader was just and adventitious bud that went straight up from there. In spring 2007, I entered this tree in the KOB (Knowledge of Bonsai) styling contest. I had to withdraw it because it began to get hot very early this spring. Here are the front, back, and side photos before any work was done.

The front view shows the original jin with a new one to the right. the large mass of foliage at lower left is a back branch of large proportion.



It is easy to see from the lanky growth that this tree has never been pinched. I had also never cut back any part of it. It's difficult to see the exact growth pattern with so much foliage, but all the branches except the back branch grow in the same plane as the bends in the trunk. In other words, it's completely two-dimensional! In addition, the back branch grew in an odd circular fashion that brought the foliage back to the trunk. I will follow this post with the work done on the tree very soon.

An Interview with Boon Manakitivipart: Part 1

I was introduced to Boon when he came to our local club for a "Master Weekend." I have never hidden my feelings about these dog-and-pony shows, but this one turned out differently. I had reached a stage in my desire to learn bonsai that consisted mostly of frustration at a lack of those who would teach in the heartland. Boon showed me some things that truly opened my eyes. In frustration, I asked, "Where can I go to get some solid teaching?"


He studied me for a moment, then said, "You could come to my Intensive." It was the first I had heard of this new project, and I found myself at one of the first Intensives offered, with students like Michael Hagedorn, Howard Smith, and Scott Elser. What an honor. I was truly humbled both by the amount I learned and the amount I needed to learn. It's been an incredible honor and challenge ever since.

Sashi-eda: Boon, many say you are incredibly talented, but you say you are lucky. What do you mean by that?

Boon: My professional studies was very lucky. I cannot imagine anyone with more luck. Before I went to Japan, Akio Kondo stayed in my home and did bonsai in my garden for a year. Mr. Kondo was then a first year professional from the famous Bonsai garden Kihachi En.

Then I spent one year with Yasuo Mitsuya, at the Tokai-En garden. There my sempai (senior colleague) was a 5^th year apprentice (in other words, very good) and he spoke very good English—another stroke of luck.

My final studies were with my Oyakata (master) Kihachiro Kamiya at Kihachi En. Kamiy was a great teacher, a great artist, and a great human being. And, as a professional, he won the Koku Fu Award eight years straight.

Having trained with Mitsuya and my master, I luckily had the opportunity in helping set up every major bonsai exhibit in Japan. Since both are very good, along with many, many other masters, again I had the kind of luck I would never have thought of.

The first six months were hard, like they were supposed to be. I got half day off per week. That was the time for laundry, not taking, letter writing, and other personal matter. At Kamiya’s garden there were seasons when the work did not stop at five—but went on into the night.

Sashi-eda: How did your teacher know or suspect that you were ready for a truly valuable bonsai? How did he evaluate your knowledge?

Boon: Getting a valuable tree to work on happens very much like my own bonsai intensives in California. You get a tree that is correct for your bonsai skills, while pushing your abilities a little bit. You simply work on better and better trees until a very valuable tree is not that big a step. I have to show that I pay attention and show that I can do the same work on lesser trees.

I guess the first test was to de-wire a very large black pine that was going to the Koku Fu Show in two years (it later took the Kokufu Prize). Akio said, “If you break one single needle…” Then he made a slashing motion across his throat with a grafting knife. It took just short of two days to do the job.

Sashi-eda: Many Americans resist the idea of studying as an apprentice to one master, or taking one teacher. What might be some advantages to the Japanese system of learning bonsai?

Boon: As an apprentice, with a good master, you are developed as an artist. He has an eye on you. He wants you to become great. It is the highest compliment you can give him. Also if you wire 10 hours a day for 3 months (wiring season), you will improve very rapidly. Systematic and efficient ways of working are also important (just like a plumber or bricklayer’s apprentice). In growing and developing bonsai, using tools, or wiring a bonsai pot, a good master will teach you speed. (Note: a master will insist on good work before speed.)

2nd Annual Campout at Pavement Ends

Summer solstice can only mean one thing: it's time to camp out under the stars at Pavement Ends! This year was special because Martha was on leave and spent Father's Day weekend with us. This weekend campout (really just Saturday afternoon and night) has quickly become very special to us. All of our very favorite people in the world were there except my parents, who couldn't make it.


Of course I get to showcase my cooking skills, which last year included ribs and brisket smoked to near perfection. This year, however, jerk chicken was the main course, marinated for 72 hours and grilled to juicy goodness by yours truly. No photos exist of the event in question because I was the only one taking photos at that point!


Here I am with Rhonda's aunt Bonnie. Her folks came and brought Bonnie (fast becoming my favorite aunt, sorry aunt Elise, gotta come around more often), whom we often enjoy cards with at the lake.

Young and old alike came for the festivities. Shannon Rose is a superlative child, happy and healthy and well-loved.


We had planned the same pastimes as last year, including badminton, horseshoes, and croquet, but it was pretty hot and humid and everyone was more inclined to sit in the shade and nurse cold drinks of the adult and non-adult varieties.

Later in the evening, it cooled off nicely and we all enjoyed the company, some cards, and just excellent conversation.


A good time was had by all.