Month: May 2024

Transplanting a 1,500 Year Old California Juniper Bonsai

[vc_section full_width=”stretch_row” el_class=”sec_blog_inner” css=”.vc_custom_1716588823400{margin-top: -90px !important;padding-top: 100px !important;padding-right: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;}”][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Transplanting a 1,500 Year Old California Juniper Bonsai” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%23000000″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1716591068937{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”By George Haas” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:center|color:%23000000″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1716591079329{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716591110913{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]On December 31, 2023, the task of transplanting a 1,500 plus year old California juniper bonsai was undertaken by Peter Tea, a notable bonsai professional, at the Golden State Bonsai Federation’s Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt, in Oakland, California.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1718044891192{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The California juniper was collected in the 1990’s from the Sand Canyon in the high Mojave Desert located in southern California. The tree was donated by Oliver Kilroy.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716591131288{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]“Yamadori” means in Japanese “collected from the wild”. The tree’s first transplanting was soon after being dug up and placed in a large, growing box for three to five years. This period would allow the tree to recover and to grow feeder roots radiating from the trunk, just below the soil surface. When the tree is healthy, foliage is bushy and branch runners appear, can it be fitted to a unglazed, clay bonsai pot. In this case, a very large, rectangle pot.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1723728039685{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]All bonsai require re-potting from time to time. A general rule for a large bonsai tree
would be five to seven years due to the following factors:[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716591198427{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

  • Age of the tree
  • Size of the tree and pot
  • Breakdown of the soil or compacted soil
  • Root growth or root bound
  • Water flow decreases

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716591275777{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The last time this California juniper was re-potted was more than 20 years ago.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1718045015478{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Due to the age of the tree and length of time since its last transplanting, Peter was requested to undertake the task. Peter was assisted by his apprentice Eli Iristree, long time client Max Vally and garden volunteer Michal Tiede.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716591318114{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The tree and its root ball had to be gently removed from its current pot. It took everyone’s effort to lift the tree out of the pot. The tree was removed to the workshop area where work would begin on the root ball. Root pruning is necessary to clean up dead roots and shape the root ball to fit into its new pot. An unglazed, oval brown in color clay pot was chosen. The new pot is smaller in size and so careful shaping of the root ball was required.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716591332634{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Fitting the tree to its new pot requires a trained eye. Peter would look for equal distance and balance, making sure the right angle and/or levelness were obtained in settling the root ball into the pot. Next, comes the wire tie down of the root ball and tree. This step
is required of all bonsai trees so that there is no movement to disturb the growth of fine roots. Movement can damage the fine roots causing root rot.
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716591355416{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]New bonsai soil mix is then added to the re-potted tree. Peter uses a measured mixture of medium size pumice and Akadama pre-mix from Japan. The pre-mix is part Akadama, pumice and lava rock. Here they work to fill all the air pockets that surround the root ball. They moved the bonsai tree back to its bench to complete the work. Only when satisfied that no air pockets remain, Peter will water thoroughly.
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716591389191{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Water is important to a healthy bonsai tree. Watering a newly transplanted bonsai tree is critical. Water must soak into the freshly added soil mix and drench the root ball and roots. Peter takes pride in using the water hose to water down the newly completed transplanting of this old, California juniper. The tree will be monitored for weeks to ensure nothing went wrong. From all appearances, the California juniper looks great in its new pot.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1716589867461{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”172″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1716591548876{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_thum”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716591617469{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”blog_author_des”]Before, front view[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1716592720182{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”173″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1716592239625{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_thum”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”174″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1716592252484{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_thum”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”175″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1718045256278{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_thum”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”176″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1718045269899{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_thum”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1716592575655{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”177″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1718045292473{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_thum”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”178″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1718045305686{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_thum”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”179″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1718045320281{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_thum”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”180″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1718045334742{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_thum”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1716589813147{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”181″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1718045351952{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_thum”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”182″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1718045375424{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_thum”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”183″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1718045388752{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_thum”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”184″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1716592372260{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_thum”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1716592586434{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”185″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1716592385605{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_thum”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”186″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1718045598296{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_thum”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”187″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1718045611301{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_thum”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1716589813147{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”188″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1718045624781{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_thum”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”189″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1718045642504{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_thum”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”190″ img_size=”full” css=”.vc_custom_1718045657213{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_thum”][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]

The Re-styling of John Naka’s California Juniper Bonsai

[vc_section full_width=”stretch_row” el_class=”sec_blog_inner” css=”.vc_custom_1716588823400{margin-top: -90px !important;padding-top: 100px !important;padding-right: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;}”][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”The Re-styling of John Naka’s California Juniper Bonsai” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%23000000″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1716588001490{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”By George Haas” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:center|color:%23000000″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1716588022642{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716588039154{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt (BGLM) Item #146 California Juniper Juniperus californica[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716588052033{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Date of acquisition: 1999 [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716588063201{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Height: 45 inches[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716588086089{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Donated by John Naka[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716588098265{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]History: This tree was collected in 1989 from the northwest end of the California Mojave Desert referred to as the Sand Canyon.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716588113497{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Mojave Desert: The arid region located in southeastern California with portions in Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. The environment has little or no rain, too dry or barren to support much vegetation and hot climate. The climate experiences extreme variations in daily temperatures, frequent winter frosts and averages annual precipitation of two to six inches (50 to 150 mm). The Mojave has mountain-and-basin topography, and sparse vegetation which includes California juniper (Juniperus californica), creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia), burroweed (Isocoma tenuisecta), and occasional cacti (mostly species of Cholla). Named after the Mojave people. The Mojave Desert occupies more than 25,000 square miles (65,000 square km).
[Source: Britannica]
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716588127560{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]John Naka is referred to as the father of North American bonsai for his efforts to promote the living art of bonsai throughout the U.S. He was present and spoke at the grand opening of the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt in Oakland, California, on November 6, 1999. Naka collected some extraordinary California junipers from the Mojave Desert for bonsai.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716588143424{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]From time to time, all legacy bonsai trees such as this John Naka California juniper must undergo re-styling as they continue to grow and increase in foliage mass. BGLM volunteers Samuel Tan and Addison Galambos undertake the task of re-styling this iconic bonsai. It will take several days to clean, prune, wire, and shape the large California juniper.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1716589867461{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”151″ img_size=”full” el_class=”blog_thum” css=”.vc_custom_1716588935636{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716588943681{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”blog_author_des”]Samuel Tan and Addison Galambos undertake the task of re-styling the California juniper (January 2024)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”146″ img_size=”full” el_class=”blog_thum blg_cstm_adj” css=”.vc_custom_1716589463668{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716588590137{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”blog_author_des”]John Naka California juniper before re-styling (2023)[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716588962241{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The tree’s life vein is cleaned to distinguish it from the deadwood. Bending old, large tree branches downward create an aging impression. The bending requires special bonsai artistry and techniques with the carving out the branch, wrapping raffia and copper wire around the branch and then applying downward moving pressure to position the branch just right. It will take time for the branch to set and become semi- permanent. Guy wires are also used to bring down smaller branches. Thick four gauge copper wire is used on interior branches. The pot is placed on wooden blocks to change the overall angle of the bonsai design during repotting. Lastly, smaller gauge copper wires are used to complete the detailed wiring of branch pads.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1716589858195{padding-top: 50px !important;padding-bottom: 50px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”160″ img_size=”full” el_class=”blog_thum” css=”.vc_custom_1716589905316{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716589912033{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”blog_author_des”]Cleaning by removing old wire and thinning foliage[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”161″ img_size=”full” el_class=”blog_thum” css=”.vc_custom_1716589934196{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716589939617{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”blog_author_des”]Cleaning and thinning foliage[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”162″ img_size=”full” el_class=”blog_thum” css=”.vc_custom_1716589958458{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716589964673{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”blog_author_des”]Use of guy wire holding branch downward[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”163″ img_size=”full” el_class=”blog_thum” css=”.vc_custom_1716589982481{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716589988593{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”blog_author_des”]Use of raffia for bending thick branches[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1716589813147{padding-top: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”164″ img_size=”full” el_class=”blog_thum” css=”.vc_custom_1716590168241{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716590174119{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”blog_author_des”]Use of heavy gauge copper wire for bending branches[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”165″ img_size=”full” el_class=”blog_thum” css=”.vc_custom_1716590194503{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716590200727{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”blog_author_des”]Stripping bark off of branch to create aging deadwood, referred to as Jin in Japanese[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”166″ img_size=”full” el_class=”blog_thum” css=”.vc_custom_1716590219563{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716590243424{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”blog_author_des”]Cleaning life vein in contrast to deadwood[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_single_image image=”167″ img_size=”full” el_class=”blog_thum” css=”.vc_custom_1716590270323{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716590276896{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”blog_author_des”]John Naka California juniper after re-styling (January 2024)[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]

The Art of the Docent

[vc_section full_width=”stretch_row” el_class=”sec_blog_inner” css=”.vc_custom_1716589050162{margin-top: -90px !important;padding-top: 100px !important;padding-right: 40px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;padding-left: 40px !important;}”][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”The Art of the Docent” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center|color:%23000000″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1716585677554{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading text=”By Gene Heller” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:center|color:%23000000″ use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1716585690538{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716585754544{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]My start as a volunteer at the Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt (BGLM) was not very auspicious. I had been a regular visitor at the garden for a year or so, just because I liked the place, not because I knew anything about bonsai. When I first thought about doing some volunteer work, what I had in mind was weeding, sweeping, just being a reliable pair of hands for the curators. But when, one day, I found someone at the garden who seemed to be working there and told him I was thinking about helping out, he said he thought I ought to be a docent.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716585767336{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]”Me? A docent? I can’t be a docent. I know as much about bonsai as you know about… about being a doctor!”[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716585795120{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]I wasn’t prepared for his answer: “Well, I’m a doctor.”[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716585823073{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Me: “Oh. I didn’t know that. Anyway, there’s other stuff I can do around here. But a docent has to answer questions from visitors. I don’t know enough about bonsai to answer questions.”[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716585835065{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The Doctor: “What’s the oldest tree here?”[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716585846081{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Me: “That’s not fair. Everyone knows it’s that California juniper over there.”[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716585857057{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The Doctor: “That’s the most common question visitors ask docents. And you just answered it. So, you should be a docent.”[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716585868433{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]I looked at him. He asked me, “What’s your favorite tree here?”[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716585882739{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Me: “Huh? I guess it’s one of the redwoods. But sometimes it’s that big Atlas cedar. It depends on…”[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716585899954{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]He interrupted me. “That’s the other most common kind of question.” [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716585911146{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Then he waited a few seconds, until I realized the game was up.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716585923482{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]From the beginning, I got lots of guidance and support. Other docents showed me how to handle the routine tasks: opening the gate and disarming the alarm; checking to make sure the sprinkler watering system has been sprinkling; ringing up sales of items from the gift shop; and recording the number of visitors, their donations, and their purchases.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716585936362{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Answering questions from visitors turned out to be, after just a few weeks, not too difficult. There are about half a dozen questions that are asked repeatedly. I’ve already mentioned the top two: oldest tree, favorite tree. Next most common is, “Which is the Lincoln tree?” Most Golden Statements readers will know the answer to that one: it’s our Daimyo oak, given by the Japanese government to Anson Burlingame in 1863. The other popular questions are more mundane: What’s the origin of the garden? Where does our funding come from? What’s our relationship with the City of Oakland? And of course, where are the nearest restrooms?[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716585949775{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Then there are the less common questions that are, for me, more interesting. As you know, “Can I grow a bonsai at home?” doesn’t have a single fixed answer. But it’s the sort of question that can initiate an interesting conversation with a visitor, if we discuss what the visitor’s goals are, what growing conditions they’ve got at home, and how much time they want to spend.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716585965047{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]And every docent learns that there are the unique, one-off questions you just can’t anticipate, such as “Should I get this t-shirt in large or extra-large?”[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716585984055{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]It turns out that being a docent doesn’t mean I can’t also be that “reliable pair of hands” I wanted to be. In addition to answering questions from visitors, there are occasional tasks I can do as time and the size of the crowd allow. On a slow day I can do as much weeding and sweeping as I want. If a tree needs to be moved, or a sprinkler head needs to be tweaked, the curators have learned that my hands are pretty reliable.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716586001119{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]The activity that for me stands out as the part of the job that’s most rewarding is interacting with visitors. This really takes off when we move beyond a visitor’s questions and my answers, to a genuine, if brief, conversation. I’d never directly ask a visitor, “What does the garden mean to you?” But often, I don’t have to. This little chat happened recently:[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716586015333{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Visitor: “You know, I’ve been coming here for ten years. It’s my secret getaway.” [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716586038157{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Me: “I know, it’s so tranquil.”[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716586052398{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Visitor: “Yeah, it’s really my antidepressant.”[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716586068101{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Me (not out loud, just to myself): “Yeah, way more effective than Prozac. And way cheaper.”[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716586119881{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Some of the other things I’ve learned as a docent:[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716586172840{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

  • If you give a little child a stick-on star, you’ve made friends with their parents.
  • The world doesn’t come to an end if someone strays off the paved path to look at a tree up close.
  • If a dog on a leash starts barking, it’s startling, and might require a docent intervention, but if the dog is barking at squirrels, it saves me the trouble of barking at the squirrels.
  • When I started, I worried about my ignorance of bonsai techniques, history, and aesthetics. But, happily, I can add those items to the list of things I’m learning.

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716586278209{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Some of the best things I’ve learned at the garden were only indirectly associated with being a docent. Top among them is the 20 minutes I spent watching our Curator, Kathy Shaner, pruning a redwood. This particular redwood is the first tree donated to the BGLM and was my first “favorite” tree. When I met it, it looked very much like a tiny Christmas tree. I stood close while Kathy was pruning and listened to her describe what the tree will look like in two years, in five years. I shouldn’t admit this, but at first, I thought she was ruining the tree. But I had enough sense to keep this opinion to myself, and to think about Kathy’s vision for the tree. What I began to see, after Kathy had been pruning for maybe 10 minutes, was that the miniature Christmas tree I liked so much didn’t reflect a full size redwood out in the woods. And when Kathy had finished, I discovered a new kind of beauty in that tree that Kathy had revealed, and that would last for a long, long time.
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716586194394{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Of course, there are some questions I’ll never be able to answer, such as, Do babies in a stroller count as one visitor, one-half visitor, or not at all? Do bonsai trees in the garden really talk to each other between the hours of 2 a.m. and 4 a.m., as one visitor insisted, they do?[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716586328313{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]One final note: When I started, I had some concerns about how I, as a docent, would deal with an unpleasant visitor. So far, I’ve only had one like that, a teenage boy who was slightly drunk and wanted to know if our 1,600 year old California juniper was older than he was. I told the boy that I’d get back to him when he was in a pot. His friends laughed and took him away, and I went back to sweeping.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1716589301542{padding-top: 50px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”138″ img_size=”full” el_class=”blog_thum” css=”.vc_custom_1716586434530{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1716586463497{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;}” el_class=”blog_author_des”]Article first published in the GSBF Golden Statements Magazine, Summer 2020 issue. Re-printed with the permission of the author, Gene Heller.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]