{"id":41301,"date":"2024-02-21T11:57:39","date_gmt":"2024-02-21T19:57:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bonsailakemerritt.com\/?p=41301"},"modified":"2024-03-02T11:28:18","modified_gmt":"2024-03-02T19:28:18","slug":"the-re-styling-of-john-nakas-california-juniper-bonsai","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bonsailakemerritt.com\/2024\/02\/the-re-styling-of-john-nakas-california-juniper-bonsai\/","title":{"rendered":"The Re-styling of John Naka\u2019s California Juniper Bonsai"},"content":{"rendered":"
By George Haas<\/em><\/p>\n Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt (BGLM) Item #146 California Juniper Juniperus californica History: This tree was collected in 1989 from the northwest end of the California Mojave Desert referred to as the Sand Canyon.<\/p>\n 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<\/em>), creosote bush (Larrea tridentata<\/em>), Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia<\/em>), burroweed (Isocoma tenuisecta<\/em>), and occasional cacti (mostly species of Cholla<\/em>). Named after the Mojave people. The Mojave Desert occupies more than 25,000 square miles (65,000 square km). 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n
\n<\/em>Date of acquisition: 1999<\/strong>
\nHeight: 45 inches<\/strong>
\nStyle: Informal upright style<\/strong>
\nDonated by John Naka<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n[Source: Britannica<\/em>]<\/p>\n