Page 18 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2014Q2

Ken’s enthusiasm reached a peak as we approached
our river destination. We all went wading into the
rocky river bottom searching for stones. Most of the
stones were covered with moss and other organic ma-
terial making it hard to see the texture and color of
the stones. Ken’s many years of experience gave him a
definite advantage in finding nice ones. I learned from
Ken that it is important to go to these rivers early in
the year before the moss grows over them. It is tips
like this that make stone hunting more productive.
It was fascinating to watch Ken and Makenna in the
river. Makenna was largely cooling herself, although I
was almost convinced that she was pointing out good
stones for Ken to collect. We left this collecting site
with several nice stones—including a nice flower-pat-
tern stone I found—and a deep appreciation for the
amount of hard work required to locate quality stones
in prime spots and the amount of energy needed to
dislodge a stone, lift it and carry it back to the shore.
Each year, McLeod makes numerous multi-day col-
lecting trips in California and adjacent western states.
He typically returns home with hundreds of pounds
of stones in his truck. Many of these stones are care-
fully cleaned to remove mud and organic matter on
Makenna was placed in the very back of the truck, the surface. Ken does occasionally use a thin applica-
while I occupied the backseat. In a few minutes, the tion of oil or a combination of wax and oil on cer-
115-pound Makenna began to claim the backseat as tain stones to enhance a stone’s color. He does supply
her property. She sat close to me and began leaning stones without this surface treatment for those who
her full weight on me before resting her head on my prefer the natural “as found” surface patina. Early in
lap. She was now in full control of the backseat. his career, Ken would cut stones once to help make a

Top left; Ken collected this
attractive mountain stone
with clouds lingering below
the peak in the Eel River in
Northern California. It was sold
to Eastern U.S. collector Paul
Schmidt, Jr.

Bottom; “Majestic Mountain,” a
large beautiful mountain stone
composed of serpentine and
jade and collected in the Eel
River in northern California.
This stone is part of Ken’s
personal collection. A single
baseline cut was made to
obtain this stone.

16 | BCI | April/May/June 2014