Page 48 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2015Q2

Heavy

Bend Improving a

California Juniper

By Jason Chan, USA with David Nguy
Photos by Stanley Ho Photography

n March 10, 2015, I had the opportunity to
work with David Nguy during a video and
photo shoot. He chose an extremely tall
OCalifornia Juniper for the material to be
worked on. The trunk of the tree was extremely wide and
the tree was easily over 800 years old. Unfortunately, all the
foliage was present only on the outstretched
limbs and branches that reached four feet
outwards from the base of the tree. His
intention was to bring one of the branches
down by about two feet and over the base
of the tree. To do so, he would use one of his
heavy branch bend techniques. Why perform a
David Nguy is well known for his work Heavy Branch
with California Junipers and Black Pines. His Bend?
experience includes studying under Harry It is always an
Hirao, Ben Oki, Ernie Kuo, as well as Masahiko exciting sight to
Kimura in Japan. David’s skill and advanced find a tree with low
techniques are found in many of his signature branches. How-
trees. He has been referred to by the GSBF, ever, when searching
(Golden State Bonsai Federation), as “Mr. for material, low branches
California Juniper II.” Many artists have used are not always easy to come
many of his techniques. He continues to refine by. Often times many artists
his skill as well as teach at his school, Bonsai will see a tree with a desirable nebari and
Jidai, in Southern California. wonderful movement but no lower branches
to work with. Typically these trees are thought to
be unworkable or impossible to style. However, with
the proper technique, these trees hold great potential
as bonsai trees.
California Junipers in particular are very suited to
using this technique. When collecting California Juni-
pers, it is extremely difficult to find a larger older tree
with lower branches near the base of the tree. Since
most of the collected trees have branches that are high-
er up on the tree, the only way to transform it into a
bonsai tree is to bring the branch down, regardless of
the thickness of the branch. By bending a heavy brand
downwards toward the base of the tree, it is possible to
condense the height of the tree. Once the branch is in
place, the foliage can then be arranged to give the tree
fullness and shape.

46 | BCI | April/May/June 2015