![THE ROUGH DIAMOND](https://cdn.magzter.com/1460753617/1661523933/articles/9SIsakEcb1665385905293/THE-ROUGH-DIAMOND.jpg)
For the past few weeks, this Itoigawa Shimpaku juniper had been sitting on the benches at Eisei-en, awaiting its turn for styling. In a sea of other junipers at the nursery, it did not appear to stand out, with its unwieldy branches, bushy structure and unkempt appearance. However, as is often the case at bonsai nurseries, it was a diamond in the rough, as just beneath the green-domed canopy was a wonderfully detailed story of the tree's past, told in the moving lines of the shari and live veins.
This unique bonsai originated in Japan, likely as a collected yamadori from the northern region of the country. The relatively chunky, unstriated characteristics of the deadwood, as well as the unusually fine Itoigawa foliage, suggest that it was likely to be a Tohoku Shimpaku grafted with a cultivated version of Itoigawa not typically found in nature. In Japan this is very common practice, especially seen in modern bonsai art, because collecting natural Itoigawa Shimpaku in Niigata Prefecture has been outlawed for several decades, and most of the newly collected yamadori junipers are extracted from the mountains further north in Tohoku Prefecture.
If this is in fact the case, though, then this bonsai was expertly grafted, as the graft union sites are imperceptible, and the foliar density and ramification suggest I its subsequent cultivation was properly administered by the caretaker in Japan. Following its development in Japan, this bonsai was legally imported to the United States only a few years ago - a process which involves completely bare-rooting the tree in Japan, followed by a 3-year quarantine stint in the US. During this period of quarantine, and after its release, it was heavily fertilized and allowed to grow unimpeded to generate vigour and strength.
Two apexes?
Denne historien er fra September / October 2022-utgaven av Bonsai Focus EN.
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Denne historien er fra September / October 2022-utgaven av Bonsai Focus EN.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![BETULA](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13159/1051583/vtDGgD4wl1665387379548/BETULA.jpg)
BETULA
The challenge to grow bonsai from scratch
![Refreshing accents](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13159/1051583/YTLJIPPEc1665386936191/REFRESHING-ACCENTS.jpg)
Refreshing accents
Summer accent plants that grow near water
![Cast in Iron](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13159/1051583/GinckOdVD1665386737305/CAST-IN-IRON.jpg)
Cast in Iron
Saad Khayar's naturalistic and detailed tenpai
![BONSAI FROM FRUIT](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13159/1051583/lcoZgILnz1665386304603/BONSAI-FROM-FRUIT.jpg)
BONSAI FROM FRUIT
Propagate by sowing seeds, or taking cuttings to create new bonsai
![THE ROUGH DIAMOND](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13159/1051583/9SIsakEcb1665385905293/THE-ROUGH-DIAMOND.jpg)
THE ROUGH DIAMOND
Bjorn Bjorholm works on a juniper with hidden qualities
![Little, but wild](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13159/1051583/L_pIFG93s1665385410440/LITTLE-BUT-WILD.jpg)
Little, but wild
Bringing out the best from material with many faults
![My victory](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13159/1051583/BvC-wtTlr1665384231439/MY-VICTORY.jpg)
My victory
The bonsai passion of Alfredo Salaccione
![The Azuma pines](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13159/1051583/zbe-jVw_31665382886783/THE-AZUMA-PINES.jpg)
The Azuma pines
Daiki, the third-generation Abe, works on seed-grown pines
![No turning back](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13159/1051583/K7rMFDVwl1665382422769/NO-TURNING-BACK.jpg)
No turning back
David Quintana works on a Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris)
![Kid's play or pot?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/13159/1051583/M1qbnE4ni1665381091777/KIDS-PLAY-OR-POT.jpg)
Kid's play or pot?
A (very) young artist creates unconventional pots that are seriously cool