Shown below is one of the Denver Botanic Gardens Bougainvillea Bonsai trees. This particular Bonsai started its life at the Gardens as a display plant somewhere in the Gardens and was scheduled to be recycled via the compost pit at the end of the growing season. International Bonsai Master and Curator Larry Jackel rescued this plant and brought it down the to Chatfield greenhouse to possibly be turned into a Bonsai tree. Larry has a study group that meets on Weds. The study group was asked to study the tree and then give their impressions of what to do with the tree. It was a lively conversation with plenty of input by the group, every person offered their opinion. Finally it was my turn, I simply said “This tree has perfect taper, who sees it?”. The group response was great, lots of voices all talking at the same time. Finally Will Kerns yells out “He is right it does have perfect taper”. I then went over and changed the planting angle of the tree and pointed out the one large substancial branch going off to the left. The tree would be a semi-cascade. The tree had many other branches all going different directions. The tree was staring at them the whole time, but the group missed it including Larry. I then gave them my impressions of what to do with the rest of tree. Larry gave out a really big thanks to me. Larry styled the tree pretty much as I had indicated. Larry then asked the Denver Potters Guild to make a special pot for the tree. The pot style and choice of colors were perfect for this new Bonsai. This Bougainvillea scheduled to be recycled was now a beautiful Bonsai tree. Larry displays the tree next to the water feature in the Bonsai pavillion. Sometimes the best trees are the ones no body wants, you just to have look at them and find the tree.

Photo 05-08-2019

Bougainvillea on display right by the waterfall. Its a beautiful setting for the tree, Larry did a great job. 

2017 Denver Botanic Dr. Mark Mills “One Man Bonsai Show”