The Evolution of a Bonsai: From 'The Juniper' to 'The Sidewinder

Tree Name

Sidewinder

Tree Species

Japanese Juniper (Juniperus chinensis shimpaku)

Owner

Charlene Fischer

Source

Buichi Nakata

Year Training Started

Since 1970’s

Personal Story

This Shimpaku was originally styled by Buichi Nakata (my father-in-law). He probably started this tree in the 1970s or 80s. I first photographed this tree in 2000 and I simply called it “The Juniper."

In 2009, Jerry Carpenter took it to a workshop with Kathy Shaner. After that styling, Callie Jerman said it looked like a seahorse, so it had a new name, “The Seahorse.” Five years later in 2014, I felt the tree needed something more, but didn’t know what to remove or how to develop it further. I asked Jerry “where can I take this next?” Much to my surprise, he said “flip it on its side!” So that day I restyled it with his help into the style you see today and it’s new name became “The Sidewinder.”