It’s no secret yamadori man Randy Knight is a collector of spectacular trees. But the one thing that never ceases to amaze me is his never ending ambition to collect the unimaginable. This ponderosa pine has become a staple of Randy’s garden but has yet to be touched since its collection nearly five years ago. Randy and I have deliberated about the potential of this tree and the realistic possibilites ever since my first visit to his garden while I was an apprentice in Japan. Fearing I was letting my mind roam I hesitantly proposed a near impossible angle change on the tree as if it were a true bonsai in order to capture the true qualities of the tree’s fantastic trunk. Spring of 2010 came and went with little mention of the pine since the tasks of building the nursery kept me under-rested and over-worked. However, Randy and I both remained determined to test the possibilities and potential of this once in a lifetime ancient pine. Finally, one rare sunny day in April of 2011 the stars aligned. With the help of fellow bonsai professional Peter Warren, good friend Jon Robbins, and Peter’s wife Satmoi, the five of us tried our hand at a truly remarkable repot. The photos speak for themselves but can never tell the whole story! Enjoy;)
