During my last visit at the Washington D.C.
National Arboretum (best kept secret in town), i took a bunch of pictures of some of their Bonsai trees. I thought some people might like to use them for reference. I was going to take more pics but the park was about to close so I just got some quick snaps before I was kicked out.
Clicking on an image will open an ultra high res version. Free to use by anyone for anything at anytime.
To whom it may concern,
P.S.
Next time I'll have to remember to get even closer on some of these twisted trunks.
Replies
Your Bonsai trees give me Bonsai tree envy so I must show off mine.
These ones are from the greenhouses in the Botanical Gardens in Montreal. Sorry, I don't suppose they're crazy hi-rez and therefore probably not useful... but they wanted to be shared, too!
00Zero, bonsai trees are basically stunted versions of regular trees, you're just restricting their root growth, keeping them at a smaller size, as well as "training" them. Some have been "trained" for hundreds of years!
Bonsai are interesting little creatures, and I was very surprised to learn that their shape and design are not natural, but are in fact heavily manipulated (trained) during their life to make them look the way they do. The existential considerations between something that is in a way natural, but yet completely artificial and man-made are fascinating.
The National Arboretum here has some REALLY old trees. I saw one from around 1650, and then a bunch from the 18th and 19th centuries. It's crazy to think about all the history these plants have been through.
A couple more.