In the 1970’s John was driving a Snap-On tool truck, supplying shops in the area with tools. As John tells it, he was making his rounds in the area during construction of the 101 freeway when he saw a large juniper stump the road workers had thrown in a heap of trash.

John had the tree grafted by our mutual friend, Nathan, in 2008. Nathan grafted the trunk with some Kishu Shimpaku foliage from a Mas Ishii tree.

In 2009 John asked me to carve the deadwood and style the tree. With the carving and initial styling done, I continually visited John to take care of this tree, along with the rest of his collection in Ventura, Ca.

John eventually passed the tree on to me, and it has become a representation of California Bonsai Studio and a reminder of time spent with a dear friend.