Randy K Bennett
This book is not just about bonsai; it is not just about bald cypresses; it is about a journey, one that began in the late 1960’s and continues to this day. A journey of observation, patience, and a willingness to look beyond tradition to better understand how trees truly grow in nature. Notable bonsai artists have contributed photos of their bald cypress bonsai to be included in this book, including Ryan Neil, David DeGroot, Rodney Clemons, Rob Kempinski, Sergio Cuan, Nacho Marin, Ed Trout, Evan Pardue, Guy Guidry, John Geanangel, Dawn Koetting, Jesus Ibarra, Gerry Boy, and many others. Written in honor of my mentor and friend, Vaughn Banting, this work documents the origins and evolution of what’s now widely recognized as the American Bonsai Aesthetic. Vaughn’s groundbreaking flat-top bald cypress designs challenged convention and reshaped how this species is understood and styled, both in the United States and internationally. For decades, bonsai in America followed Japanese design, applying those rules to our native species. But artists like Vaughn began to see that not all our native species grew the way trees grow in Japan. Bald cypresses are a prime example. They are completely different from other species. They grow in swamps, bayous, and floodplains, developing massive buttressing, fluted trunks, knees, and flat-topped crowns shaped by water, light, and time. This book explores those natural growth patterns and how they can be respectfully translated into bonsai. This is currently the only book on the market dedicated exclusively to creating bonsai using bald, pond, and Montezuma cypresses. This comprehensive work will be a tremendous benefit to beginners and advanced bonsai artists alike. Inside, you’ll find detailed guidance on understanding the biology and natural habitats of bald, pond, and Montezuma cypresses; developing buttressing, fluting, taper, and natural crowns; propagation, collection, pruning, and long term development techniques; designing cypresses to reflect maturity, age, and environmental influence; plus real-world experiences, stories, and lessons learned over more than five decades of practice. This comprehensive work thoroughly explains the six major growth patterns of immature and mature bald cypresses. Each growth pattern is discussed in detail with explanations on how to recreate those designs in bonsai, along with color photographs depicting the patterns of trees in nature as well as in bonsai design. In addition to the technical analysis of how to cultivate, design and grow bald, pond, and Montezuma cypresses, there are developmental photos of specific trees as well as a gallery section of photos for each type of bald cypress. I have been a bonsai artist for over 50 years and studied with such artists as John Naka, Ben Oki, Warren Hill, Vaughn Banting, David DeGroot, Mauro Stemberger, Jennifer Price and many others. I owned and operated Bennett’s Bonsai Nursery for over 20 years. My bonsai have won numerous awards in regional and national exhibitions. Most recently, the cypress pictured on the cover of this book won 'Finest North American Species Bonsai' at the 9th US National Bonsai Exhibition. In short, this is a one-of-a-kind book that will help ensure your success in creating masterful bonsai using bald cypresses.
