The tree circus
Picture from Arborsmith Studios website (click picture to visit)Axel Erlandson an American arborsculptor opened an exhibition in 1947 featuring trees which he had shaped by pruning, bending and grafting. The original exhibition, called The Tree Circus had a chequered history, only bringing in a little over $300 in a good year (1955). Eventually 12 of the original trees were bought by Michael Bonfante for his amusement park, Bonfante Gardens, in Gilroy, California. We’ve been to California a number of times, but didn’t know about these trees, unfortunately.