This tree was my favorite of the show. It's a large Trident Maple.
Bill Valvanis just donated this tree to the Chicago Botanical Gardens collection.
Bill got his start at the Midwest Bonsai Society at the age of 12 when he would attend meetings with his father. His mother was at the show and I got the rest of the story from her.
This tree is about 3' tall or maybe a little larger. The trunk is about 6"-7" maybe a little more. The picture doesn't do it justice. You really need to stand in front of this tree to get the full affect of it. A very powerful yet peaceful tree. I didn't want to leave it! It was developed from a 12 foot tree that was chopped and all the brances removed and regrown. I forgot to ask just how long it took.....
Next year maybe I'll remember.
