Axel Erlandson Santa Cruz, California
(1884 –1964) was a Swedish American farmer who shaped trees as a hobby, and opened a horticultural attraction in 1947 advertised as "See the World's Strangest Trees Here" , and named "The Tree Circus."
Arborsculpture is the art and technique of growing and shaping trunks of trees and other woody plants. By grafting, bending and pruning the woody trunks and or branches are grown into shapes either ornamental or useful. Similar to espalier and possibly including some topiary for some projects. The word is a conjunction of the words arbor (Latin for tree) and sculpture..
To create the "Basket Tree", Erlandson planted six sycamore trees in a circle, topped them all at one foot, then approach-grafted them together one to another to form the diamond patterns. For the first 2.5 meters (8') he left an opening at the top. This specimen today is featured as the centerpiece of Gilroy Gardens.
Santa Cruz, California
One day, inspired by observing some trees growing together by means of a natural graft called “inosculation” in the hedgerow around his field, Axel started planting trees in patterns that he hoped would encourage them to graft together into special living designs. As Axel found success it became his hobby to see just how far he could take this idea of tree manipulation. Erlandson’s lack of formal education may have been a blessing. He was free to experiment without preconceptions allowing the trees themselves to act as his teachers.
(1884 –1964) was a Swedish American farmer who shaped trees as a hobby, and opened a horticultural attraction in 1947 advertised as "See the World's Strangest Trees Here" , and named "The Tree Circus."
Arborsculpture is the art and technique of growing and shaping trunks of trees and other woody plants. By grafting, bending and pruning the woody trunks and or branches are grown into shapes either ornamental or useful. Similar to espalier and possibly including some topiary for some projects. The word is a conjunction of the words arbor (Latin for tree) and sculpture..
To create the "Basket Tree", Erlandson planted six sycamore trees in a circle, topped them all at one foot, then approach-grafted them together one to another to form the diamond patterns. For the first 2.5 meters (8') he left an opening at the top. This specimen today is featured as the centerpiece of Gilroy Gardens.
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| The "Basket Tree" |
Santa Cruz, California
One day, inspired by observing some trees growing together by means of a natural graft called “inosculation” in the hedgerow around his field, Axel started planting trees in patterns that he hoped would encourage them to graft together into special living designs. As Axel found success it became his hobby to see just how far he could take this idea of tree manipulation. Erlandson’s lack of formal education may have been a blessing. He was free to experiment without preconceptions allowing the trees themselves to act as his teachers.
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| Axel Erlandson |
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| Two Leg Tree |
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| Needle and Thread Tree |
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