axel erlandson: living tree sculptures

axel erlandson: the tree circus. living tree sculptures ..........................................................................................................................................................

......................... shop .................. competitions .............. education ................ interviews ................... snapshots ................... history .......... contemporary

'the tree circus'

seemingly surreal, this park was a roadside attraction
in the santa cruz mountains of california where the late
axel erlandson (horticulturist 1884-1964) displayed his
living tree sculptures.
---
axel erlandson
was son of swedish immigrants,
and has been a bean-farmer in central california near
turlock. he began to shape trees, by planting in specified
patterns; then pruning, grafting and bending them.
this began as a hobby for the amusement of himself
and his family.
erlandson crafted about 28 sculptured trees at his farm
near turlock, california. by the mid-1940’s, he was ready
to retire from farming and concentrate his efforts on his trees.
in 1946, after a vacation with his wife and daughter in
santa cruz, where they visited the gravity-defying
'mystery spot', he purchased a 3&Mac218;4 acre parcel in nearby
scotts valley, california and transplanted about a dozen
of his living trees, some were over 20 years old.
the collection was split up when erlandson moved, but
he continued to create unusual shapes
and expand his collection.
in 1947, the 'tree circus' opened for business with a
25-cent admission fee.
---
'the lost world'
in 1963, due to poor health, he sold the property along
with the trees. at that time, about 74 of his arboreal
sculptures remained.
when erlandson died, the property changed hands.
the new owners brought in large plastic dinosaurs,
they largely neglected the trees and went out of business
more than once.
some of axel erlandson's trees were transplanted,
and a 'telephone booth' tree went to the american
visionary art museum in baltimore.
---
bonfante gardens theme park
mark primack, a santa cruz architect became a knowledgeable
authority on the tree circus. through his efforts many of the trees
were saved. his campaign to save the trees caught the attention
of michael bonfante, a nurseryman, tree lover and owner of
nob hill foods. In 1984, he purchased the collection of 25
circus trees. by the mid-1970’s, bonfante had created a theme
park, opened in 2001 to the public, with the living sculpted trees
as one of the attractions. the idea is to inspire people to love
horticulture.
http://www.bonfantegardens.com/trees/trees.html

---
articles on the 'tree park'
http://www.santacruzpl.org/history/clippingfile/cliplist.php?subjhead1=502

---

back to richard reames trees sculptures

---