Englemann oaks are native to southern California and northern
Baja. Much of their original core habitat has been lost to
urbanization. Their conservation status is considered vulnerable.
I bought this tree from California Botanic Garden in Claremont,
California on December 28, 2019. The gardens are beautiful and I
recommend a visit to anyone interested in seeing examples of a variety of California oak species at a single location.
The tree today.
The tree the day the oak was purchased.
I studied the tree without working on it for the first month I had it.
Prepared for its first pruning.
I removed over half its foliage.
Preparing to repot.
Abundant roots.
Root-pruned.
Repotted.
The tree as a pre-bonsai.
New growth.
Creating curves in lower shoots with wire.
Engelmann oaks are deciduous, replacing last year’s leaves with new leaves early in the growing season.
Rapid new growth.
New growth continues into July.
No new growth in fall.
Beginning a new season.
In July I noticed several of my oaks’ new leaves appeared to be being eaten. Careful inspection of all my oaks showed the culprit. Can you see it attached to a branch near the center of this image?
California oakworms (Phryganidia californica)! I picked them off one by one by hand.
Fall pruning and branch selection.
Repotting on the last day of the year.
Nice root spread.
New bonsai pot.
Wired into the pot.
The tree at year’s end.
The tree with a new season of leaves.
beginBonsai 