May 8, 2010

Post date: May 10, 2010 6:16:28 PM

The world's most unusual trees can be seen at Gilroy Gardens in Gilroy, California. These unique trees were twisted, curved, and woven into imaginative shapes by farmer Axel Erlandson in the 1940s for his "Tree Circus". Since the trees were so popular, they were featured in LIFE magazine and Ripley's Believe-It-or-Not!"

Axel used grafting and frameworks to create his tree art. He found that tree limbs thicken over time, but shapes remain the same. When children asked him how he did it, he simply said that "I talk to the trees."

Eventually the property was sold and the trees were forgotten. In 1985 the Circus Trees were rescued and moved for display at Gilroy Gardens. If you would like to try your own hand at arborsculpture, information on tree art is at: http://arborsmith.com/index.html

Basket Tree (woven from 6 sycamore saplings)

Basket Tree close-up

Emblem Tree

Optical Illusion Tree

Revolving Door Tree