John Naka repotting Goshin in 1995

[sikadelic]

I just thought this video was pretty cool and wanted to share it with you guys if you haven't seen it already.
[video=youtube_share;SrO3lAVuO7g]http://youtu.be/SrO3lAVuO7g[/video]

 

[berobinson82]

I Wonder

This has been repotted at least once since the 90s. I would LOVE to hear an eye witness attest to junipers eating nails.

 

[sikadelic]

This has been repotted at least once since the 90s. I would LOVE to hear an eye witness attest to junipers eating nails.

I found that very interesting too.

 

[ardiel]

Thanks for posting this. I'd heard of John Naka but didn't know a lot (hey, I'm new ok?) but now that I get to see him I can tell right away why everybody loves him. This is pretty awesome.

I also read about Goshin too. It's great how he laughs and makes some jokes while working on this tree with the others. And climbs up on the tree stand haha. Such energy!

 

[Adair M]

Yeah, the nails was one of Naka's little quirks. He used to like to do that.

It was interesting that he wanted to change from using the galvanized screen wire to plastic for the drain holes.

 

[Bob O]

Jarrod,

Thanks for posting this. It brought back memories. I started with bonsai in 92, my first bonsai book was Bonsai Techniques I by John Naka.

My first visit to the National Arbouretum was in 95 and I walked up to this group just as the were setting Goshin back on its display table. Needless to say I was in awe at the chance to meet John. He was such a wonderful man that he greeted me like a long lost friend.

Bob O

 

[sikadelic]

Jarrod,

Thanks for posting this. It brought back memories. I started with bonsai in 92, my first bonsai book was Bonsai Techniques I by John Naka.

My first visit to the National Arbouretum was in 95 and I walked up to this group just as the were setting Goshin back on its display table. Needless to say I was in awe at the chance to meet John. He was such a wonderful man that he greeted me like a long lost friend.

Bob O

I can only imagine how cool it would have been to meet him and be a part of this atmosphere. He seems like he was so full of life and a joy to be around. Thanks for sharing your story.

 

[Bob O]

I believe the last time I saw John was again at the National Arboretum in 2001.
Again he greeted me like a long lost friend and this time grabbed my hand and led me to look at some bonsai that he wanted to show me. Everywhere that he went that day he had an entourage in tow. He loved to share what he saw in the bonsai and how it could be improved.

John passed away three years later but his spirit lives on in the many people that knew him and even those like me that only had brief encounters with him.

Bob O

 

[Mac In Oak Ridge]

I was in Washington in the summer of 1986. Talked my wife into visiting the Arboretum. We were looking around and a guy came out of one of the "Empolyees Only" doors with a crew trailing behind. It was John and I was thrilled. Walked over and introduced myself. John said it was the first time back to visit Goshen since he had donated it. Said he was going to do some work on it and asked me if I'd like to assist!

Of course I said no, I had no interest in that.

We moved the trees off the display bench and John commenced to trim it. Darned if he didn't turn around and ask me what he needed to cut off! I pointed out a branch that seemed out of place and he handed me the cutters and said to take it off.

I think this was the highlight of my bonsai interest.

 

[fore]

Thanks for the post! So strange to hear putting nails in the bottom of the pot for Fe! Wonder if that really works??