Mary Madison

rockm

Spuds Moyogi
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Don't know if this has been noted here yet, but bonsai lost yet another living legend last week. Mary Madison, a pioneer of American bonsai and "buttonwood queen," passed away in late July. She was one of those larger than life figures in bonsai, like John Naka. She knew native Florida species extremely well and was known for her use of the native buttonwood for bonsai. The species with its old gnarled trunks and salt/sun bleached deadwood became the east coast equivalent of collected Cali junipers. Her name is associated with so many trees, including Ryan Neal's bald cypress. She will be sorely missed. BTW, she collected the "CIA Tree" a buttonwood that now resides at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum. It was originally gifted to the head of the Central Intelligence Agency by the United Arab Emirates a few years ago.

CIA tree
 
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berzerkules

Shohin
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What a tough lady. Collecting trees is no easy task, collecting from a swamp sounds hellish.
 

meushi

Mame
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Damn, I was listening to her interview on the Asymmetry podcast the other day... she sounded like an amazing person.
 
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