In Northern California there’s a small amusement park that has several of these. Haven’t been, but it’s on my list. https://www.gilroygardens.org/circus-trees/
They are quite amazing to see.
'We mould trees to grow into the shape of chairs'
51–60 of 71 posts
Re: 'We mould trees to grow into the shape of chairs'
#52Earlier quoted context omitted.
Your comment made me think of those helix-shaped bamboos from IKEA. While this is of course on a whole different level, it does suggest some kind of shaping is possible for bamboo as well. And it wouldn't take decades...
"Lucky bamboo" is actually a lily.
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Re: 'We mould trees to grow into the shape of chairs'
#53Your patience and creativity is incredible. I wish someone doesn't ruin it in the name of finding a modern fast pace solution
Re: 'We mould trees to grow into the shape of chairs'
#54I first read about tree shaping in a Readers Digest magazine in the 1990s. It featured a man who would shapes trees into chairs and other sculptures. Even since then I wanted to do it. I got started on a white cherry tree that started growing in my yard. Once it got large enough, I would braid and weave the branches every spring. I didn't do anything as complicated as a chair. I would try to create loops by braiding…
I have dozens of volunteer red maple trees about shoulder to head height in my yard. I have been trying to find information about training them at this size. Do bonsai methods for Japanese maples work? Can two red maples be joined together to make an arch? I need to learn more about plants
Re: 'We mould trees to grow into the shape of chairs'
#55Imagine an alien species comes here and sees all this totally fucked up human centric thinking. They put fish in small fish bowls, for their own enjoyment. They deform trees for their own enjoyment... and the list goes on. Bleh.
I assure you, any species capable of interstellar travel will have a capacity and willingness to bend their environment to their will that absolutely dwarfs our own.
Capacity and willingness are orthogonal.
Re: 'We mould trees to grow into the shape of chairs'
#56I love the idea, reminds me a lot of gardening and growing fruits in special containers.
Re: 'We mould trees to grow into the shape of chairs'
#57There will rise a PETA like organization that will protest this. Probably call themselves the Lorax and protest that we're practicing colonialism on plants now.
All satire aside... this is pretty cool. And so are groups that look out for the little guy.
Re: 'We mould trees to grow into the shape of chairs'
#58I'm sure he copied it from somewhere but this reminds me of Paolini's elves in Eragon singing (magicking) trees to their desired shape.
Re: 'We mould trees to grow into the shape of chairs'
#59Weaving saplings and coppice sprouts and growing them in place is incredibly ancient, maybe neolithic. Julius Caesar was freaked out by the living woven defenses of the Nervi in Gaul. In general the deeper you go into the past the more people were aware of the possibilities of sprouting wood, coppicing, etc.
British hedgerows are (sometimes? often?) woven: https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-english-hedgerow-21854933.... Wiki talks about Caesar in reference to hedges: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedgelaying
It's not the hedge that is actually woven, it's the binders at the top. Made of hazel, their purpose is to hold the stakes solid whilst the living hedge recovers after being pleach cut and laid over.
It's a very enjoyable craft. Last year I planted up about 600 metres of new hedge that should be ready for me to lay in about ten years.
Re: 'We mould trees to grow into the shape of chairs'
#60I don't have a picture at hand, but on frequently used rock climbing spots, the young trees at the bottom, where the partner with the rope stands, can be very chairlike, too. I once asked myself why are they so conveniently formed, while leaning against one, but then I got it.
I had to re-read your comment, even thought it was a joke I didn't get! So for others who are as tired as me: the people holding the rope kept leaning against the tree for support, but not too much, as long as it existed, so that's how the tree got shaped into a chair.