Sierra Juniper

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Market Value | $18,500

This Sierra Juniper is a tree shaped by the wild, high-elevation environment of the Sierra Nevada, where every element—wind, snow, and topography, leaves its mark. Standing among rocky outcroppings, these trees almost look like bonsai in nature, yet a closer look reveals a complex, hierarchical system responding to the elements. The apex bends to Pacific winds, the midsection endures wind and heavy snow, and the lowest branches are contorted and crushed by the weight of storms, each section telling a story of resilience and adaptation.

This tree was first experienced in our Mirai in the Wild project at Carson Pass, and it completely reshaped my understanding of Sierra Juniper. Over nearly a decade, working on this tree originally collected by Bob Shimon, a balance has been brought out by honoring the DNA of a high-elevation Juniper while bringing it into the bonsai form. The result is a tree that feels both natural and intentional, its form capturing the layered impact of its alpine home.

The contrast of blue foliage against the red live veins and white deadwood adds to its rugged beauty, and the vintage Benda container, with its patina and subtle imperfections, serves as the perfect stage. Together, tree and vessel tell the story of the Sierra Nevada in miniature: a landscape of weather, endurance, and beauty captured in living art.

Species | Juniperus occidentalis

Estimated Age | 140 years

Time in Training | 8 years

Collector | Bob Shimon

Origin Location | California

Ceramic | Tom Benda

Original Design | Ryan Neil

Weight | 55 lbs

Dimensions | 46" L x 34" W x 38" H