About the Site
Begining in 1985, several kinds of trees were planted in a 3 dunam plot (about
3/4 acre) at the edge of Kibutz Revivim in the Negev desert. The types of trees
were chosen according to their natural ability to grow quickly.
During the firsr years of growth, all side branches were trimmed so that the trunks
remained relatively thin and easy to shape. The trees were then shaped by tying,
supporting, or 'approach grafting' trunks and branches; for the latter, a small patch
of bark is removed at the junction point and then the trunks or branches are held in
place until they grow together.
Old trees at the site have already reached their final form and now continue to grow
naturally. Younger trees are at various stages of being shaped and will require a
number of years before the process is complete.
The idea of setting up the site arose from two sources:
* Observations of trees in diffrent places growing in remarkably unusual forms
either through natural forces (wind, erosion, etc.) or human intervention.
* The challenge in forming tree trunks in an uncommon fashion.
Over the course of time - with the advent of the internet - it turned out that
other people in other places in the world have worked shaping tree trunks
for various reasons. One internet site which is particularly interesting is: