01 Natural Origin of juniper bonsai
The ambition of pine and cypress trees is not affected by cold and heat, and there is no trace of the seasons. - Su Zhe's "Fu Fuling Fu Xu"
The alias and classification of Du Song
Du Song has different aliases and classifications in different regions. Its aliases include Du Song (generic name), Gang Hui (Northern Research Series), Beng Song (Northeast), Bang'er Song (Hebei), and Soft leaved Du Song (research data on gymnosperms in Northeast China). Soft leaved juniper is a plant suitable for use as a garden tree or bonsai, and is considered to have no significant difference from the original species of juniper.
Global distribution and love of Juniper
After consulting relevant information, it is surprising that Juniper is not only popular in China, but also in Asia such as Japan and Europe and America. Juniper is a commonly used tree species in bonsai creation in many countries. Next, let's appreciate a few Chinese juniper bonsai treasures preserved in the Washington National Botanical Garden together.
021. Artistic Transformation of juniper bonsai
Next, we will appreciate several works made from Du Song, which we believe will make you feel both familiar and surprised.
. Several Juniper bonsai works located at the National Botanical Garden in Washington showcase the artistic expression of Juniper in different cultures, including some works with a long history and exquisite craftsmanship.
In the National Botanical Garden in Washington, D.C., multiple Juniper bonsai works are stunning. One of them is a carefully crafted Dusong bonsai by Luis Villa, cleverly placed in a unique crescent bowl and becoming the focus of social media. Another piece is a Dusong bonsai created by Peter Ebensperger, which features a forest style composed of tilted Dusong trees, presenting a spectacular visual effect. There is also a Du Song jungle style bonsai made up of 11 juniper trees, which was created in 1948 and is still preserved in the National Botanical Garden, reflecting its beauty and grandeur over time. 
Currently, Juniper is mainly obtained through mountain harvesting. Although juniper grows rapidly, it is currently mostly collected naturally and may rely more on artificial reproduction in the future. The best time to mine Juniperus is concentrated in February and March. As a deeply rooted tree species, its growth habits are particularly fond of chestnut soil formed from limestone, and it can thrive in gravel. 
The maintenance and management of Juniper bonsai is a continuation of the art of sculpture, aiming to make the works increasingly perfect. The ideal maintenance site should have high dryness, open space, sufficient sunlight, and shelter from wind to ensure the healthy growth of juniper bonsai. The maintenance of juniper bonsai requires suitable environmental conditions, reasonable fertilization, and regular pruning and branch management to maintain its beauty and healthy growth. 
In terms of fertilization, Juniper prefers sufficient fertilizer and water, and can tolerate heavy fertilizers well. Sprout picking is an important step in the maintenance of juniper bonsai, aimed at regulating tree vigor and promoting growth. In addition, thinning branches is also an essential maintenance step. For juniper bonsai that have already completed the production of relic stems and divine branches, it is even more important to carefully protect them. After the rainy season every year, it is necessary to clean and apply anti-corrosion agents to the dried relics and divine branches to maintain their long-term beauty.