Bonsai thief steals $118,000 worth of small trees, including a valuable 400-year-old juniper

Japanese white pine, growing since 1625 —

Washington DC-based portrait photographer Stephen Voss started photographing bonsai trees in 2014, as a personal side project. One of the most spectacular bonsai trees in the United States National Arboretum, this Japanese white pine survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. It was introduced to the United States by the Japanese government in 1976, as a symbol of peace. “It’s amazing how long these trees last,” Voss says. “Every day for 400 years, someone has taken care of this tree. These people make it their life’s work, and then they pass it on to someone else.” (Credit: Stephen Voss)

Sargent Juniper, in training since 1905 —

Voss made nearly 80 trips to the United States National Arboretum over a two-year period, and the project turned into an art book titled “In the formation“, which refers to the art of training a bonsai tree. Voss captured moving abstract images of nearly 75 trees from the Arboretum’s collection. (Credit: Stephen Voss)

Toringo Crabapple, in training since 1905 —

“I didn’t want anything superfluous in these images. I sought to remove everything until I hit the essence of the tree, the beautiful abstract curve in this interesting, textured shape,” Voss explains. (Credit: Stephen Voss)

California Juniper, in training since 1985 —

An example of a uniquely American approach to bonsai, Voss says this California juniper has a wild yet refined look that’s beautiful and raw. (Credit: Stephen Voss)

Crape Myrtle, in training since 2010 —

One of the smallest and most delicate trees in the US National Arboretum, this Crape Myrtle represents an “appreciation of the austere, simple beauty of bonsai — without artifice or pretension,” Voss says. (Credit: Stephen Voss)

Chinese elm, date of formation unknown —

Voss says he thinks the tree’s leafless body and dramatic shape remind him of a tree growing on a rock along a windswept coastline. (Credit: Stephen Voss)

Drummond’s Red Maple, in training since 1974 —

“The Drummond red maple was just starting to show leaves when I photographed it,” Voss explains. “It’s a tree in transition, beginning to lose the bareness of its winter appearance, but not yet fully showing its spring appearance. I think the end result looks like a watercolor and I like the abstraction of the leaves , those little spots of color among the trunks.” (Credit: Stephen Voss)

Cedar Elm, in training since 1981 —

Voss wanted to share the unique spirit and characteristics of each tree he photographed, as well as the sense of peace he felt when alone with them. “I wanted to explore the substance of trees, the essential elements that made everyone feel sacred and vital,” he recalls. (Credit: Stephen Voss)

Japanese black pine, date of formation unknown —

Adorning the cover of “In Training”, this Japanese black pine coincidentally mimics the shape of Japan. (Credit: Stephen Voss)

Smooth-leaved elm, in formation since 1982 —

He captured this smooth-leaved elm tree while he was indoors. “I was really captivated by the light that day that came in through the skylights and felt diffused and crisp at the same time, making the tree look more like an old painting than a photograph,” Voss says. . (Credit: Stephen Voss)