by Sheila O'Connor

You've no doubt experienced plenty of theme parks, but have you experienced a theme park mixed with beautiful gardens? Well, now you can, at the Bonfante Gardens in Gilroy, California, just two hours south of San Francisco. Opened in 2001, the Bonfante Gardens were originally privately owned, but are now one of the area's best public attractions. The theme park features 21 rides for all ages (yes, really, all ages will enjoy them), but for garden lovers the circus trees alone are worth the visit.

The circus trees were originally created and grown by Axel Erlandson, son of a Swedish immigrant. Inspired by observing a natural graft between two sycamore trees, Erlandson began to shape trees using intricate techniques. The branches were carefully bent rather than cut, and developed into complex and compound designs. These woven wonders of living wood became known as circus trees.

“… risking arrest for trespassing in order to water and feed the trees.”

This botanical adventure began in Hilmar, California (just south of Turlock), in the 1920s. Erlandson planted the “Four-Legged Giant,” surprising his family when he brought four trees together into one. In 1946, he moved his family and his trees to Scotts Valley, near Santa Cruz. A year later he opened “The Tree Circus” for locals and tourists to experience the wonder of the “World's Strangest Trees.” By 1957, he had created more than 70 circus trees. Ripely’s Believe It Or Not featured the trees in the 1940s and 50s, and a 1957 Life magazine article gave the trees further notoriety. After Erlandson's death in 1964, the trees became part of a Scotts Valley attraction known as “The Lost World.” In 1977, the property was sold with only 40 trees surviving.

A local Santa Cruz architect, Mark Primack, led a valiant effort to save the trees, even risking arrest for trespassing in order to water and feed the trees. Primack kept as many trees alive as he could, and his efforts finally took root when they attracted the attention of tree lover Michael Bonfante. In 1985, Bonfante rescued the surviving 29 circus trees and gave them a home in Gilroy.

There are 25 circus trees still alive,19 of which are featured in Bonfante Gardens. Knots, hearts, spiral staircases and other amazing tree shapes can be seen at the entrance.

The plants are so important that the park has scheduled “gardens only” days, usually on Fridays, when most of the rides and shops are closed, making it easier to walk around and look at the plantings. The park usually opens at 10, but on gardens only days it doesn't open until midday. And while there are no rides, you can hop on a train that circles the park or take the boat that floats through the Rainbow Garden.

The gardens also feature entertainment (music, magic, animal stunt behaviors) and learning kiosks where you can discover the secrets of horticulture and topiary. Anyone who appreciates gardens will find these gardens a pure delight.

Bonfante Gardens: tel. 408/840-7100; www.bonfantegardens.com.

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