Juniper

Photo by Alexey Kurilovich on Unsplash

No matter where I am in the world, the smell of Juniper trees will forever bring my spirit right back to Bend, Oregon. Their enchanting, ephemeral smell -most noticeable after rainfall- is almost impossible to avoid here. 

Responsible for the complex, pine-soaked flavors of gin, Juniper wood is one of the most sporadic, unpredictable, and brilliant woods that I’ve ever worked with. Its growth patterns and heartwood colors are so capricious that I never get tired of discovering the stories that are concealed within its helter-skelter growth rings. Looking at a cross-section of a withered old juniper branch is like seeing into the mind of a moody and fickle wisewoman. The spiraling patterns and contrasting colors never seem to make sense, but never stop being beautiful. Not to mention those wild silhouettes!

Wise eyes staring back from the Limited Edition Artist Series Collection.

While I consider Junipers to be one of the most unique and inspiring trees in the Pacific Northwest, the Western Junipers of central Oregon are in fact invasive. They’re a greedy species that swoop into native sagebrush landscapes and steal the lion's share of energy resources. While in some sense they’re the enemy of the desert, they still remain my friend. I often pop outside and snag a branch to use in the background of my jewelry photos or to sit on my counter and fill my kitchen with that zesty pine aroma. Not to mention their berries are a wonderful addition to some of my stews and sauerkraut. Yum!

Central Oregon Juniper Wedge Necklace

Fun Fact: Juniper berries are actually the female seed cone, not technically a berry.

The oldest known western juniper lives here in Bend - on Horse Ridge. It’s 1,600 years old!!