No law against variety

Jonathan York, 28, bonsai grower

Unlike Ko, who doesn't even have numbers for his ostriches, Jonathan York loves his bonsai plants so much, he calls them by name.

Only two of them -- Thidwick and Junior, both wild fig trees -- are living with him at Boalt. But back in South Africa, where he learned bonsai growing, he had dozens.

'Every tree is a living image of its own history,' he said. 'If its environment is harsh, it's all gnarled. In a forest, it's typically tall and straight, with fewer branches. And if it grew up near water, it'll lean out over the water to reach the sun. The amazing thing about bonsais is that they capture all that in miniature.'

York describes bonsai growing as half art, half science.

'The science part is knowing how to keep a tree alive, such as replacing the soil and trimming the roots. The art part is creating a replication of nature. You do tricks to make the branches do what you want them to do. If you trim them properly, you can manipulate the way they grow.'

Another technique is wrapping the branches with wires.

'But you have to keep your eye on them. You don't want the wire to leave a scar as the branch grows.'

Unfortunately, his workload is preventing him from devoting as much time to his bonsais as he'd like.

"Since school started, I've just concentrated on the science part -- keeping them alive," he said.

But York is no tree-hugger. Bonsai growing is a hobby that reflects his heartfelt commitment to preserving the environment.

"I came to Boalt to study environmental law," he said. "But I had no idea that I would find other courses, like contracts, interesting, too. Law school is a huge amount of work. If I didn't enjoy it, it would be torture."

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