Anyone have clues how these trees were grafted.  I would love to do this. 

As a hobby, bean farmer Axel Erlandson [wiki] shaped trees - he pruned, bent, and grafted trees into fantastic shapes and called them "Circus Trees." For example, to make this "Basket Tree" arborsculpture, Erlandson planted six sycamore trees in a circle and then grafted them together to form the diamond patterns.

Basket Tree (Image credit: jpeepz [flickr])

The two-legged tree (Image credit: Vladi22, Wikipedia)

Ladder tree (Image credit: Arborsmith)

Axel Erlandson underneath one of his arborsculpture (Image credit: Wilma Erlandson, Cabinet Magazine)

Erlandson was very secretive and refused to reveal his methods on how to grow the Circus Trees (he even carried out his graftings behind screens to protect against spies!) and carried the secrets to his grave.

The trees were later bought by millionaire Michael Bonfante, who transplanted them to his amusement park Bonfante Gardens in Gilroy in 1985.

The basket tree is gorgeous. I'd love to do that some day. 

Mostly approach grafts.  I have seen these trees in person and had never read that the grafting methods were "secret".  I think it's mostly a test of perserverance.  See R.J. Garner's Grafter's Handbook for some helpful instructions on grafting methods.  From a practical standpoint, some of the same grafts used for these trees are useful to strengthen limbs on trees that are otherwise weak due to narrow crotches with the trunk.

There is a similar "basket tree" mad from sycamores, at the Huntington Gardens in San Marino (Pasadena), CA

This is a lot of work, and I don't know if I am up to it.  I bought books, thinking, "I can do thiis," reality.  NO!  A lot of bending, grafting, strength, architetural wires shaping.. and God knows what else.  And I would like to live to see the results... doubtful

I only wanted a chair shped from a tree.
Suzi

Suzi, here is a tree planted in 1998, you have time!


From page at http://pooktre.com/photos/living-chair/

wow....

I bought the whole thing Jennifer!  Paid for it... They own many acres with tons of disposable trees, so they shape them.  We got one chance.  Think it could happen?  Well it takes years!  I'll give it a whirl, and maybe my grand kids will say crazy Nana tried to make this chair, but the rats ate it.........
Suzi

Google "pleaching"

Wouldn't it be great to sit in that chair, shaded by the leaves and then pluck off a fruit to eat.   Go for it.   I'd like one too.  I'll have to read up on these things.  

There's a good book called "Arborsculpture" out there that shows these techniques. I bought a copy on amazon. I like it.

The most impressive was posted here to me where the fig bridges made from all the aerial roots, it's really nice to see these designs, some seedling caprifigs might make a good bonsai of these trees.