In 1995, Reames coined the word "arborsculpture" to describe tree-trunk sculptural modifications as art. and "arborisculpture". In French it is known as ''l'arborisculpture
), and in German arborsculpture is known as Baumplastiken''. Reames uses arborsculptural tree bending and shaping techniques to create his work and also uses the
horticultural and
arboricultural techniques of
ring barking,
approach grafting,
pruning, and framing, in various combinations, to craft his artworks and functional objects. Reames has described his arborsculpture tree shaping practice: When making architectural arborsculptures such as fences, Reames prefers using the diamond pattern, a structurally sound design. This technique has been used by traditional Belgian fence crafters however Reames creates a tighter diamond grid by planting the trees closer together to keep certain wildlife such as deer out of an area. He has also made gazebos and a
Fruit Room; the latter was created by espaliering together apple, plum, cherry and pear trees. Another arbortectural project is his
Living House, a 22-foot diameter dwelling created from 77 alder trees planted 11 inches apart, intentionally based on multiples of elevens. She also places a painting from circa 1410,
Paradiesgärtlein (The Littile Garden of Paradise) by
Meister des Frankfurter Paradiesgärtleins an unknown medieval painter who is also known as the Upper Rhenish Master, as an example of aesthetic inarched grafting of tree trunks. The painting, which is in the collection of the
Städel Museum, depicts
Dorothea of Caesarea, the patron saint of gardeners, picking fruit from a tree. The science journalist
James Nestor writes that "Arborsculpture is the art of shaping living trees into furniture, sculpture, and shelters. Part grazing and grafting, pleaching and patience, it exists in the shady area between landscaping, gardening, and furniture design." File:Complainte de la Nature - Perréal - 1516.jpg|''La Complainte de la Nature à l'Alchimiste Errant,'' (1516),
Jean Perréal File:Meister des Frankfurter Paradiesgärtleins arborsculpture detail.jpg|Detail,
Paradiesgärtlein (Little Garden of Paradise), (c. 1410),
Upper Rhenish Master File:Needle n thread.jpg|Needle and thread tree by
Axel Erlandson whose work influenced Reames File:Krubsack chair.jpg|John Krubsack's
Chair that Grew (in 1915), his work inspired Reames File:Growing tool handle in the Laughing Happy Tree Park in Jōkōji Japan.jpg|Reames growing a tool handle in the Laughing Happy Tree Park in Jōkōji Japan, May 2002
Sustainable design applications Reames believes that "arbortecture" is the future of arborsculpture. According to Reames, arbor-architects (
Baumarchitekten) can design and build energy-efficient structures that have a reciprocal "exchange with the natural environment" and that these dwellings should be planned specifically for a location and environment. He has stated that he believes that the natural environment should enter into the house, and the interior of the building can extend outdoors. == Publications ==