Bonsai from scratch constest

bonsai barry

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Stone Lantern is sponsoring a bonsai design contest:
http://bonsaibark.com/2011/04/02/1000-bonsai-from-scratch-contest/

I was driving through Fresno and stopped at a nursery along the highway. I wasn't planning on entering this contest, but I found this tree that looks perfect for carving practice, so I submitted an entry... just in case I don't ruin it with my carving. The tree's in pretty poor condition, but I'm assuming that carving up the dead wood won't stress the tree. Maybe the needles will even turn green before the final photos are due in Oct.
 

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bonsai barry

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Interesting. I just got an e-mail from Wayne (organizer of the contest). He noticed that it had been cut and wondered if it had come from a bonsai nursery and had been worked on. Great observation on his part. But no, it was from a landscape nursery. It has been hacked in order to keep it contained in the plastic pot. Do you think it should be considered "virgin" material? Do you think the judges might disqualify it? I do have the receipt.
 

Smoke

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Interesting. I just got an e-mail from Wayne (organizer of the contest). He noticed that it had been cut and wondered if it had come from a bonsai nursery and had been worked on. Great observation on his part. But no, it was from a landscape nursery. It has been hacked in order to keep it contained in the plastic pot. Do you think it should be considered "virgin" material? Do you think the judges might disqualify it? I do have the receipt.

Anyone with a modicum of bonsai experience can see that this plant has never been cut with a bonsai purpose in mind. If a nursery is old and they keep plants for more than two seasons, many plants get pruned back to prevent legginess and up potted to get more money.

Of course then you have those....and I think we all know who I speak of...that think if a pair of clippers has ever touched a plant, no matter the purpose, it is no longer virgin and therefore not qualified.


I say "if a person is buying material to qualify for a contest, then their not buying material to qualify for a bonsai".
 

bonsai barry

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I say "if a person is buying material to qualify for a contest, then their not buying material to qualify for a bonsai".

Nice aphorism, and usually true, but I hope to prove you wrong with this $12 juniper... it looks like it was made for carving. Worse case scenario is that I get some great carving practice for the price of a neglected juniper. I also want to try to steam some of the deadwood as described by Rob Kempinski:

http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t6239-steam-bending-deadwood


I'll keep you updated.

PS I got it at Santa Rosa nursery off Hwy 41, Al. Not much material there.
 

bonsai barry

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Anyone with a modicum of bonsai experience can see that this plant has never been cut with a bonsai purpose in mind. If a nursery is old and they keep plants for more than two seasons, many plants get pruned back to prevent legginess and up potted to get more money.

Of course then you have those....and I think we all know who I speak of...that think if a pair of clippers has ever touched a plant, no matter the purpose, it is no longer virgin and therefore not qualified.


I say "if a person is buying material to qualify for a contest, then their not buying material to qualify for a bonsai".

If the chopped up branches aren't enough evidence, the mud that this tree is growing in ought to be a clue that it isn't from a bonsai nursery.
 
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