coh
Imperial Masterpiece
Did something happen to the pics in the first post? I can't see them anymore, would like to take another look...
Did something happen to the pics in the first post? I can't see them anymore, would like to take another look...
How do you feel about people bringing material to a workshop and having it styled by a professional? That would have to be totally unacceptable to you, right? How about someone with more experience than you in your bonsai club looking at your tree with you to help make some decisions? Totally unacceptable as well? I do see your point, however I was unaware that it made the senior bonsai guys like you angry to help out new guys. I will try to refrain from doing so.
Here's what I get out of this thread and many others I've seen in the short time I've been a member of this site: a beginner like myself posts a query or photo, and is immediately jumped on by a host of other members. I have to tell you, it's quite intimidating, and sets a negative tone on the site. We are beginners, and hope to lean on the senior members for some guidance to help set us on the right path, but instead we find aggressive posts that seem to want to thwart our love for trees and bonsai. We don't all have access to local clubs and mentors. I would think that you would like to foster our wonder and excitement, but instead nearly every thread is full of rebuttals and flaming.
A guy posts some pics of a tree he would love to train into something that might some day resemble a bonsai. Sure, it's not going to be up to snuff, but we're trying. And some of you knock him down immediately for not knowing what he wants to do with it. Well of course he doesn't know. That's why he's looking for guidance. He (we) will get it after awhile, but we need some reassurance and help. So I'm asking, please, be more understanding.
I'll get off my soapbox now. Thanks for listening.
I post lots of "garbage" stuff but learn from them and love them all the same. Come time to purge, admittedly, the less favored will go first. (Please note, that is not the case with the recent auction. The reason that had to go is my wintering situation.)
Buying the wrong stuff is part of the NORMAL learning curve and eagerness to get started. I see nothing wrong with it...as long as we learn and do not keep doing the same mistake. I hope we (newbies) remember that 5, 10, 25, etc. years from now, when another batch of newbies ask same questions.
Drew, I see you list "North Florida" as your location. North FL covers quite an area, so I'm not sure where you are in N. FL, but I am also from the area.
I have quite a few trees and have been practicing for a little while now. I am here just about every day tending to my amateur bonsai nursery. I would like to offer my help and advise to you.
You can take a stroll around and look at my trees. If you like the way they look and think I could be of some help, I would be more than happy to.
You could bring a few problem trees or some you may just want some advise on. If it isn't the correct time to work on them, we could definitely talk about future styling or ways to approach the development of them.
No charge, of course. My payment would be to help a newbie and point him and his trees in the right direction. And I would have some bonsai company for the day....
pm me if you are interested.
-Troy
Troy,
That is very kind. I hope it works out. Drew sounds like he has a lot of enthusiasm, which is great. All of us needed a little help getting started. (Well, maybe not "all". I know I did.)
Drew,
I hope you don't think I was dumping on you. Truly, I was trying to help. If someone is going to spend significant money (and I think $100 IS significant money) and time on something, I would want them to be successful. It's just I think you can find something else for that money that would give you better results faster. (Especially since you can take that one back to Lowe's.)
Adair