Let’s Have Some Fun! First Annual Box Store Challenge – Who’s In?

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If interested I would be happy to offer up some prizes of my art...
To make it more interesting. Just throwing it out there.
:cool:

I would suggest because not everyone as Smoke has pointed out
is going to be able to find a particular plant, or they might get there
and find nothing worth working on in that particular plant, that you
instead make it open to any type of Plant.

Do a before and after, and have the trees be judged on the
merit of the work. One idea that was smart that Paul did with the
Ofbonsai Competition, was that the before picture had to be taken
with a newspaper, with the date on it as to keep it ligit.
 

Vin

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If interested I would be happy to offer up some prizes of my art...
To make it more interesting. Just throwing it out there.
:cool:

I would suggest because not everyone as Smoke has pointed out
is going to be able to find a particular plant, or they might get there
and find nothing worth working on in that particular plant, that you
instead make it open to any type of Plant.

Do a before and after, and have the trees be judged on the
merit of the work. One idea that was smart that Paul did with the
Ofbonsai Competition, was that the before picture had to be taken
with a newspaper, with the date on it as to keep it ligit.

That is really nice of you to offer your gift of art. I was hoping to keep it as simple as possible but I didn't take into account the availability of material. Maybe we could limit it to a few trees that everyone should be able to obtain?
 
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That is really nice of you to offer your gift of art. I was hoping to keep it as simple as possible but I didn't take into account the availability of material. Maybe we could limit it to a few trees that everyone should be able to obtain?

Not a problem... when everyone starts narrowing down the details more
I will know what best to offer. And if someone else wants to throw in some
possible prizes the more the better. :)

I personally wouldn't think it would be a problem whatever kind of material
they worked on, as long as it was in the price range you are suggesting. But,
see what the others say.
 

Kodama16

Shohin
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Not a problem... when everyone starts narrowing down the details more
I will know what best to offer. And if someone else wants to throw in some
possible prizes the more the better. :)

I personally wouldn't think it would be a problem whatever kind of material
they worked on, as long as it was in the price range you are suggesting. But,
see what the others say.

I'm in. Plus ill throw something in as a prize. Let me go see what I got in the stock room and ill let ya know what red leaf can contribute: )
 

QuintinBonsai

Chumono
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Well with that said, maybe it's best if you upped the size to 1 gallon pots, and we postpone this til spring. I love the idea though.
 

Bonsai Nut

Nuttier than your average Nut
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I love the idea of prizes... but...

Part of the fun might be just to get "bragging rights". If we start getting nice prizes I would be concerned about people getting too serious and/or feelings getting hurt if people didn't win.
 

Eric Group

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I love the idea of prizes... but...

Part of the fun might be just to get "bragging rights". If we start getting nice prizes I would be concerned about people getting too serious and/or feelings getting hurt if people didn't win.

Nahh... We are all mature adults around here! Nobody gets their feelings hurt on this forum... Right?
 

Vin

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I love the idea of prizes... but...

Part of the fun might be just to get "bragging rights". If we start getting nice prizes I would be concerned about people getting too serious and/or feelings getting hurt if people didn't win.

I'll have to agree with you. This is for fun and needs to be as simple as can be. Looks like we enough members interested. Let me finish up some of the rules and post them. After reading them and you want to part of the fun we'll move forward. Sound fair? (that question is for everyone). You can just "Thank" this post if you agree.
 
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I love the idea of prizes... but...

Part of the fun might be just to get "bragging rights". If we start getting nice prizes I would be concerned about people getting too serious and/or feelings getting hurt if people didn't win.

Not a problem, you guys let me know...
:cool:
 

edprocoat

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I too do not see plants in 2.5 quart pots? The small Juni's at Homey's or Lowest are in a 1 gal pot. I would like to play too ...

ed
 

monza

Shohin
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My two cents.
I'd say stick to junipers as original idea, ease up on price limits a bit, I know I can't buy tree for 15.00 (Canadian eh). Or a solid alternative wood be a Mugo Pine, the master will be back! The price issue will never be settled on these contests so call it under fifty dollars, from a box store, garden centre that has nothing to do with bonsai. Picking will be tough this time of year now adding to challenge. Maybe a base trunk limit in width? A judge(s)- Smoke would be cool but I also want to compete against him and that's cool if Smoke enters in my books and judges.

Before picture, cost, location of contestant , final style, all factors the judge(s) have to consider.
Meaning a loser raw stock tree that even resembles bonsai might win over a amazing raw stock treasure find that is a amazing styled tree in the end.

That's my take, sounds like fun how ever it proceeds lets just keep it simple and loose have fun.
Bonus points and the real glory will be if you keep it alive until next summer....
 

Paradox

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This sounds fun.

I dont think we need prizes, lets just do it for the heck of it and to see what we can do.

Junipers are fine

The price is a bit low for me. I cant get a juniper around here for less than $20-$25. That buys a 2 gallon size plant which is what most are this time of year. Unless it is literally a tiny sapling with no options for styling whatsoever and that is even IF I can find that.

Home Depot/Lowes is clearing out their stuff, much of it is half dead because they stopped watering enough about a month ago.

I vote for Box store or cheap landscape nursery (strictly non bonsai) with a strict limit of $25 or less.
 
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Neli

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For that price I will get a tree that is 400 USD in your place...He hehe
Trees , from nurseries are very cheap here.
I feel we can include other trees too.
I want to show you a mame which I styled in 2 hours from nursery stock...lonicera nitida.
The last picture is 3 month later, with leaves.
 

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Neli

Omono
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What about putting a newspaper behind the before picture.
 

sorce

Nonsense Rascal
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Im in.

I think any non bonsai juniper should be a level enough playing field. Finding material is part of the art!

And we can all judge via "thanks". Easy to keep track of if we limit posts to pics and thanks.

Post a link to the trees thread like bsg's tree of the month. We can comment there and keep the contest thread easy to view all.

Sorce
 

Cadillactaste

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I think we can look at junipers...if none available. Then allow one to still participate by. Spending the same amount of monetary value on another purchased plant.
 

Dav4

Drop Branch Murphy
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I'm still here.;) I may not have been on Bonsai Talk 13 years ago. However, I was there maybe around 8 years ago.

Rob

I'm still here, too.... Cut my internet bonsai teeth on BT a decade ago, dodging verbal darts from the likes of W. Pall, Will Heath, and Al Keppler...truly the hay day of Bonsai forums.

By the way, I think this is a great idea, particularly for the newer hobbyists. Time to take all the great info garnered from Bnut and put it into practice.
 
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