Bonsai snob...or just finally "getting" it

[Cadillactaste]

I think it's just the growth that comes with having ones feet wet a bit longer. You can differentiate better quality than once before. Before...I seen potential in just about anything one could bonsai. Now, I for myself crinkle my nose and think...not worth my time.

I was pondering the other day...am I becoming a bonsai snob!?!

Then I think...Have I not heard from the beginning...nebari,trunk movement, and taper. Maybe it's not being a snob...but, realizing that I just finally grasp what the guidelines are...and why they are in place. Maybe I want to see character and such in a tree that it makes you still love a tree while its years being worked into a proper bonsai. The bones are so amazing that it just makes you burst with anticipation of the development stages. And pride in the stock you have on your table.

I have a few in my earlier stages of bonsai that will end up landscape...did I make a mistake back then in my choices? I would like to think I didn't. I think the mistake now, is to waist my time on material that would make better landscape material. I don't see it as a failure on my part for the purchase...because if we're learning and moving on from mistakes then it's a crucial rung on a ladder so to speak...just as important when we lose a tree...to learn from it. Then even a loss isn't quite looked upon as failure...but lessons in us growing...as our hobby and knowledge grows.

Enjoy the journey...have no regrets...there are no regrets as long as a lesson is learned along the way.

 

[sorce]

I've left the deeps more without a tree this year than with.

And I am happy!

Sorce

 

[fourteener]

For those who don't want to hear wisdom, it's snobbery. I get rid of 10 trees a year. It just so happens that most of those are the ones I gathered early on. It's a well worn path. But if you ask,"is it worth my time" and someone with some experience says no, at least consider that they might know something. If they ask to buy it off of you...keep it!!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Discernment, a characteristic I hope to continue developing. I sell more trees than I buy or collect each year.
Pots are a different story.

 

[Adair M]

Darlene, it means you are "growing" in the hobby. Everyone starts off thinking they can turn a stick in a pot into an amazing bonsai. All it takes is time, right?

Well, with some some experience, we all learn better.

I wish I had a picture of Boon's first bonsai. Yes, he still has it! It was a mallsai gift he received. A juniper of some sort. He still has not been able to figure out what variety. Maybe San Jose. But the point is, even today after 20 plus years of care, it still looks like a mallsai. I mean, it's the kind you would pass over, and choose another. Boon will happily show it to you. And he uses it as an example of the importance of choosing quality stock.

Next time I'm there, I'll get a picture.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Darlene, it means you are "growing" in the hobby. Everyone starts off thinking they can turn a stick in a pot into an amazing bonsai. All it takes is time, right?

Well, with some some experience, we all learn better.

I wish I had a picture of Boon's first bonsai. Yes, he still has it! It was a mallsai gift he received. A juniper of some sort. He still has not been able to figure out what variety. Maybe San Jose. But the point is, even today after 20 plus years of care, it still looks like a mallsai. I mean, it's the kind you would pass over, and choose another. Boon will happily show it to you. And he uses it as an example of the importance of choosing quality stock.

Next time I'm there, I'll get a picture.

Thanks for sharing...I would love to see a photo of it.

 

[Paradox]

Its part of the progression of learning bonsai Darlene. Ive noticed the same thing in myself. I am getting more and more picky about trees as time goes on and I buy less from landscape nurseries and Ive even started to pass by some of the stuff at bonsai nurseries.

 

[aml1014]

It definitely is part of growing, when I started I'd buy whatever I could get my hands on and now even though I work at a nursery I have bought maybe 3 plants in the time I've worked here and that's because I rarely find good potential in the plants and I figure they'd be better off in a customers yard.

 

[coh]

Congratulations on crossing over to "the other side"

I like to refer to that first phase as the "reckless acquisition phase". At least, that's how it felt to me. Every time I saw a good bonsai - either in a show, or a magazine, or on line - I had to have one of those species. I'd scour the local nurseries in a frenzy, and often leave with a piece of...junk, to put it nicely. I had no idea at the time how difficult or time consuming it would be to convert that kind of material into something decent. Much of it is now happily growing in the landscape, though there are a few stragglers that I can't decide what to do with.

I've also made a number of more expensive "mistakes" with material purchased from bonsai nurseries or other growers. Might start a thread on one of them, a poorly thought out ficus purchase.

Chris

 

[M. Frary]

poorly thought out ficus purchase

Or like I did. Poorly thought out out of zone purchases.
Next phase will be the figuring out what trees you are really good with.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Or like I did. Poorly thought out out of zone purchases.
Next phase will be the figuring out what trees you are really good with.

Been there done that...may they rest in peace. Very good learning curve...I couldn't fantom my having a tropical hibiscus for 14+ years...wintering in my sunroom with no problem. That I couldn't very well tend any and all zone friendly bonsai. That was a very good learning experience! Humbling as well.

 

[Adair M]

Next phase will be the figuring out what trees you are really good with.

For me, that turned out to be JBP. I have a few others, but it's the JBP that do it for me.

The danger is once you really get them ramified and refined, they take a lot of time. Lots of needle pulling, detail wiring, etc. And they all need to be worked at the same time! Having a variety of trees lets you spread the work out over the year since each species has its own timetable. But then, you have to learn all the techniques for each species.

 

[barrosinc]

I like to refer to that first phase as the "reckless acquisition phase". At least, that's how it felt to me. Every time I saw a good bonsai - either in a show, or a magazine, or on line - I had to have one of those species. I'd scour the local nurseries in a frenzy, and often leave with a piece of...junk, to put it nicely.

So it has a name??
Hahaha that's me! I thought I would google the symptoms and find out I have a terminal desease or something!

Slowly trying to get out, now I think on getting better azalea or maple nursery material or trees from my teacher that she pays me with for when I take pictures of her trees http://bonsainebari.cl/bonsai-360 (trees are not mine, but I took all the photos and uploaded and created galleries for wordpress (takes sooooo long))

Been out yamadoring a couple of times, and most probably will do that every year.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

For those who don't want to hear wisdom, it's snobbery. I get rid of 10 trees a year. It just so happens that most of those are the ones I gathered early on. It's a well worn path. But if you ask,"is it worth my time" and someone with some experience says no, at least consider that they might know something. If they ask to buy it off of you...keep it!!

Sounds like my dad. He was offered $695,000 for his building in 1967. He knew the guy who wanted it and said, "if he wants it, it's worth a bunch."
The guy bought the block behind us, sold the rest of our block he owned (old man's property was last parcel needed for block)

And then my old man sold the building in 1980 for $120,000

Interesting philosophy, that not letting go of anything someone wants.

 

[fourteener]

Sounds like my dad. He was offered $695,000 for his building in 1967. He knew the guy who wanted it and said, "if he wants it, it's worth a bunch."
The guy bought the block behind us, sold the rest of our block he owned (old man's property was last parcel needed for block)

And then my old man sold the building in 1980 for $120,000

Interesting philosophy, that not letting go of anything someone wants.

I think you are missing my point. My point wasn't if someone wants something don't let it go. My point was if someone is evaluating your trees and tells you something is no good but then wants to buy it from you... They are lying to you to acquire it.

It was meant as a joke, not a statement of personal philosophy. But like all jokes that need to be explained, now it's doubly lame. Thanks.

 

[Adair M]

Sounds like my dad. He was offered $695,000 for his building in 1967. He knew the guy who wanted it and said, "if he wants it, it's worth a bunch."
The guy bought the block behind us, sold the rest of our block he owned (old man's property was last parcel needed for block)

And then my old man sold the building in 1980 for $120,000

Interesting philosophy, that not letting go of anything someone wants.

Lol! My mother was the same way. Years ago, my Dad went into partnership with two friends to build and sell some houses. They build the subdivision, roads,etc. Abd they were left with 4 or 5 "unbuildable" lots. That was before they made houses with poured wall foundations. 50 years pass by, some dude wants to build a house, finds these vacant lots, and wants to buy it. The original partners had long past away, my mother inherited dad's share. A one third interest. The rest of the heirs were delighted to sell. They'd been paying property tax on it for decades. My mother refused, thinking that if this guy wanted it, there must be something about it that she didn't know, and therefore it must be worth a fortune! She refused to sell.

We're still paying property tax every year. Thanks Mom!

 

[Smoke]

I was pondering the other day...am I becoming a bonsai snob!?!

Just think, twenty more years on the forums and you too can be a snob to all the newbies......

aww....something to aspire to....

You know what they say..bonsai backwards is i-a-snob

 

[Cadillactaste]

Just think, twenty more years on the forums and you too can be a snob to all the newbies......

aww....something to aspire to....

You know what they say..bonsai backwards is i-a-snob

Never seen Bonsai spelled backwards. That's sort of amusing. Though...not sure I can aspire to be one. Even if it does take that long. Lol

 

[Arcto]

I guess it's a human nature thing. Guitarists talk about GAS (gear acquisition syndrome). I fell into that trap too. A quantity of instruments but no quality in the player! Perhaps we are afflicted with PAS (plant acquisition syndrome).

 

[Cadillactaste]

I guess it's a human nature thing. Guitarists talk about GAS (gear acquisition syndrome). I fell into that trap too. A quantity of instruments but no quality in the player! Perhaps we are afflicted with PAS (plant acquisition syndrome).

My nursery gal said they went to a conference and that there is a term. CHAD- Compulsive Horticulture Acquisition Disorder