Bonsai Swapmeet 2011

Smoke

Ignore-Amus
Messages
11,668
Reaction score
20,724
Location
Fresno, CA
USDA Zone
9
This fourth annual gathering of the Fresno group gathered material from around the central valley as well as a few of those from the central coast.

Again, there are always many more sellers than there are buyers, and the deals abound as no one wants to take home what they brought to sell. That makes it great for those that are sellers also since ones mans trash is another mans bounty.

I sold 4 large pots, in the 24 inch long range for 30.00 a piece and sold them before I ever had them arranged on my table. Trees started to sell quickly and anything in the under 40.00 price range moved around fast. Some guys were buying from one table and moving it to theirs and upricing it and reselling it again to those that had never seen it the first time. Kinda tacky, but hey this is capitilism at its finist and if i get the cash and it leaves my table, who am I to complain.

In all I sold about 400.00 worth of stuff. Still had over 400.00 worth on the table to cart home, but their are a few Xmas dinners for clubs to go yet and a few nice donations to the raffle never hurts to help out a club treasury.

Pretty well attended, probably around 100 people this year. Still hoping to get some people from surrounding cities to come and get some great deals on material. I am always amazed at the scope and breadth of what this swapmeet has to offer.

Some pictures of different views of the long circle driveway. We set up on each side of the drive way which is about 150 feet long.

Glen Vanwinkle (Ripsgreentree) with a bag of cali-dama which was for sale en mass at the sale.
 

Attachments

  • DSC_00450017.JPG
    DSC_00450017.JPG
    175 KB · Views: 210
  • DSC_00340006.JPG
    DSC_00340006.JPG
    131.8 KB · Views: 211
  • DSC_00320004.JPG
    DSC_00320004.JPG
    125.5 KB · Views: 200
  • DSC_00350007.JPG
    DSC_00350007.JPG
    113.4 KB · Views: 203

Smoke

Ignore-Amus
Messages
11,668
Reaction score
20,724
Location
Fresno, CA
USDA Zone
9
My Japan connection showed up with two pots from Japan, both from Bigei. I only purchased the small rectangle one and left the small cascade pot for someone else. My guy has a box of pots for me at the shohin convention coming up in Feb. and I got all tingely when he told me what he had. Man I can't wait.

More shots of the event.
 

Attachments

  • DSC_00020001.JPG
    DSC_00020001.JPG
    55.9 KB · Views: 165
  • DSC_00290001.JPG
    DSC_00290001.JPG
    132.8 KB · Views: 164
  • DSC_00300002.JPG
    DSC_00300002.JPG
    148.5 KB · Views: 157
  • DSC_00310003.JPG
    DSC_00310003.JPG
    136.7 KB · Views: 151
  • DSC_00320004.JPG
    DSC_00320004.JPG
    125.5 KB · Views: 148

Smoke

Ignore-Amus
Messages
11,668
Reaction score
20,724
Location
Fresno, CA
USDA Zone
9
Some shots of the crowd
 

Attachments

  • DSC_00440016.JPG
    DSC_00440016.JPG
    154.9 KB · Views: 124
  • DSC_00450017.JPG
    DSC_00450017.JPG
    175 KB · Views: 123
  • DSC_00460018.JPG
    DSC_00460018.JPG
    155.6 KB · Views: 127
  • DSC_00480020.JPG
    DSC_00480020.JPG
    156.5 KB · Views: 121
  • DSC_00490021.jpg
    DSC_00490021.jpg
    119.1 KB · Views: 118

Smoke

Ignore-Amus
Messages
11,668
Reaction score
20,724
Location
Fresno, CA
USDA Zone
9
Some happy customers
 

Attachments

  • DSC_00400012.JPG
    DSC_00400012.JPG
    114.8 KB · Views: 153
  • DSC_00410013.JPG
    DSC_00410013.JPG
    112.5 KB · Views: 143
  • DSC_00420014.JPG
    DSC_00420014.JPG
    90.4 KB · Views: 132
  • DSC_00570029.JPG
    DSC_00570029.JPG
    65.7 KB · Views: 130

Smoke

Ignore-Amus
Messages
11,668
Reaction score
20,724
Location
Fresno, CA
USDA Zone
9
I have been known to "pry" out the price I want....
 

Attachments

  • DSC_00380010.JPG
    DSC_00380010.JPG
    133.9 KB · Views: 155

Ang3lfir3

Omono
Messages
1,287
Reaction score
28
Location
Bremerton, WA
USDA Zone
8b
Always a pleasure to see great activity and enthusiasm in the bonsai world.... this is a great idea for other areas of the country as well. good chance to see all those bonsai pals you don't get to see other times!!!

lol seeing Glen with that bag makes me all excited... we haven't had any in about 2 yrs!!!

Thanks Al!! You Californians are luckier than you might know!!! good stuff!! (now to go back and look at all the pics in detail and be jealous)
 

Smoke

Ignore-Amus
Messages
11,668
Reaction score
20,724
Location
Fresno, CA
USDA Zone
9
OK, here is the skinny.

I talked to Glenn about shipping and the quanity of his bag.

He says: his bag is 1/2 cubic foot. A bag of two stripe is just shy of 1/2 cubic foot. If you pour his bag into a 5 gallon nursery container if will fill it to the brim. A bag of two stripe akadama is about two inches under the rim of a five gallon nursery container. He says his bag will fit into the PO's largest "if it fits it ships" container.

Therefore a bag of cali dama to your door is 34.00. That is what I pay now for akadama at the local nursery unless I happen to be at a convention in which I get akadama for 29.00.

Thats the straight poop.

Some months notice if you drive and I am sure he can hook you up with as many pallets as your vehicle can carry!
 

Ang3lfir3

Omono
Messages
1,287
Reaction score
28
Location
Bremerton, WA
USDA Zone
8b
awesome!!! good stuff.... thanks for checking with Glen.... now I know to plan ahead!!! :)
 

bonsai barry

Omono
Messages
1,374
Reaction score
58
Location
Cental Coast of California
USDA Zone
9
Thanks for the photos. I tried to convince my wife that we needed to travel to the swap meet for her birthday, but she wasn't biting... Maybe next year.
 

dpowell

Mame
Messages
125
Reaction score
9
Location
San Jose, CA
USDA Zone
9b
My dad and I drove up from San Jose and while we showed up a little late (It's a 3 hour drive each way and we didn't feel like waking up super early), there was still a lot of stuff for sale. I picked up a really nice JBP from Glen that has a number of branches coming out at ground level (see pic 2). It has also completely covered the wire in a few spots (I'm not planning on taking the wire off). Pic 3 +4 are some nice pre bonsai cedar and juniper that I picked up for $10 each. The pot was from a local potter and is about 10" wide and quite unique. Well worth the trip out there. Plants-250.jpgPlants-254.jpgPlants-270.jpgPlants-275.jpgPlants-283.jpg
 

Smoke

Ignore-Amus
Messages
11,668
Reaction score
20,724
Location
Fresno, CA
USDA Zone
9
Glad you had a good time. It's people like you and your Dad that will keep this thing going. A little conversation with a few friends in your area will convince them to drive over next year. Thanks for making the effort and buying some materail from the central valley. We do have some pretty good local potters coming along.

Al
 

Cali-Mike

Seedling
Messages
20
Reaction score
0
Location
Fresno Ca.
Had a great time there! Picked up a few things, looked at a few more. I got a lavander Crepe Myrtle. Didn't have one of those. And of course, the wife picked out the spruce, and just HAD to have it. Apparently Al thought I was photogentic...lol That's me with the cart in the 4th post. What a great bunch of people too. I gotta get to a meeting & join. I look forward to it every year. If your anywhere near, it's worth the drive. But my drive is about 8 minutes lol..


Mike
 

Bill S

Masterpiece
Messages
2,494
Reaction score
28
Location
Western Massachusetts
USDA Zone
5a
Great idea, I am going to try to get something like this going for 3 clubs in my general area, thanks for the idea.

Better than most of the auctions I see, with everyone lookng to pay a dime on the dollar, doing it this way gets a fair price, gets out the materials it looks like too.

I like that calidama price too.
 

tmmason10

Omono
Messages
1,836
Reaction score
87
Location
North Attleboro, MA
USDA Zone
6b
Great idea, I am going to try to get something like this going for 3 clubs in my general area, thanks for the idea.

Better than most of the auctions I see, with everyone lookng to pay a dime on the dollar, doing it this way gets a fair price, gets out the materials it looks like too.

I like that calidama price too.
Please post an announcement here I'd love to come check it out.
 

Joedes3

Shohin
Messages
404
Reaction score
21
Location
Boston, MA
USDA Zone
6
Bill:
Yes, I would like to see the announcement also.
 

Bill S

Masterpiece
Messages
2,494
Reaction score
28
Location
Western Massachusetts
USDA Zone
5a
We have our holiday meeting tonight, I am going to talk it up, if it come to fruition I will make sure I get a post up so you guys get to come and meet and greet.

Whilst on that subject Tues night Jan 17 we will have Pauline Muth in for a shohin Lecture/demo(maybe) work shop earlier in the day, if interested. Back to Als thread.
 

Smoke

Ignore-Amus
Messages
11,668
Reaction score
20,724
Location
Fresno, CA
USDA Zone
9
Yes Dec. first.

I now have it at my blog. New pictures from this year to follow.
 
Top Bottom