Never heard of them. I just tried to call them and the line has been disconnected. The only place I am familiar in LI is Bonsai Boy.
Bonsai Value
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Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
Yea I never heard of them either so I suspect out of business. There was another one called Suburban Bonsai as an offshoot of a ponds and landscaping business but the owner retired I think and closed it up.
So yea bonsai boy is pretty much it here and I try to avoid that place most of the time. It's one step above mallsai as far as I'm concerned.
Mostly straight as an arrow trunks, just above seedling size, very expensive. Pots they sell are small cheap production pots. They have other general supplies which are ok if you need something.
I did get 2 of my BRT from them before their prices went sky high for what is offered.
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
I've heard of them. Phil Tacktill used to own Jui San Bonsai, until he moved to California. They used to be pretty big in the bonsai world. Used to buy the back cover ad on Bonsai Today for years, if I'm remembering right. Tacktill died in 2019 from what the San Diego Club newsletter said. They used to have some pretty decent trees from the looks of articles about them in publications like that.
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Glad you said it, because that is my take as well and thought maybe I was being unfair. I do go there from time to time to scratch my itch when I "need" a tree. Trying to stop that as I can spend a little more and get something far better and I'm also veering away from younger material. If I want a younger tree, I will always prefer Mr. Valavanis and then Kaide en Bonsai.
Regardless of the season, they repot everything upon purchase into a bonsai container in potting soil which they push in - zero drainage. As an early newb, I stopped letting them repot my trees. As you said, tons of malsai, although they do have a very large selection and if you're looking for a specific species they probably have it. Takes me over an hour to just walk through their three tents and see what's there. Very little by way of more advanced material - mostly landscape trees pruned back and placed into a bonsai pot with no actual bonsai work (many with horrible grafts). The specimen trees I received from Brussels are just in a different league. That said, I did get an OK seiju from them for $200.
I get the sense that the grandfather had a passion for bonsai, but his son and grandson are into the business, are not experts in bonsai by any means and are happy with their mail order business which I understand is thriving despite the complaints.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
Yea I go there once in a great while too.
I once commented to one of the owners about the trees and his response was something akin to what they have sells. A lot of their sales are gifts to people who might be interested but not really into bonsai. They have a fast turn over and lots of sales for that material and don't have the space for alot of more advanced stuff.
They just serve a different clientele than a more serious/advanced bonsai hobbyist. Nothing wrong with that and if it gets people into the hobby, it's good.
That said, once in a great while they have something more interesting and worth the price.
Srt8madness
Omono
More like 1 step below mallsai. I guess its a free market but their bald face lying about tree age to jack up the price on unsuspecting buyers irritates me.
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
FWIW, I stopped being irritated/mad at mallsai sellers a long time ago. I realized they are, in spite of their price gouging and sometimes crummy stock, part of the bonsai ecosystem. They are entry level, without them most of the rest of the bonsai market probably wouldn't exist.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
yea I agree some of the things advertised are a bit sketchy
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
Yea I kind of see it this way as well. It gets people interested. Otherwise they might not even know bonsai exists at all.
My first tree was a better than average mallsai that my sister bought for me after I saw the Karate Kid movie and became enamored with little trees
Meh. Anytime someone gives an age estimate for a tree they didn’t personally grow from seed, their estimate should be taken with a gigantic grain of salt.
Blksmth88
Sapling
Full time welder/fabricator here. I'd like to weigh in on this.. lol. all the trees look good, really good even. They definitely need work but honestly I think the roots are the main drawback of each tree. Now, with that said. I think someone who is experienced with bonsai and who has a good understanding of keeping trees happy and healthy needs these trees. I say that because I see myself getting them and trying to correct the root issues and killing 1 or all of them. Someone with experience that knows exactly how far they could push the trees with root surgery could make some very good bonsai out of these. And again I'm no expert. What I just said could be as easy as cutting them back and in one move or even a ground layer they are good to go. But equally I could have just laid out 5+ seasons of surgeries. To me I'd try to accentuate what I could with the roots and work the rest to make it a mimially invasive job. And break it up in steps even. But id really like to see what others think about correcting issues seen with these trees.
Srt8madness
Omono
The white pine is worth a few $k at least, even with the root issues.
Wulfskaar
Omono
Considering some of these from Brussels are over $2k, you may be right.
https://brusselsbonsai.com/japanese...MIt5rdoJ3n_wIVE9bjBx3GqwPsEAQYBSABEgLGQvD_BwE
https://brusselsbonsai.com/japanese...MIt5rdoJ3n_wIVE9bjBx3GqwPsEAQYAyABEgKGEvD_BwE
Much depends on the thickness of the trunk. By my reckoning, those two trees from Brussel have trunk diameters of 3.8 and 4 inches, respectively, at the base. Looks like the OP's tree is about 2.5 inches in diameter or thereabouts. Depends on the local market where you live as well, unless you're willing to take payment over the internet + pack and ship trees. Brussels prices are rather, well, pricey in comparison to prices I've seen at a local bonsai store and from vendor booths at local shows. The "free" shipping and handling is undoubtedly baked into the price. So, subtract the labor costs to carefully pack the tree for shipment and the carrier costs to ship (and insure it) and you've got the "what is this tree worth?" amount. Then, scale accordingly, modify for desirable traits and flaws, and adjust for local market factors to get an estimate of what the OP's pine is worth when sold to a local buyer.
Scorpius
Chumono
Don't forget someone had to water and care for those trees daily for years and years. That adds cost as well.
Wulfskaar
Omono
Same could be said about Tom's trees.
I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think Tom's white pine is nicer looking than the ones I linked, but that's just me. I just hope no one takes advantage of him, saying his trees aren't very good, only to buy them for a low price, that's all.
I also must admit I'm a rookie and don't have years of experience dealing in expensive trees. They will only be worth what someone is willing to pay.
I agree that the white pine is his nicest tree. It’s hard to say exactly what it would sell for in his local market. Certainly, if he doesn’t mind dealing with the extra effort of selling online and packing for shipment, it’ll fetch a higher price by reaching the right buyer who truly desires it.Same could be said about Tom's trees.
I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think Tom's white pine is nicer looking than the ones I linked, but that's just me. I just hope no one takes advantage of him, saying his trees aren't very good, only to buy them for a low price, that's all.
I also must admit I'm a rookie and don't have years of experience dealing in expensive trees. They will only be worth what someone is willing to pay.
Hello All - Thank you for your feedback on this thread which is now approx 2 months old. I thought some of you might be curious what ever happened to the 5 trees and how much or if they sold. I can say at this point all 5 trees were sold. The pine went for $700, the root over rock trident for $400 and the remaining 3 for $300 each. All in all I'm satisfied. Thank you again.
Srt8madness
Omono
Someone got a great deal on the pine! Thanks for the feedback
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