Dwight
Chumono
Now that we've established it is probably OK to keep one here , does anyone have one for sale ? I'd like to keep it under $500 if possible.
Why not buy that beauty on ebay.
keep it green,
Harry
Well maybe I should send you a couple hundred and you can grab one for me and send it back with your in;laws.
Seriousle , thats what I'd like to do but finding out when these events happen is proving difficult. I asked smoke about his club sale but got no answer. There's also the problem with lead time. I can't just jump in the truck and drive 800 miles.
Here's what I can do. Next time if I see something interesting and not too expensive, I will mention to the seller that there is a guy in El Paso who is interested. If you P.M. your cell phone number, I will give your info to the seller, and he may call you. After all, if I was a seller, I would be interested in contacting potential buyers.
The problem I see is that these things can get very heavy, and shipping can get pretty expensive. But I don't know the exact rates, so it may not be so bad. I do know that UPS does a lot of plant shippings.
Well maybe I should send you a couple hundred and you can grab one for me and send it back with your in;laws.
Seriousle , thats what I'd like to do but finding out when these events happen is proving difficult. I asked smoke about his club sale but got no answer. There's also the problem with lead time. I can't just jump in the truck and drive 800 miles.
Now with that said, a "good" california juniper will not be had in the 500.00 range while a "good" prostrata or "good" shimpaku with some size could be attained for 500.00.
Al, I bought pretty decent trunks for $150. Totally raw, though, no training at all.
So, I am not sure why you say that you cannot get one for $500.
Last year I got a monster juniper (cascade) from Paul De Rose, for $140. The lower trunk is around 7-8 inches in diameter, and good cascade material is pretty rare.
In the last 5 years I got a few others, with great trunks, all for less than $150. The rest I collected myself.
Could it be that prices have gone up that much?
I mean, good taper, good rootage, good branching and in the correct places etc etc.
Let's just say that what you may find a good deal at 150.00 may be a stick in a pot for me. It's all subjective.
.....
I agree. Same here. Most of what people find great deals, are sticks in a pot for me. I am rather jaded, when it comes to getting excited about any bonsai. I've seen too many California Junipers in my life.
[This part of my post is subsequently edited]
I've changed my response here because after a second thought I realized that the bargains are not the norm, and they should be held confidential. It is in the best interest of our community to do so.
So, my official response is... (especially for those who work for the IRS):
Yes, you are right Al, one should not expect to pay less than $500 for a good Cali. Juniper material. The $150 in my previous post was a misprint. I just forgot the second zero.
Price is not the object, quality is, who the hell wants a California juniper for 150 bucks, that looks like a pice of shit that will never make a bonsai. There are no GOOD DEALS in bonsai, you get what you pay for, period. If you are fortunate enough to live where you can collect them, then I'm wrong, but I'm not.
keep it green,
Harry
he , he , he , he , he , he , he