Muranaka Bonsai Nursery
- Thread starter QuintinBonsai
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Ron Dennis
Shohin
This nursery was highly recommended to me by another forum member and I have been totally pleased with the two trees I have bought from George: (1) Prunus mume and (2) Chinese Quince. I thought his prices were very reasonable for the quality trees I got.
Both of my trees were shipped to me and George's packing is second to none! I would not hesitate to buy from George and in fact check his available trees regularly. I just wish I lived close to him and could visit his nursery regularly.
Both of my trees were shipped to me and George's packing is second to none! I would not hesitate to buy from George and in fact check his available trees regularly. I just wish I lived close to him and could visit his nursery regularly.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
The one in the orange pot looks good. George has some nice trees, I own one JBP, and have seen quite a few others. Like all, just be sure you get a good look at all sides so you can weigh the pros and cons...the one in the green pot appears to have reverse taper...
bonsai barry
Omono
I live about ten minutes away from this nursery. For the past five or six years the owner, George Muranaka, has come to the school where I teach to help present a bonsai seminar. I have a lot of respect for his integrity. You can order with confidence.
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QuintinBonsai
Chumono
Thanks for your input, guys. I've added him to my favorite sellers.
I've bought a couple of trees from George in the past and have always been very satisfied. He is definitely one of the good guys.
The one thing I'd mention is that at those prices, you might want to try and find something with a little more trunk caliper (like 2"+). In my opinion, it's not easy to pull off a nice JBP using material with 1" trunks.
The one thing I'd mention is that at those prices, you might want to try and find something with a little more trunk caliper (like 2"+). In my opinion, it's not easy to pull off a nice JBP using material with 1" trunks.
bonsai barry
Omono
I haven't been lucky enough to find a JBP with a 2 inch trunk at that price. Do you have a favorite vendor that you can recommend?
BTW I noticed that Muranaka including shipping which is probably a $30 consideration.
Tree 2 is a good one. I agree about tree 1 it appears to have reverse taper.
I have a tree from George. I've had it about 2 years. It also suffers from a bit of reverse taper that I'm trying to get a sacrifice branch to grow out and fix. That was when I was just starting back in with Bonsai after 20 years off. I'm in a fairly remote rural area, and when I found George on ebay, I was so excited, I didn't know to wait for it... wait for it... until a really good one came along.
George is a good vendor.
I have a tree from George. I've had it about 2 years. It also suffers from a bit of reverse taper that I'm trying to get a sacrifice branch to grow out and fix. That was when I was just starting back in with Bonsai after 20 years off. I'm in a fairly remote rural area, and when I found George on ebay, I was so excited, I didn't know to wait for it... wait for it... until a really good one came along.
George is a good vendor.
Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest that you can find a 2" trunk JBP for that price. The first JBP I got from Muranaka had an inch trunk, and even after putting it in the ground a few years, it hasn't thickened up all that much. It's hard to work with a trunk that size, even for shohin, so I'll probably end up selling it. If I could do it over, I would have just saved more money and bought something with a bigger trunk that I could work with now, rather than buy the one I have and end up growing it out another 5-10 years.
Your Local bonsai club just did a workshop with Nipomo Pines twice that size for $70. We have had about 120 JBPs From Them. you need to get down there !! Next year same thing...
http://www.sandiegobonsaiclub.com/classes.html
QuintinBonsai
Chumono
Bummer... They're all sold out of their JBP classes. I will look into joining them as many people have suggested.
Intrigued,
One more thing about George's JBP... he usually does the chop at the second branch. That's not an issue, but what I've noticed, after watching his ebay listings over the past couple of years, is that none of his trees ever have any taper between the ground and the first branch. There's often little taper between the ground and the second branch! So, to really get the most out of his trees, you really do have to (or "should") plant them in a grow box and let them mature a little more.
When I first got mine, I was thinking, "WoW! A little wire, a year or so of de-candling, and ta-da! Instant JBP bonsai!" Er.... it ain't so. Yes, they're better than a lot of others I've seen, but they still need grow time. And that's the thing that's frustrating about pines: They need time. They're not necessarily "hard", it's just that they need time.
So, I suggest you get some of George's trees. Good material to work with and learn on. If you kill it, you haven't killed anything you can't replace. But, you'll learn what works and what doesn't. You'll gain experience. Then, if the opportunity comes along, you may feel confident to buy time. That is, a tree another has started. Yes, you'll pay dearly. But you'll know what you're doing, and you can keep, maintain, and improve a more "finished" tree. That JBP that is the subject of Brian's very nice long term development post, was purchased from Brussel's. I bet it was pretty expensive.
One more thing about George's JBP... he usually does the chop at the second branch. That's not an issue, but what I've noticed, after watching his ebay listings over the past couple of years, is that none of his trees ever have any taper between the ground and the first branch. There's often little taper between the ground and the second branch! So, to really get the most out of his trees, you really do have to (or "should") plant them in a grow box and let them mature a little more.
When I first got mine, I was thinking, "WoW! A little wire, a year or so of de-candling, and ta-da! Instant JBP bonsai!" Er.... it ain't so. Yes, they're better than a lot of others I've seen, but they still need grow time. And that's the thing that's frustrating about pines: They need time. They're not necessarily "hard", it's just that they need time.
So, I suggest you get some of George's trees. Good material to work with and learn on. If you kill it, you haven't killed anything you can't replace. But, you'll learn what works and what doesn't. You'll gain experience. Then, if the opportunity comes along, you may feel confident to buy time. That is, a tree another has started. Yes, you'll pay dearly. But you'll know what you're doing, and you can keep, maintain, and improve a more "finished" tree. That JBP that is the subject of Brian's very nice long term development post, was purchased from Brussel's. I bet it was pretty expensive.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Look at Don's $75 JBP selections...bigger trunks, more movement...and an excellent seller. I've bought several great trees from Don.
http://gregorybeachbonsai.com/8.html
http://gregorybeachbonsai.com/8.html
bonsai barry
Omono
Those trees seem to have more movement in the trunk but I like the bark on the trunk better on George's trees. If you are interested in buying from George, it is a better deal to buy them from him in person if possible. You can choose your tree in the field and dig it out for $65. You can reserve a tree starting on Oct. 1 and dig it out the next Jan. or Feb. I buy one from him every other year, mostly pines but sometimes apricot.
QuintinBonsai
Chumono
I would love the opportunity to meet him, but the long distance drive is something to be planned for. Google maps gives me an estimated time of 4hrs 50min. Hopefully Kuma Bonsai Nursery of El Cajon, CA has some interesting trees to work with.
And grafting. Time and grafting. Most trees in the US, especially pines don't have enough branches.
One more thing about George's JBP... he usually does the chop at the second branch. That's not an issue, but what I've noticed, after watching his ebay listings over the past couple of years, is that none of his trees ever have any taper between the ground and the first branch. There's often little taper between the ground and the second branch! So, to really get the most out of his trees, you really do have to (or "should") plant them in a grow box and let them mature a little more.
When I first got mine, I was thinking, "WoW! A little wire, a year or so of de-candling, and ta-da! Instant JBP bonsai!" Er.... it ain't so. Yes, they're better than a lot of others I've seen, but they still need grow time. And that's the thing that's frustrating about pines: They need time. They're not necessarily "hard", it's just that they need time.
So, I suggest you get some of George's trees. Good material to work with and learn on. If you kill it, you haven't killed anything you can't replace. But, you'll learn what works and what doesn't. You'll gain experience. Then, if the opportunity comes along, you may feel confident to buy time. That is, a tree another has started. Yes, you'll pay dearly. But you'll know what you're doing, and you can keep, maintain, and improve a more "finished" tree. That JBP that is the subject of Brian's very nice long term development post, was purchased from Brussel's. I bet it was pretty expensive.[/QUOTE]
One more thing about George's JBP... he usually does the chop at the second branch. That's not an issue, but what I've noticed, after watching his ebay listings over the past couple of years, is that none of his trees ever have any taper between the ground and the first branch. There's often little taper between the ground and the second branch! So, to really get the most out of his trees, you really do have to (or "should") plant them in a grow box and let them mature a little more.
When I first got mine, I was thinking, "WoW! A little wire, a year or so of de-candling, and ta-da! Instant JBP bonsai!" Er.... it ain't so. Yes, they're better than a lot of others I've seen, but they still need grow time. And that's the thing that's frustrating about pines: They need time. They're not necessarily "hard", it's just that they need time.
So, I suggest you get some of George's trees. Good material to work with and learn on. If you kill it, you haven't killed anything you can't replace. But, you'll learn what works and what doesn't. You'll gain experience. Then, if the opportunity comes along, you may feel confident to buy time. That is, a tree another has started. Yes, you'll pay dearly. But you'll know what you're doing, and you can keep, maintain, and improve a more "finished" tree. That JBP that is the subject of Brian's very nice long term development post, was purchased from Brussel's. I bet it was pretty expensive.[/QUOTE]
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