Proposed competition - Save a Mallasei

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Glad you opened it up to any species. I got a slippery elm, Ulmus rubra, in the ground, in the backyard that is in danger of getting away from me. I'll try to remember this competition when I dig it up in spring.

Also got a Siberian elm that is a bit rough.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

I would propose an initial scoring on a scale of 0-10 of the bad tree as voted by participants. 0=better off dead and 10=worthy of entrance in a club/regional show. All vote on all trees and the scores are added up for a total.

At the end of contest, the two trees are scored similarly and the average of the two individual tree's final score is the participants final tree score.

The winner is the participant who has the greatest difference between initial and final score. This is the final contest score.

Example:
Initial tree score = 41
(based on participant scores of 2,4,3,6,5,3,2,4,5,4,3)

tree 1 final score:76
tree 2 final score:69
Final tree score: (76+69)/2=72.5

Final Contest Score: 72.5-41=31.5

 

[leatherback]

Id say just get rid of the groups, why complicate it?

Turn 1 bad tree into two good trees.

agreed. Feels like many mnay rules for a bit of fun.
Will probably not be entering either way though. I need to be able to free up space and disconnect some trees a bit.

 

[oranjeaap]

I have an S-shaped Fukien Tea mallsai. It's very ugly but the base showed some promise. I'm waiting for spring to do a trunk chop but maybe I should airlayer it instead. Because it's ugly I never considered propagating the top sections and was just gonna compost it. Food for thought.

 

[Mikea454]

Id say just get rid of the groups, why complicate it?

Turn 1 bad tree into two good trees.

and I almost deleted them, since we did away with the S trunks it was less relevant. I will delete them, but there isn't much not in the list aside from uprights.

 

[Mikea454]

I would propose an initial scoring on a scale of 0-10 of the bad tree as voted by participants. 0=better off dead and 10=worthy of entrance in a club/regional show. All vote on all trees and the scores are added up for a total.

At the end of contest, the two trees are scored similarly and the average of the two individual tree's final score is the participants final tree score.

The winner is the participant who has the greatest difference between initial and final score. This is the final contest score.

Example:
Initial tree score = 41
(based on participant scores of 2,4,3,6,5,3,2,4,5,4,3)

tree 1 final score:76
tree 2 final score:69
Final tree score: (76+69)/2=72.5

Final Contest Score: 72.5-41=31.5

this is mathematically identical to my proposal. In mine the votes would be averaged to a single digit score for the pre- and each final product and then the difference found. this will give the same ranking to your method

for your example
pre= 3.73
tree 1 final 6.91
tree 2 final 6.27
final score of 9.45

we can do the math anyway you want, but the relatively rankings will be unchanged regardless (even if you turn a 2 into a 1 and a 10, or turn a 2 into a 5 and a 6 - both methods assign the same final ranking)

the only difference would be if there is a different number of voters, and I would actually prefer someone is not penalized for having one less voters, so I prefer my way

 

[leatherback]

and of course, voting is anonymous?

 

[leatherback]

not penalized

How about normalizing for expertise of the voting person?
Or do we intent to allow everybody to vote, even people who joint just to vote?

This whole voting is often a popularity contest, and not per se a reflection of quality.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

How about normalizing for expertise of the voting person?
Or do we intent to allow everybody to vote, even people who joint just to vote?

This whole voting is often a popularity contest, and not per se a reflection of quality.

I am going to limit voting to participants and only those with minimum 1000posts who are not participants.

this is mathematically identical to my proposal. In mine the votes would be averaged to a single digit score for the pre- and each final product and then the difference found. this will give the same ranking to your method

for your example
pre= 3.73
tree 1 final 6.91
tree 2 final 6.27
final score of 9.45

we can do the math anyway you want, but the relatively rankings will be unchanged regardless (even if you turn a 2 into a 1 and a 10, or turn a 2 into a 5 and a 6 - both methods assign the same final ranking)

the only difference would be if there is a different number of voters, and I would actually prefer someone is not penalized for having one less voters, so I prefer my way

your contest, your scoring. lol.

 

[Mikea454]

*******should we start a new thread with the finalized rules so it's easy for people to find??

*******Can anyone suggest a contest title?

---------------
Contest:
Turn an ugly tree deprived of any artistic vision into TWO beautiful seperate Bonsai trees or presentations (ie in two separate pots).

This can be accomplished by any technique- with layerings, cuttings, grafting back onto itself, but in the end must be in two seperate pots with all components originating from the same original specimen.

Timing:
Can use the next 3 months to find a tree.
-Contest will run from March 01 2026 to 2030.
*No cutting/trimming/layering until March.
-Post your starting tree by March 15th 2026.
-Starting scores must be voted by March 31st 2026.
-Final entries submitted by March 15, 2030 then voting until the end of March 2030.
-Winner announced in first week of April.

Photos:
Post starting photos by March 15, 2026, and new photos anytime you work on the tree(s). All starting tree photos much be posted in this thread by March 1st, 2026. Followup photos should be added at a minimum of one photos per year even if the tree was just left to grow.

Scoring:
Scoring will be the average of votes by all B.nut members assigning 0 to 10 points for the initial tree (posted in this thread) then 0 to 10 for each final presentation. The winner will have the most NET improvment in scores.

Scoring should focus on adherence to fundamental primcipals of bonsai design and overall "pleasingness" of the form. End ratings on the creativity of the solution and the elevation and improvement of the art of bonsai from the original specimen including style, shape, pot, etc. (What would make David De Groot - pricipals of design author proud) With only 4 years these won't be completed masterpieces, but highest scores should go to the entries with have the best design fundamentals but may be lacking ramification or final branch or trunk thickness.

--- boring math, no need to read ---

The sum of the average scores (rounded to two decimal places) of your final trees minus your initial tree is your final score. Highest score wins. (I.e. your initial tree is a 2, and you turn it into a 6 and an 8 for a final score of 12.)

-initial tree votes assigned 0 to 3 for a total of 40 points over 20 voters and so a score of 2.00
-Final tree #1 had votes from 5 to 8 points with a total of 120 over 20 voters and so got a score of 6.00
-Final tree #2 had scores from 5 to 10 with a total of 152 over 19 voters so got a score of 8.00

8+6-2=12 points Final


If one of your specimens dies you can still be scored on what remains (ie 8+0-2=6)

 

[Mikea454]

and of course, voting is anonymous?

would you like it to be, is there a way on this site to start an anonymous poll when you submit your photo entry? or would ypu like everyone to DM me votes?

 

[Mikea454]

How about normalizing for expertise of the voting person?
Or do we intent to allow everybody to vote, even people who joint just to vote?

This whole voting is often a popularity contest, and not per se a reflection of quality.

that's a good point, memebers for at least a year and entrants each get a vote?

unless ypu are volunteering as a non-contestant to be on a panel of judges?

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Mike I can show you how Im doing the celtis contest voting which may help with the calculations and such.

 

[Mikea454]

Mike I can show you how Im doing the celtis contest voting which may help with the calculations and such.

thanks, that would be helpful

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

@Mikea454, what about "The Mallsai Redemption 4-year Contest?"

 

[Mikea454]

@Mikea454, what about "The Mallsai Redemption 4-year Contest?"

i like the redemption. term. but its not necessarily mallasia anymore

 

[Orion_metalhead]

4-Year Rags to Redemption Contest

 

[Ozz80]

How about 4 Years Ugly Duckling to Swan Contest?

 

[Charlo]

Transformation from 1 to 2

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

Ugly² = 2(bonsai + beautiful)