What’s your latest Bonsai related purchase?

[Cadillactaste]

Those are $32.50... they have the "carbon steel" ones for 9.50, same ones I buy in Amazon 5 for $6. I take them apart and sharpen them when they feel slightly dull. I do like the design of the AB stainless shears, and it would be a nice "want", but not willing to spend that money when I can get similar ones for less than $20.

Amazon.com

Amazon
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EDIT - If you look at the picture of the stainless ones, they are filed only on the inside, this is a mistake... they should be ground flat with maybe a slight concavity, and sharpened on the outside. When those become dull, you need to sharpen the outside, just like a grafting knife. If you sharpen the inside the cutting edge will start to separate. Just like they say to only sharpen the outside edge on bonsai scissors

I have scissors I've had the entire time of my bonsai hobby that Adair had me buy...and they were cheap. One sided sharpened on the inside. I continue to sharpener them with my kitchen knives sharpener file. So I disagree. I actually abuse them. Cut wire and prune trees with it. So I don't see that as an issue at all.

 

[Cajunrider]

Garlic powder, hot pepper powder, and deer & rabbit repellent sprinkled all over my backyard today. If they don't vacate by next week, there will be high velocity consequences! The air rifle will arrive tomorrow. The wabbits are on notice by the repellents I used. I am giving them all the chances to survive.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Standard thread snips for sewing.
How much was the "bonsai brand" tax?

I disagree...they are badass! I like nice things... (((clearing throat))) cadillactaste I come by it naturally.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Thumb hole alone...on those scissors. I think of how I manipulate scissors to partially defoliate the satsuki azalea. I see that as having more control for the way I hold my scissors.

 

[Kievnstavick]

I paid a deposit for a class with John Eads that I'll be attending tomorrow and Sunday.

Hoping to start learning some great things on playing with very young stock.

 

[NashsMan]

Pinus parviflora 'Aoi' 6903547202, Tsuga canadensis 'Stockman's Dwarf' 6903547377, Pinus parviflora 'Ogon', Cedrus atlantica 'Sapphire Nymph', Pinus parviflora 'Azuma goyo'

Thanks to @WNC Bonsai for the recommendation of Mountain Meadows Nursery in Weaverville, NC !

It's been difficult to find any Japanese White Pines and they had many cultivars.
I searched out the best looking grafts, and will probably also do air-layers.

We just happened to be coming this way for a family reunion and a short detour provided a jackpot!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Grabbed a porcelain berry at the show setup today. If y’all are around, the show is tomorrow and Sunday at the Bham Botanical Gardens.

 

[Frozentreehugger]

Area reforestation centre spring sale . (Normally you can only purchase large lots of trees pre ordered 100 tree lots ) spring sale of left overs mostly native plants .3 tillie Cordata (little leaf Lindon )3 eastern larch ( first for me ) 2 more eastern hemlock ( like I was running out ) the lindon im happy about I have failed to grow it from seed . And the larch is a about time thing . In bonsai up here there are many excellent collected larch . I’m like what’s the point I’ll never have one that nice . Hence my reluctance to start .

 

[Frozentreehugger]

Pinus parviflora 'Aoi' 6903547202, Tsuga canadensis 'Stockman's Dwarf' 6903547377, Pinus parviflora 'Ogon', Cedrus atlantica 'Sapphire Nymph', Pinus parviflora 'Azuma goyo'

Thanks to @WNC Bonsai for the recommendation of Mountain Meadows Nursery in Weaverville, NC !

It's been difficult to find any Japanese White Pines and they had many cultivars.
I searched out the best looking grafts, and will probably also do air-layers.

We just happened to be coming this way for a family reunion and a short detour provided a jackpot!

I could only dream about going thru a nursery selecting JWP Nice trees

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Area reforestation centre spring sale . (Normally you can only purchase large lots of trees pre ordered 100 tree lots ) spring sale of left overs mostly native plants .3 tillie Cordata (little leaf Lindon )3 eastern larch ( first for me ) 2 more eastern hemlock ( like I was running out ) the lindon im happy about I have failed to grow it from seed . And the larch is a about time thing . In bonsai up here there are many excellent collected larch . I’m like what’s the point I’ll never have one that nice . Hence my reluctance to start .

I love larch, probably my favorite tree. I have two American larch and I've been told they heal rather fast.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Got some carving tools. I should stock up on band-aids.

 

[NashsMan]

Grabbed a porcelain berry at the show setup today. If y’all are around, the show is tomorrow and Sunday at the Bham Botanical Gardens.
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I love porcelain berry but it's a huge nuisance in my neighborhood. I think all 360 neighbors in my 'hood would come after me with garden trowels, shovels and pitchforks!

 

[ShadyStump]

I love porcelain berry but it's a huge nuisance in my neighborhood. I think all 360 neighbors in my 'hood would come after me with garden trowels, shovels and pitchforks!

Chase you down with burning bush.

 

[Frozentreehugger]

I love larch, probably my favorite tree. I have two American larch and I've been told they heal rather fast.

Yes they do . A lot would argue North east north americas best species for bonsai . Nick Lenz really advanced there use . Super prime wild collection sights are 2 . One peat wet bogs . Where the peat builds up .the trees naturally air layer into the top layer of peat . The lower roots rot under this layer . So your collecting the top of a 60 year old tree .nasty place to be in spring . 2 windswept rock outcrops . Especially near water . Where the cold wind can kill anything else . ( one would think your in the right state drive north to the lake shore in fact I know you are ) David Easterbrook tree . This is not his most famous larch . There is one that’s huge trunked been in the US National show . But it’s hands down my favourite larch . Pull a map out follow the St Lawrence river . East about 1/2 way from Quebec City to the Atlantic . There are cliffs overlooking the river about 100 feet straight up . There are flat plains on top near the edge is the source of this tree . I have been there once.it was windy as hell very cold rain .1 degree above freezing on June 1st just a lovely day

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Yes they do . A lot would argue North east north americas best species for bonsai . Nick Lenz really advanced there use . Super prime wild collection sights are 2 . One peat wet bogs . Where the peat builds up .the trees naturally air layer into the top layer of peat . The lower roots rot under this layer . So your collecting the top of a 60 year old tree .nasty place to be in spring . 2 windswept rock outcrops . Especially near water . Where the cold wind can kill anything else . ( one would think your in the right state drive north to the lake shore in fact I know you are ) David Easterbrook tree . This is not his most famous larch . There is one that’s huge trunked been in the US National show . But it’s hands down my favourite larch . Pull a map out follow the St Lawrence river . East about 1/2 way from Quebec City to the Atlantic . There are cliffs overlooking the river about 100 feet straight up . There are flat plains on top near the edge is the source of this tree . I have been there once.it was windy as hell very cold rain .1 degree above freezing on June 1st just a lovely day

Wow! That's a sweet Larch. Nice, you drew me a treasure map with that advice, thanks.

 

[RJG2]

Wow! That's a sweet Larch. Nice, you drew me a treasure map with that advice, thanks.

@Frozentreehugger it's not wrong - just look at some of @mattspinniken's larches!

Larch first styling

I collected this Larch in 2021 fall. It was growing in a harsh windy lake shore and at some point something heavy had fallen on it. I love odd trees that are unique and this one was going to be fun. I bent the top down in 2023 but was not happy with the look so over time I bent the top more...

www.bonsainut.com

Larch from a wild shore

This Larch was exciting from the beginning for me. I styled it for the first time today. I like to leave some parts long at first just in case. Thoughts on the styling and any ideas for a nice vessel?

www.bonsainut.com

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

@Frozentreehugger it's not wrong - just look at some of @mattspinniken's larches!

Larch first styling

I collected this Larch in 2021 fall. It was growing in a harsh windy lake shore and at some point something heavy had fallen on it. I love odd trees that are unique and this one was going to be fun. I bent the top down in 2023 but was not happy with the look so over time I bent the top more...

www.bonsainut.com

Larch from a wild shore

This Larch was exciting from the beginning for me. I styled it for the first time today. I like to leave some parts long at first just in case. Thoughts on the styling and any ideas for a nice vessel?

www.bonsainut.com

I'm a big fan of Matt's work. He has a lot of great trees.

 

[Paradox]

Compact reciprocating saw that I'll use to cut off branch stubs on a few trees I cut down from larger trees. Got tired of using a small hand saw.

 

[Cajunrider]

Garlic powder, hot pepper powder, and deer & rabbit repellent sprinkled all over my backyard today. If they don't vacate by next week, there will be high velocity consequences! The air rifle will arrive tomorrow. The wabbits are on notice by the repellents I used. I am giving them all the chances to survive.

The rabbits got the memo. They are no where to be found.

 

[Paradox]

Mugo pine for the Vance Wood memorial mugo project


Also a prunus mume Peggy Clark tree I got from a landscape nursery. Shipped via Fed Ex barefooted and dormant. Came in a few days ago. I potted it in akadama and pumice. Hopefully it does ok.