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Originally Posted by Grampz
'buy' one's way into the 'world of bonsai art'
purchase their way into 'bonsai stardom'?..
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This is the exact type sentance I would expect to hear in America. Whether tongue in cheek or not, thats the prevailing attitude when it comes to buying a more finished tree. We keep telling people this over and over with out rhetoric and people start believing that if they haven't fashioned their bonsai from scratch then they are somehow lacking in skills. "That person wins all the ribbons but he/she didn't make any of their trees". How many times have any of you heard that at a club show. They still have trees maybe many years in their care and they still are worthy of first place, that says something for the caretaker. They know what their doing. Why must we judge what others have found to be the easiest way to get to better trees?
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Originally Posted by Grampz
I do however have an issue with the continued references to "purchased stock" being touted as the 'only or best' way...Does this mean those of us which do not have the 'financial means' to "buy" this finished or nearly finished material will never be considered as 'artists'?.
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Not at all. I am not so naive that I think good bonsai could not be fashioned from nursery material. On the contrary, there have been many examples of very good bonsai done here at bonsaiTALK during contests and many forum members. We know and I know that there is stock out there lurking in nurseries that is wonderful. They are just far and few between and being there at the right moment has much to do with it.
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Originally Posted by Grampz
Thanks for the thoughts, and please do not take this as being argumentative of your editorial...I in fact fully agree with the majority of what you have written...But I also realize this is not a 'doable' for all forum members, and wish to point things out from a different perspective...
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This editorial was not written for someone with fifty bucks a year to spend on bonsai. Bonsai is an expensive hobby and I am not advocating this as the only way to do it justice. Just one way. The way "I" see it. Those less fortunate with discretionary funds to spend on bonsai will always be on the outside looking in if they wish to have a nice collection. Nature of the beast. I wish to drive a Porsche too, but I have pretty much settled on the fact that it will never come to be, so why worry about it.
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Originally Posted by Agrahm
It has the same mix of experience and talent levels as local clubs
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Yes, I think you are right.
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Originally Posted by Hansvanmeer
Well I for one like to think this is not true and even a bid unlogical. But hey....that's just my professional opinion!
Hans
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I think you need to read it again one more time. I think you lost something in the language barrier. Please don't tell me you buy all your stock at Walmart!
At the time I posted this I wished to come back and write an edit. I decided I would wait and see what I got in the way of responses. I might like to add it now. Buying stock does not have to mean spending two thousand dollars to get something worthy. When I say spend the money on something more finished that can mean something different for alot of people. For me it means buying trunk girth, taper, branch placement and health. For others it may mean buying a juniper that someone with more experience than them decided was not fun anymore and wished to put it on the raffle table or auction it during a club Xmas party. The point is, work will have been done to the tree moving it more from nursery material to potential bonsai. Maybe not world class material but certainly better than a juniper from Monrovia.
I see more and more people every day relateing their experiences on digging stock from homes and gardens. This is a good thing. People have reasoned that it may be better to get something a little larger and with more choices than always making a cascade or windswept juniper.
Cheers, Al