bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Value, What A Word, What An Idea

Thoughts about value

I guess my answer is simple. I wouldn’t sell a tree to a friend. Trade, yes. Sell, no. I’ve parted with a number trees, but most of them have been relatively raw collected material that I could do without, and in exchange I got three trees I can’t collect—a Kingsville boxwood, a collected Korean hornbeam, and a really nice informal upright juniper. This trade was with a bonsai nursery in Massachusetts. I have also traded once with a friend—a monster honeysuckle I collected myself, in trade for several trees. That one I parted with only because I couldn’t justify a separate trip in my truck to bring it with me when I move. I wish I could have brought it with me.

I’m not sure I agree with Glenn that the higher a price you pay for a tree, the more careful you are with it. The trees I worry about the most are the ones I’ve collected myself. This is because I have become very selective about what I collect, and I value each for its individuality, and the fact that it developed . And, I’m the one who has initially taken it out of the ground, done the drastic initial root-pruning, etc.

When I buy from a bonsai nursery that I’m familiar with and trust, I know that they have priced the material to reflect the time put into it. It might be too high for my budget, but I’m not going to argue. Would I jump at the chance to buy it on sale? Sure, if the sale price brought it down to what I could afford.

I wouldn't sell a tree to somebody off the street. When I lived in Maine our house was on the main st. and my trees were in the side yard. People were coming up all the time asking if I sold them. I always said no, guessing that for most they just asked because they thought they were cute and wanted to give one to a friend for their birthday or something.

Craig Cowing
Blooming Grove NY
Zone 5b/6a

5-Dec-2002	#16
Craig Cowing Recovering Workaholic Join Date: Aug-2002 Location: Orange County NY Country: USA USDA Zone: 6a!!! AHS Heat Zone: 5 Posts: 647	Thoughts about value I guess my answer is simple. I wouldn’t sell a tree to a friend. Trade, yes. Sell, no. I’ve parted with a number trees, but most of them have been relatively raw collected material that I could do without, and in exchange I got three trees I can’t collect—a Kingsville boxwood, a collected Korean hornbeam, and a really nice informal upright juniper. This trade was with a bonsai nursery in Massachusetts. I have also traded once with a friend—a monster honeysuckle I collected myself, in trade for several trees. That one I parted with only because I couldn’t justify a separate trip in my truck to bring it with me when I move. I wish I could have brought it with me. I’m not sure I agree with Glenn that the higher a price you pay for a tree, the more careful you are with it. The trees I worry about the most are the ones I’ve collected myself. This is because I have become very selective about what I collect, and I value each for its individuality, and the fact that it developed . And, I’m the one who has initially taken it out of the ground, done the drastic initial root-pruning, etc. When I buy from a bonsai nursery that I’m familiar with and trust, I know that they have priced the material to reflect the time put into it. It might be too high for my budget, but I’m not going to argue. Would I jump at the chance to buy it on sale? Sure, if the sale price brought it down to what I could afford. I wouldn't sell a tree to somebody off the street. When I lived in Maine our house was on the main st. and my trees were in the side yard. People were coming up all the time asking if I sold them. I always said no, guessing that for most they just asked because they thought they were cute and wanted to give one to a friend for their birthday or something. Craig Cowing Blooming Grove NY Zone 5b/6a __________________ I'm not finished yet, neither are my trees.