How long have you been bonsaing?

RedPine

Hello,

I was just wondering what the level of experience is for the forum.Sometimes I will see in peoples profiles they have been at it for longer than I have been alive..very impressive. I turned 28 this year and personally started trying to "bonsai" plants in 1998 so not very long for me at all.

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soonami

My mother had a friend that was very much into bonsai growing several trees from seed, like a ulmus parviflora from seed to a 4 inch trunk. I learned from him about 8 years ago, but only recently started getting seriously interested into bonsai

andrew lenden

hi R.P. i,m 31 and started bonsai soon after my father got interested in it as a compliment to his koi pond. the year i got my first trees was 1992. Most of my early trees have either been sold, have died or are in the ground again! although a lot of early seedlings and cuttings are beginning to show some potential it took me some time to realise that money can save you a lot of time with bonsai. heres one of my earliest trees that i bought in 1993 as a field grown (for bonsai) tree. it cost me about 15.00 gbp i think.

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weeijk

Hi Wes,


In 1997 I ordered a book of Werner M Busch, "Bonsai of native trees".
Back then, I started potting up trees, from seedlings found in nature.

I didnt have any clue really, cause in winter the tree got out of its pot and into the garden, where in spring it was taken out of the garden en into the pot. The pot's where normal houseplant pots. I read a little about bonsai on the internet and bought a second Dutch book. I only did a little pruning and rootcutting, but didn't had any good material, till about 1,5 year ago. Than I bought more stuff, like bonsaipots, shears, cutters and wire.

About a year ago I followed my first training. I own about 25 books right now, have bonsaifriends all over Holland and beyond. I'm attending forums in 3 languages, go to forum or other meetings to talk about bonsai and to work with trees. I have arround 35 trees now, almost all in pre bonsai state.

So, I'm well on the way with this hobby, but still own all 5 trees, I've started with.
1 is in the garden (Pinus Sylvestris), 3 are in boxes (2 Larches and a Norway Spruce) and 1 is in a bonsaipot.
It's an European Larch of about 9 years old in a windswept style. It stands 23 cm high and is 30 cm wide.

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larix decidua105 23-9-2005.jpg (71.8 KB, 32 views)

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Every tree can be a bonsai, but only some will be.

Aaron_K

It's just over 2 years now for me. I've always liked them, but my sister started it all off when she bought me a nice chinese elm for my birthday - which I promptly killed .

After that I started reading books and seeking out information on the net as much as possible. Virtually all my trees have been hooked out of their bonsai pots and potted into large containers to get some good growth going on them. It's early days, but I'm enjoying the ride.

All the best,

Aaron

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Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Muriel Strode

Vulpes pilum mutat, non mores!

"A fox may change its skin but never its character"

Repotter

I started in 1985 with some wild tree seedlings of Elm and Mulberry after seeing a bonsai show at a local mall, decided to get serious and watched a master do a demo at a local store, took some classes and I was totally hooked. Since then did some collecting and moved to Florida, where I concentrated on tropicals. I still have two of the first three trees I started with twenty years ago. A Carissa Grandiflora (nana), and a F. Nerifolia.

I'm back in Michigan now and aquiring more of the Michigan natives. I teach bonsai classes at Telly's nursery as well as take care of the bonsai section. Looks like I'm a hopeless bonsai nut, LOL

Hector

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http://www.tellys.com

http://www.Fourseasonsbonsai.com
The original Four Seasons Bonsai Club of Michigan had a great show with Roy Nagatoshi. The Japanese Consul General was there as well, Tellys Greenhouse, 3301 John R road, Troy Mi. 48083

Four Seasons Bonsai Club meetings monthly.
Troy, Michigan

"Anything is possible when you don't know what you are doing"................someone famous I think.

bonsaikc

I started in about 1994 but only began really learning about five years ago. Hey, maybe I can join a "new talent" contest!

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Chris Johnston
"She was a critic, and lots fo critics who aren't called to do what they write about grow jealous and mean and small in their disappointment." - Stephen King, Duma Key
Sashi-no-eda.blogspot.com

Newt

This is my 4th year. Soaking it up like a sponge!

Having an auction this weekend so that I have fewer trees and more money for the move. It is soooo hard to part with my babies though, especially now that I have room to put them in the ground. Oh well, its the process that I love, not really the ownership (although I won't be able to part with my best material unless absolutly needed).

Newt

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TpaBayFlyFisher

This will sound odd, but in 1976 I had a dream that I was holding a "real tree" in my hand. It was so vivid that I mentioned it to my girlfriend. A few days latter, we were driving to Orlando and there on a bill-board, was a hand holding a potted tree! Now I had rarely driven that road and didn't recall seeing the sign, but I had to follow it's directions. At the end of the road was a small nursery and an older lady who was willing to talk about her art. I bought a tree and some lessons. That tree and several others were stolen, but I have been growing bonsai ever since.