Working Without a Net

bonsaikc

Am I the only one who wishes he had an extra pair of hands or two when working on his trees?

Has anyone here ever tried repotting a very large tree by themselves? Hard to do. Know what's harder? Photographing yourself working on a tree! LOL My wife is long-suffering when it comes to bonsai, and helps when she can (with photography or "hold this here," but I have got to get someone to help me once in a while-there's too much to get done just on Sundays and Tuesdays. I have seen a nice block and tackle arrangement (Mike Page?) which would help, but that extra pair of hands would sure be nice...

Chris Johnston

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Sashi-no-eda.blogspot.com

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cbobgo

you need an apprentice! I get to do alot of lifting and holding at Brent's. I take a few pics too. I finally found my camera again - need to get those pics posted . . .

- bob

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"As a twig is bent the tree inclines" - Virgil (70BC-19BC)
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Check out my blog: bonsaiapprentice

pootsie

Speaking of which, Bob, why can't I get to your blog??

pootsie

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p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master.
Columbus Bonsai Society

Adam_MA

Chris,
I know all too well what you are talking about. Last spring and summer I tried to do everything by myself which meant running out of time, having to repot slightly out of season, and so on. This year I am a student of The School at Bonsai West One of my goals is to not only learn more of the artistic areas of bonsai design, but to learn how to manage my collection more efficiently. Also at Bonsai West they have a weekly open workshop for $15 and you can have all the assistance you need. But sometimes I wish my next door neighbor was a bonsai head too!

Adam

rockm

Chris,

I hear ya. I have some pretty big trees too. Repotting them is a chore. I have begun to rely on the local bonsai nursery to help me with the biggest. I overwinter my heaviest one at the nursery anyway--it's about 200 lbs of soil pot and tree. I combine the repotting operation with a private design session with the nursery's owner every two or three years. Costs about $75 complete.

I did have some friends that used to help me with the repotting chores in exchange for design advice and help with their trees. Those friends have moved on (one moved away, the other--who's divorced--found a girlfriend and has apparently abandon bonsai ).

Checking with the local bonsai club may turn up some folks willing to help you in exchange for simply showing them how it's done.

bonsaikc

Mark, I only wish that were the case. I joined that club as a novice and those in control still seem to think of me in that way. I was a vendor there for a while and finally had to drop the commerce side of my business. Their meetings are only on Saturday, so I can't participate. I guess that's the way it's going to be until I find someone who wants to learn and might be interested in a tree or two.

Bob, I'd hardly put myself in the category of Brent or Boon. I really don't consider myself much more than a student at all, there are huge gaps in what I know. I just made the commitment to share the content of what I learn and do on the website. If I could find a co-conspirator, now, that would be something.

Chris

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Sashi-no-eda.blogspot.com

Bart Thomas(deceased)

Adam:

You hit the nail on the head! Chase Rosade has open workshops $50/full day; $30/half on weekends, plus "Special Wednesdays" at $35 per afternoon and evening session. These are so valuable to me that I go all the times that I can.

It also leads me to participate in fewer workshops with touring Masters, partly because, when I get the tree home, it's fate is up to me, with Chase's guidance. I don't want to get into a "too many cooks" situation.

In DC, I plan to visit a lot of workshops, but only as a silent observer.