Vance, I wasn't just talking to you.... I was addressing several people's posts at once. You are right that the true talent lies in finding good starting material, no matter where it is from.

So we agree... I'm not poo-pooing nursery stock, and you're not poo-pooing good expensive stock. We are together poo-pooing people who don't have an eye for good stock, where ever it comes from.

Joanie

There we have it. Took a while to get there.

Wow! this is truely fascinating...

what is al ?

Let's try and keep the level of this thread on a grammatical level of acceptance. Anttal sentences usually start with a capital letter. Al truely really is truly.... truly. Good luck guys.

ash wus up? no gramma boy here.

Hey, if i ws edumacated i wood be makin better trees.

Yeah, we didn't want to say anything Al, but geeze you're a dumb cluck.



Joanie

But he makes nice trees and stimulates conversation. I always find it interesting that folks always find ways to clasiify people- if you don't grow it from seed, or climb to the top of the mountain, or to the bottom of the desert- you are not an artist- you are a collector.

That is code. The reason I buy expensive import material and yamadori from professional collectors- because I can. If you can't or can and choose not to, oh well. I wish I were going to be here in a couple of generations when there are truly a good number of generational trees - whether they came from a Lowes or Home Depot or from a growing field in Japan or the top of a mountain in Wyoming- trees that have outlived two three or four generations of care providers- then let's see if the same inane conversation persists.

I read Vance Woods statements as to what he believes is wrong with America- particularly American culture- and why it impacts our Bonsai. I don't agree with him, necessarily, but he was willing to put his thoughts out there. I have more faith, I have spent a good deal of my life working with young people (college age), and it scares me how smart and hard working some are. The point that Vance and many others forget that while we call America a great democracy- it is really a meritocracy- those who earn it move forward and have success, or at least are more likely to, those who don't don't.

Just my opinion.
John