Frank Kroeker’s Sonlight Nursery; Trees and an Education

A picture is worth a thousand words-IF it does justice to the subject. I was able to visit the nursery of OKBonsai, aka Sonlight Nursery in Blanchard Oklahoma. It’s hidden away, but is only minutes away from the Oklahoma State Capital. It is worth the trip. If you are looking for a polished, commercial nursery with neon lights and a fancy entryway, keep driving. But if what you are really looking for is hundreds of field grown (from seed!) trident maples, quince, crabapples, black pines, collected bald cypress, collected water elms, zelkovas, and Chinese elms, it’s worth a stop. Bring money, your gardening clothes and knee pads, and plan on spending some time. Frank might allow you to bring your own shovel. While I was there, I saw several good trees that I’d have bought and taken home if it hadn’t been out of season. I might have to come up with an excuse to go back in spring when he is digging them up. Frank has several beds of Japanese Black pines in various beds, from a couple of years old to over ten years in his beds. He’s come up with a way to field grow them so that they are robust and sizable, yet rooted shallowly. The tridents and elms are done in a similar way. They are grown in full sun, so they have plenty of options for styling. On some, he has done your homework for you and pruned and lightly wired for basic shape. However, if you like to do it all yourself, there is plenty of un-worked material to choose from. I learned a great deal from my visit. There has been discussion here recently about supporting the bonsai business people that support the bonsai enthusiasts. Perhaps this was my first real insight into this. Not having lots of expendable income or opportunity to travel, I haven’t been to other bonsai nurseries, (bonsai) pottery studios, or even conventions. I have had to mostly resort to the landscaper’s nursery waltz. I have a favorite such nursery where really good potensai can be found for little cash. However, there is no comparison for getting plants that have been “purpose grown” (to quote another member here). Purpose grown, as I came to understand it this past weekend, refers to plants raised with attention to root systems, nebari, and branch structure. When all of this is done in a nursery where somebody else does all of the initial hard work, (like crawling around on the ground) they do deserve the little bit of hard-earned money they get from us.

Because Frank was so educational, it’s a good thing I will never ever try to start my own bonsai nursery. I got some really practical ideas on how to better care for my own little trees. I will be utilizing this new information and insight when we move into our new home this November. Frank really helped to demystify a few things for me. I found myself a little bit worried about Frank, and how he possibly makes any money at all in the pursuit of bonsai excellence. Lord knows, there aren’t a lot of us beating a path to his door to buy his trees. Fortunately, some of the established bonsai artists know where to find him. (Frank was modest enough to only name a couple that I have heard about.) Frank takes orders and conducts classes and demos. He showed me some trees that some of his younger students were working on; it gave me hope for the future. Perhaps the most desirable stuff was “not for sale.” I quite literally salivated over the bald cypress trees that were as thick as my leg (and no, I’m not giving that information out!!!). There were a few collected water elms that were bigger than my head! I do think it’s important to say, in hopes of not cheapening the experience, that the prices are more than reasonable. I am a real cheapskate (only by necessity), but I could easily bring home a high quality trident, Chinese elm, or zelkova for between twenty five to fifty dollars. I did spend a little less cash than that and came home with two beautiful shohin size zelkovas and a gorgeous (and hard to find) potted Fabian Aralia (tropical). I truly would have spent more (and still might) if I had been there in the spring. Frank won’t murder a tree to make a buck-“come back in the spring!” If you have more to spend, and have advanced beyond intermediate material, there is even more to choose from. From the raw beginner to the advanced enthusiast, no one goes home disappointed. PM OKBonsai to find out how to get there, and take your club along!

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Sonlight NurseryGreen Country Bonsai Society

Thanks so much for sharing Earthgirl.
I cannot wait until I can get my butt down there.
-Paul

You bet! I too can't wait till spring to go back and spend the "big bucks!"

Probably a bit of a drive from Ohio

Thanks for sharing Earthgrrl!
And thanks Frank for letting her share!

pootsie

Michelle,
Good to see that you got on over to Frank's place. As I have insinuated elsewhere in the forum, at the risk of blatant commercialism- I can't agree more. He has taken the high road to developing quality field grown material, and is now at the point that he can reap some of the benefits from his toil.

I have had the good benefit of walking the tree rows, participating in his workshops and collecting with him (we are going again this week out west) over the past few years. His enthusiasm is infectious and his knowledge founded on both education and experience. It is a 4 plus hour drive for me to get there, worth every minute.

Go ahead and ask him about the workshops he is planning next spring. Might not have the fancy facilities, but I guarantee that you won't be disappointed in the material or the price of the workshop. John
(Purpose grown trees are the best way to get started in bonsai (My humble opinion)- let the grower take the risks for root system development- and get a tree that really has low branches)

Michelle, thank you for the nice article, sometimes being stuck out here in Oklahoma you don't have the traffic you would like and sometimes wonder if you are doing anything right. But with the encouraging words from you and John, and my wife, I know that all that education and time at BBN wasn't in vane. I try hard to be helpful to the bonsai enthusiast and to offer up the best product I can. It has taken a few years and a lot of patience but I know with comments like these it was worth the effort. Thanks a lot, Frank

Could someone supply Frank Kroeker's web site address and or phone number, mailing address or any other information you might have. I get zip searching for sonlight nursery and okbonsai. I would appreciate the help.

Unfortunatly web site is down,(told any day now but have been told that for a year now) but phone number is 405 392 3159 email fkroeker@pldi.net. Thanks, Frank

Thank you so much... That gives me a starting point. I appreciate your taking the time to help.

Michelle,

Sounds (and looks) like a great place. If I am ever in the area I would ove to see it, in person.

Thanks for sharing,

John