I am happy to report that my nursery find and contest entry for last years contest has started to show some buds. Looks like the Barberry made it through the styling and the winter just find....


Will

That's good news. I thought your entry last year was very nice.
Incidentally, I found some GREAT potensai at my last nursery visit, and have identified the only nursery I will be going to to find stylable stock from now on. Their prices are reasonable, and the stock is more substantial than what you pay the same prices for at other nurseries. But the really good stuff can be found in their "junk pile" (thanks to Will's tip). This material is cheaper, and better...what a "dream..." Now, if I can just keep it alive. I do think a couple of the plants I picked up need a little rehab, so I don't want to push too fast...

Michelle,

Good to hear that someone read this article, lol.

I am happy to hear of your success with the nursery, good job. I recently went out to a farmland nursery. I found it on the internet and heard some good things from some fellow bonsaist. Although it was a very long drive and it was said that their prices were high I went out anyhow. I got shown around by a very pleasant older lady who I had a hard time keeping up with. 80 acres and some very cold hands later I asked where they put thier "junk" trees. She walked me to the back fence behind a huge green house where I found stock heaven!

Twisted, warped stock that no one wanted to display, with tags so old that the plastic was brittle and the text all but unreadable. Trees the same size as ones in the main customer tour area were going for 100 - 1000 dollars, these she informed me could be had for under 30 bucks for my choice.

Needless to say, I stocked up on the best of them, vowing to return for the rest soon. Korean Firs, Scots pines, Junipers, Japanese white pines, all stored, all hid, just waiting for a person to see their worth. I made a few cracks about the isle of misfit trees and maybe, just maybe, I felt a tear of joy roll down my cheek. (Of course it could have been from watching this older woman out lift me...)

I made a few new friends, found a new place to aquire quality stock, and had a grand old time. This is one of the things I love the most about bonsai!


Will

Will,

What's a "box" store and where in SE Detroit is there one? I am tired of going to Bonsai House . . . she always has the same stock in it seems.

Sadly, at least as far as Michigan is concerned, the best place to find good potential bonsai material is on your hands an knees in any, and all, Mom and Pop nurseries you may run accross in your travels. You are more likely to find the out of the way neglected Pine, Juniper or Cottoneaster with trunks to die for in these locations than any Bonsai Store. Finding a tree like that in a bonsai store will cost you into three digits.

Box stores in this area would include Home Depot, K-Mart, WalMart, Franks, and such. I have always had good luck with Home Depot and you may want to try Gee's Nursery http://www.geefarms.com here in Michigan, excellent stock, about 80 acreas of it! (Tell them I sent you)

I have a collecting demo to give at our club meeting tomorrow, and as usual, I am unprepared.

Vance, if you are going to be there, I am bringing in a could freshly collected trees that I will pot up there, I sure would like your expertise.



Will

Hi Will:

I am going to be there. Give me a call tonight and provide some additional info if possible.

Thanks for all the help Vance, it really made the meeting! I posted pictures here.

One question I have though, you mentioned not forgetting to pince back the foliage which I understand, my question is did you mean to start on that right away or after the tree regains vigor?

Will

I would be interested in seeing anyone's nursery treasures they uncovered this year....



Will

well i can't post pictures of some of the other plants but my mom entered one that the nursury was going to throw into the trash bin in the styling contest and now it's being taken care of properly it is a really nice tree and i will admit i thought she was crazy when she got it and was going to use it for the contest she should have waited lol it looks even nicer now that it is actually taking off she got a vancouver jade also that was going to the trash from the same nursury at the same time that looked dead now after doing some branch pruning discovered the problem used the proper remedy and it too is doing really well flowers very nicely too will make a very nice cascade

nursuries are in it for the money they will give up on a plant way to easy it's the bonsaisist in us that won't until it's totaly dead