Colorado
Masterpiece
Great point…
What's the cure for boredom in bonsai?
- Thread starter AcerAddict
- Start date
Great point…
Colorado
Masterpiece
I'm 41, so it's a little late for that. Besides, my wife and I mutually agreed shortly after meeting back in 2005 that neither one of us wanted kids. We have two rescue dogs and that's enough. We enjoy things being laid back and quiet when we want them to be.
Dual Income No Kids …. Yes the DINK life is the life for us too!
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
No income (besides disability) and 3 kids is the way to go..Dual Income No Kids …. Yes the DINK life is the life for us too!
There... THAT’S how you do it..
I’m NEVER bored
Forsoothe!
Imperial Masterpiece
This^^^ And, the closer you get to finished, the more attention to detail is needed on a continuing basis. Failure to do so allows the tree to revert to type, which is reaching for the sun with long branches, internodes, etc. The more finished your trees become, the more time each needs which reduces the number you can own (read: control). Also, even more important is more planning for replacement parts is required, too. Branches and twigs are not forever and eventually become less efficient and die. You need to anticipate this and short-cut the system to replace parts before the design is disturbed or ruined. Nice trees will keep you busy, and that's why we own them, right? So we can work on them.
Cosmos
Shohin
Barring acquiring more advanced trees (which you might not yet want to do for a variety of reasons - confidence in your skills, money, commitment, etc.), next best thing could be to become friends with someone with a large advanced collection in your area and offer to learn from them and work on their trees for free. This opens up possibility to get a "bonsai network", which is the best way to hone your techniques and get the chance to acquire worthy trees in due time.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
You could just go with convenient trees.
Example, I just realized that there's no window above the kitchen sink in my new place, like you would commonly find in other homes. But there is a very big, bright light fixture.
I'm going to add in a shelf under the light, replace one or two of the bulbs with grow bulbs, and keep a little shohin there I think. Work it in tiny steps in between loads of dishes.
Example, I just realized that there's no window above the kitchen sink in my new place, like you would commonly find in other homes. But there is a very big, bright light fixture.
I'm going to add in a shelf under the light, replace one or two of the bulbs with grow bulbs, and keep a little shohin there I think. Work it in tiny steps in between loads of dishes.
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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@AcerAddict
Remember, our tree collections are dynamic, not static. The number of trees you own should be constantly fluctuating. Advanced trees need much more time than "sticks in pots". Plug into the "buy-sell-trade" network to make it easier to get rid of stock, and find better projects.
Obviously acquiring more advanced material will greatly increase the time you need to spend in your trees.
Joining a bonsai club or study group is great for networking. The Milwaukee Bonsai Foundation has a permanent collection of trees at the Lynden Sculpture Garden. It's about a 1.5 hour drive from my house. There's regular opportunity for me to volunteer time, which allows me to do tasks from menial cleaning up the display area to serious maintenance and restoring style work on old trees. The curator supervises, but has the volunteers doing most things including detailed work on advanced trees. Many major cities have bonsai collections, see if there's anything near you.
Pottery, collecting quality bonsai pots is a time consuming study, and does not have to be limited to pots for the trees you have on hand. I have 3 times as many pots as I have trees. Initially I collected pots with specific trees in mind, but occasionally that tree died, or outgrew, or was traded away. Now I buy pots if they catch my eye, doesn't matter if I have a tree for it or not. You can collect by artist, or by age, antique Chinese are "the rage" now. You should have one or two exhibition quality pots for each of your better trees.
The "Art of Display" aspect of Bonsai is often neglected. There's a tremendous level of detail required for first class display. Years of study just to master the placement of trees, accents and scrolls. Setting up a shohin box display for 7 trees is enormously complicated. Having the right stand for each of your trees is essential. The "Art of Display" is a lifetime rabbit hole you could go down.
Building indoor and outdoor display areas are detailed and require effort. Anyone remember Dick Bendbow's thread on his building a Tokonoma in his home? Getting the dimensions right was not a simple task.
So if you feel you run out of things to do, just turn the corner and start looking into bonsai beyond just working on the tree in your yard. Pottery, stands, display techniques, all are areas of enormous complexity, requiring time and planning.
Remember, our tree collections are dynamic, not static. The number of trees you own should be constantly fluctuating. Advanced trees need much more time than "sticks in pots". Plug into the "buy-sell-trade" network to make it easier to get rid of stock, and find better projects.
Obviously acquiring more advanced material will greatly increase the time you need to spend in your trees.
Joining a bonsai club or study group is great for networking. The Milwaukee Bonsai Foundation has a permanent collection of trees at the Lynden Sculpture Garden. It's about a 1.5 hour drive from my house. There's regular opportunity for me to volunteer time, which allows me to do tasks from menial cleaning up the display area to serious maintenance and restoring style work on old trees. The curator supervises, but has the volunteers doing most things including detailed work on advanced trees. Many major cities have bonsai collections, see if there's anything near you.
Pottery, collecting quality bonsai pots is a time consuming study, and does not have to be limited to pots for the trees you have on hand. I have 3 times as many pots as I have trees. Initially I collected pots with specific trees in mind, but occasionally that tree died, or outgrew, or was traded away. Now I buy pots if they catch my eye, doesn't matter if I have a tree for it or not. You can collect by artist, or by age, antique Chinese are "the rage" now. You should have one or two exhibition quality pots for each of your better trees.
The "Art of Display" aspect of Bonsai is often neglected. There's a tremendous level of detail required for first class display. Years of study just to master the placement of trees, accents and scrolls. Setting up a shohin box display for 7 trees is enormously complicated. Having the right stand for each of your trees is essential. The "Art of Display" is a lifetime rabbit hole you could go down.
Building indoor and outdoor display areas are detailed and require effort. Anyone remember Dick Bendbow's thread on his building a Tokonoma in his home? Getting the dimensions right was not a simple task.
So if you feel you run out of things to do, just turn the corner and start looking into bonsai beyond just working on the tree in your yard. Pottery, stands, display techniques, all are areas of enormous complexity, requiring time and planning.
Njyamadori
Chumono
lol it was pretty funny for me to read this thread . It’s just a combination of school , fishing , and talking to a girl lol. Don’t worry I didn’t leave the hobby . I just don’t have any stupid questions anymore and no one wants to see my little seedling . I have tons of projects coming !
Katie0317
Chumono
Of course what Leo said...
Also, I've noticed that bonsai nurseries don't or can't begin to post all the they have for sale online. Many just have too much product. You may want to consider calling reputable bonsai nurseries and tell them what you're looking for. A finished tree rather than a pre-bonsai and give them your price range. I would think for 400.00 you could get a nice tree if you're flexible on what type of conifer you're looking for.
Talking with the owner and asking him to text you some photos may give you and the owner more options. Looking at a photo on text makes it easier to blow up and look at areas up close see it better too.
Just a thought but I've seen some beautiful trees for 400.00. Good luck with your search!
Also, I've noticed that bonsai nurseries don't or can't begin to post all the they have for sale online. Many just have too much product. You may want to consider calling reputable bonsai nurseries and tell them what you're looking for. A finished tree rather than a pre-bonsai and give them your price range. I would think for 400.00 you could get a nice tree if you're flexible on what type of conifer you're looking for.
Talking with the owner and asking him to text you some photos may give you and the owner more options. Looking at a photo on text makes it easier to blow up and look at areas up close see it better too.
Just a thought but I've seen some beautiful trees for 400.00. Good luck with your search!
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
Careful... Heartbreak hurts at that age...
..I’m talking about fishing!
Good to see ya, kid!
Njyamadori
Chumono
Lol don’t worry I’m making good decisions. I want to start getting better at bonsai wiring and styling next year so that’s gonna be my goal for next year . This year was more a test for my feelings on bonsai and taking care of bonsai . Also I still check bonsainut but I feel like the past few months has no good threadsCareful... Heartbreak hurts at that age...
..I’m talking about fishing!
Good to see ya, kid!
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
It’s like thrift shopping.. just gotta look for the treasures.
Njyamadori
Chumono
I’m working on a few stuff so I might post about that to start a conversation
AcerAddict
Shohin
Yep. I've been upping my quality substantially lately. Photos in the post below.
Haha, yeah that's pretty much us. We love the DINK life.Dual Income No Kids …. Yes the DINK life is the life for us too!
Unfortunately, there's no bonsai club near me, at least that I'm aware of, and believe me, I've searched. Closest one is in the Raleigh area, 2 hours away from here. I'm OK with learning via YouTube and websites like this one though. Plus, thanks to the Internet, there's now a ridiculous number of ways to source and buy quality material, not to mention the occasional diamond in the rough at the local nurseries.
Hey, glad to hear it! You're on the right path for sure. All I did in my teens was fish, go to school, and chase girls too.
AcerAddict
Shohin
For those telling me to acquire more quality material, here's what I've gotten in the last couple weeks.
- Eight year old field-grown Trident maple with 2" trunk. Root base is even wider.
- Cork Bark Elm (Ulmus parvifolia 'Yatsubusa') air layer. It's 7" tall and 1.5" thick.
- Sharp's Pygmy Japanese maple. It's about 20" tall with a 1.5" trunk. (arriving by the end of next week)
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Colorado
Masterpiece
That Sharps should keep you plenty busy in the spring!
andrewiles
Chumono
Yeah, collecting trips can eat up a lot of time in spring and fall. Esp. if you're willing to drive far and hike up mountains. Make a road trip vacation out of it. Plus, you can get really interesting material without paying a fortune.
AcerAddict
Shohin
Oh, no doubt. I've wanted to add one to my Japanese Maple collection for a while now. When it gets here, I'll have ten total JMs spanning seven different cultivars: standard Acer palmatum, Bloodgood, Shishigashira, Crimson Queen, Orangeola, Arakawa, and the Sharp's Pygmy.
Joe Dupre'
Masterpiece
Scouting for new trees has become a really big part of the hobby for me. There are a few stretches of country roads I go walking along 2-3 times a week. I find some absolutely awesome trees there that have been crudely "trunk chopped" by the road crews over a number of years. I also find volunteers from local residential yards there too. I've found two colors of lantanas, a couple of killer 2" nandinas, mimosa and , this summer, a 2.5" diameter elaeagnus that I'll dig this spring. About a week ago, I found two crepe myrtles that have been on the edge of the road for a LONG time. Not exaggerating......the trunk bases were 30" in diameter! The main trunk had died back and some of the "sprouts" were 6" in diameter. Find a friend or relative with a bit of land or even a narrow tree line. You would be surprised what you could find. On ONE trip a week ago, I found 30 honey locust pinky sized to forearm sized only 10 feet from the blacktop. Alert!! The legality of this is for you to determine.
Oh, and get more trees! Plant seeds . The next five years will pass no matter what you do. You'll be glad you planted those seeds.
Oh, and get more trees! Plant seeds . The next five years will pass no matter what you do. You'll be glad you planted those seeds.
Forsoothe!
Imperial Masterpiece
I haven't been to Florida in several years, but when I did I scouted hedge lines that were cared for by commercial crews around industrial and business lots. They do a good enough job, but they don't always weed cleanly under the hedges where it is difficult to distinguish between hedge & interloper. I have found some nice seedlings there. Look for hedges where there are trees you like nearby. I carry a plastic bag & a big long heavy flathead screwdriver that I can stick into the ground and upset the earth enough to pull the seedling/sapling straight out. I just look like I'm pullin' weeds!
