Recent content by justBonsai

Yeah anyone can submit! Dates most likely August 16th-17th but I am waiting for confirmation.

LOL this is some resurrection. I can't even remember typing this. You know I vaguely remember the intent to do that show but I think it never came to fruition. Life certainly has changed A LOT since I wrote that comment. I went through many difficult but I think necessary life experiences that...

Agree with some thoughts on contemporary vs traditional. Many people adopt anti Japan principles, but some "rules" is not intrinsic to Japanese culture. They are as you said just conceptions relating to effectively displaying, conveying, and balancing bonsai. The execution of these concepts can...

One thought I had, that by having entrant based judging there is a slight bias towards trees with more surface impact value. (e.g strong trunk, interesting features, deadwood, dynamic lines). The cryptomeria, based off shear cultivated quality and time was definitely best in show and typically...

This is great, I love the JMP data analysis. Similar to the last expo I felt strongly that 5-7 trees in the lower distribution should not have been in this show.

Not necessarily, but you can shorten it or bend the branches of that trunk to the left as well which will suggest movement to the left.

Welcome to the journey! Bonsai is a deep and can be incredibly enriching art. The first step is just to get started and work on material, so congrats on the making the move. There is a lot involved in the makings of a bonsai. To simplify it we can break down bonsai art in 2 aspects. 1)...

It's generous to share what you bought your tree for--of course no one is entitled to know how you spend your money and there is no obligation to share. Generally pricing on bonsai can be complicated, but the simplest way to look at it, is that you are buying time. Trees take time to cultivate...

The Jcross pots look pretty nice. I think paired well it looks cool. An unrelated comment about weight though, are old school practioners who plant their trees in pure DG. I hate that and it makes pots so damn heavy. If you don't plan on moving the tree much or will use equipment everytime you...

What book was this?

Yeah! Give it a try and see how it develops in your area. One of the "retired" professionals in my area, John Wang, had many nice rmj's that be bought from Randy Knight and would develop for customers. There were a lot of amazing trees, unfortunately they just did not seem to age well with the...

Would you consider graft attempting it again? 😀 Personal thoughts on rmj. 1) There are definitely preferred micro-climates where rmj grows hardier with healthier and more compact foliage. I am based in LA county, rmj here can grow healthy but its finicky and the slightest mishap or lack of...

A lot of great topics to discuss! My previous comment was speaking from personal experience. I am commenting on actually the "delayed" gratification group that seek more expedited work despite it setting back the tree's future. But I think this may be less so from being impatient but rather...

I suppose that is also true and it depends on your bias and perspective. I have felt that in general people are seeking faster gratification which is also seen in the modern professional bonsai market, where it is more favorable to do transformations and spaghetti wiring to show a great image...

Wow great thread! I am usually a lurker, bnutter of past, but a lot of well thought out intellectual comments. I think about this topic, as well as the future of bonsai in the US often because I am "newer generation" bonsai professional. I started in 2014, and joined this forum in 2015. When I...