Vin
Imperial Masterpiece
I grew up in Pittsburgh. The winters aren't as bad as Michigan's but I don't miss them a bit. Not that I prefer hurricanes over snow and ice storms either.
2015 Bonsai Nut Spring Box Store Challenge Kickoff
- Thread starter Vin
- Start date
Vin
Imperial Masterpiece
Hey Vance, It just came to me we have a couple things in common. I'm sure you remember Vince Vance and the Valiants? Also, I'm a Michigander; born in Lincoln Park.
Small world.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
I wont be participating in this one, partly because of the lack of available material in the time frame given and partly because I have enough box store material. I am trying to not buy more box store material unless it is truely exceptional box store material which almost never happens.
I wish everyone that does participate luck and look forward to seeing the results.
Thanks to Walter Pall for being willing to be the judge.
I wish everyone that does participate luck and look forward to seeing the results.
Thanks to Walter Pall for being willing to be the judge.
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
I get that...I have a number in my head...I don't wish to go over with how many trees I eventually will have. Though...my material on my list isn't as common in bonsai found in bonsai nurseries...so...nursery stock will work. And my #2 on my want list qualifies for this contest. So it's a win in my favor.
Sorry you won't be able to participate...since the contest material goes to May 1st...I might not jump at the first tree I see. Since I will be looking at last years material. But...focusing on bones...I would imagine by May...they would have material in that is fresh...so I say to myself. Hoping that is the case. But...it has gave me reason to purchase material that I already wanted.
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
Hey Vance, It just came to me we have a couple things in common. I'm sure you remember Vince Vance and the Valiants? Also, I'm a Michigander; born in Lincoln Park.
Lincoln park is in Chicago!
If Vin is Vince and Vance is Vance, can Mike and I be the Valiants!
If Vince Vance is one dude, we'll attempt human grafting!
Then you'll have a lot more in common!
Sorce
Vin
Imperial Masterpiece
Thanks for the heads up. Hopefully, you'll have some input when the final photos come out. I'm really not sure what happened with the interest in this. Everyone was really pushing for it last month. My guess is the May 1st deadline wasn't long enough. This is a challenge and if it was easy I wouldn't be participating. I appreciate your sentiments.
Vince
Vin
Imperial Masterpiece
Vince Vance is one guy but I'm not interested in being grafted with Vance
You can be a Valiant but we wouldn't do very well with me singing. I was born in Lincoln Park, Michigan on the south side of Detroit when Vance started bonsai. Oh wait, there's another thing we have in common.
skrit
Yamadori
Vin, I do hope that you get a good turn out for this competition! I'm sure there's other quiet folks from up north that are just waiting to thaw out.
If my wife and I weren't expecting our second child at the end of April, I would have happily participated. Unfortunately, I think the timing will be off. I had been looking forward to participating prior to the official rules being released, but I hadn't really considered the timing aspect. We'll see though, perhaps a couple garden centers up here will be open at the beginning of April, and I might be able to squeeze it in ahead of time.
If my wife and I weren't expecting our second child at the end of April, I would have happily participated. Unfortunately, I think the timing will be off. I had been looking forward to participating prior to the official rules being released, but I hadn't really considered the timing aspect. We'll see though, perhaps a couple garden centers up here will be open at the beginning of April, and I might be able to squeeze it in ahead of time.
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
I placed a call to nurseries up my way...they were willing to open by appointment...with the understanding I would be seeing material still in winter storage. No wide aisles...but crammed into the space they had.
Congrats on the soon to be new arrival!!!
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
May 1st doesnt make it a challenge, it makes it pretty much impossible for anyone north of Virginia or so along with much of the middle of the country.
Nurseries here only overwinter very large trees, everything small left in the yard after Thanksgiving is thrown out usually before the snow hits because it will most likely be dead when it thaws and if it manages to live, no one will buy it because it looks like its been through the ringer. Most dont even start to restock until May 1st and even then is is very limited and mostly early flowers geared towards Mother's day.
We still have a foot of snow or more on the ground and 10 ft piles everywhere. Getting another 8 inches tomorrow.
To be honest, I'm not upset or mad about it. The May 1st deadline just made it real easy to stick to my plans to work with what I have and try to get better material.
I am still interested in seeing what people manage to do, but I have to agree with Al.
I appreciate your effort Vin and I know it wasnt intentional, but this contest is skewed towards the warmer areas by default. A later purchase period may have skewed it the other way, who knows. I tend to forget that while I still have snow on the ground, other parts of the country are at 70-80 degrees already. Im sure those folks forget we are still in the deep freeze up here.
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
Let's not forget this option...thinking some photos of material to northern folk from those down south could be a winning factor. But understand if ones don't wish to go that route...I guess I forget that living more rural...though I've an hour and twenty minutes to a nursery...I still have access to materials in storage.
tmmason10
Omono
Maybe I'm forgetting , but I'd be shocked if the nurseries didn't have plants in by May 1st. And yes there are still 10 foot snowbanks here too but we are talking 2 months away. I totally understand if you don't participate for other reasons but I don't feel isolated as a northerner.
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
Nothing like a tree started the same week as the baby IMO!
Good story! Good inheritable!
Sorce
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
Maybe its different in your area, but Ive been where I live for over 20 years and that is the way it is. Old stock gets thrown out in November so they can stock Xmas trees and no new stuff until May.
In any case, lets not derail this thread any longer.
As I said, I wish the participants luck .
coh
Imperial Masterpiece
No new stuff at nurseries on Long Island until May? That's surprising. Last year everything was late up here (and I'm sure it will be this year again), but we had plenty of stuff arriving by mid April.
Appliance Guy
Mame
I've been scouting a few times. My favorite haunt is expecting three shipments this week. Gonna check em out, although I have my eyes on an azalea project. I'm trying to time it right so I can have good blooms on the finished product. For me, it has been a great challenge by opening me up to having to limit the price and limited the work time. With a semi-formal style I'm wanting, timing is critical too. Another aspect of the challenge is finding a material that can be worked for an immediate result, yet I also have to plan for the future, as it's not like I'm gonna kill it off after the challenge.
That's why this is a challange and not a competition. Challenge yourself.
That's why this is a challange and not a competition. Challenge yourself.
Vin
Imperial Masterpiece
My intentions have been genuine from the beginning and will remain so. I'm not going to defend what I've done so far but I posted the rules and guidelines before they became final to allow for changes but nobody spoke up. Quite frankly, I'm only doing the challenge for the benefit of others and to create a sense of camaraderie amongst the members of the forum. However, it seems to have possibly done the opposite and even further divided our group. I wish it wasn't so..
amcoffeegirl
Masterpiece
It's all about finding the right piece. Anyone could win.
I will start my search.
I will start my search.
Vin
Imperial Masterpiece
You are absolutely right and that's why the search is part of the challenge. The Fall Challenge really was quite fun and was a great way to learn some new skills or practice existing ones. Looking forward to your entry.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
Actually, there was a discussion regarding the timing with several people participating (myself, Milehigh, Tmmason, Cadillactaste, Vance).
I started it with a suggestion regarding the purchase period on page 5 of your original scoping thread. I made that suggestion with the fact that your goal is to get as much participation as possible.
http://www.bonsainut.com/index.php?threads/bonsai-nut-spring-box-store-challenge.17769/page-5
I guess it got lost in the 10 pages of other stuff going on in that thread.
At this point, it is what it is, no big deal as far as I am concerned because I had already decided not to participate, but I know there are others that would have liked to.
GLHF (Good luck have fun).
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