36year old American Sweetgum --whats it worth ?

[JosephCooper]

500 to 600 dollars is a good price, not that I could afford that.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I think you meant to say "most of my trees are worth much more TO ME than what some of the buyers are willing to pay". And I'm not trying to argue the point, because I agree with you. Many of my trees are worth more to me than someone would be willing to pay. To me they have a story, a journey, years of a relationship, dreams dashed or realized. To have someone look at a tree that I have doted on for ten years, and critically say "not worth $100" is crushing. But they may be right

Having recently helped a club member’s widow sell off his collection, I have to say this is a very real and emotional truth.

 

[Corrado]

Yes, I fully agree ,its the journey and value to me . But at some point it must be passed on. My kids have no real time or interest otherwise Id hold on to them. Its leafing out now ,while my crab is loaded with blossoms.The Tamarack has a beautiful green needled color,and my Scuppernong grape is getting ready to leaf out too. That grape gives me many clusters of fruit and nice fall color too. Muscadines have smaller leaves .

 

[JoeR]

Nice sweet gum. It should fetch more than $500 if you get it in front of the right bidders...then again, if you only want $300 for it, I’ll send you the money right now.?
@Bonsai Nut took me to the San Gabriel nursery a few months ago, and their sweet gums were on up there in price.
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[Toshi]

You were right Corrado very nice tree.

 

[onlyrey]

I find that my "bonsai" are only worth money to myself, and when I started I wanted to reproduce one of those $4,000 show bonsai you see on the web. I wouldn't sell my trees because nobody would pay me what I think they are worth. If you check eBay, and see the trees that actually sell, are "pre-bonsai", because those looking for trees are wanting to buy something for $100-$200 and make it into a $1000 tree. Don't sell it, if that were my tree, I would think of it as a $1000 tree, but wouldn't pay anyone a fraction for it. I hope my Son develops a taste for bonsai, because it would be great to hand him my collection 36 years from now. Good luck with selling the tree if you need to sell it, otherwise, keep it for 36 more years; a 72 year old tree would be amazing.

 

[Corrado]

Thankyou Amir. and onlyrey. I sometimes get fearful as these trees gain in value something dumb could happen. The other day the Verizon crew were up on a pole in my neighbors yard but the pole was right behind my fence. Naturally they cut and dropped a 6 ft plastic cable tubing and where does that land. over my bonsai. Luckily I was home and saw it laying on the ground . I told them to be careful and returned the tubing . Later on I found 2 bonsai with a broken branch. Imagine if that happened to a 35-50 year old specimen! So, maybe passing t on isn't such a bad thing after all. The journey of creation is what seems to be the most fun.

 

[sorce]

I gotta say....that's a fine ass tree!

I would personally pay the $500 to myself to have it boxed well and shipped LTL to my new place! Cuz you continuing development....well....besides the 2k you stand to $....thats a Fucking lovely grow!

Not only is the "buyer" going to determine price.....

But the pics....that fall show!
Without it....300.
With it for the right person....1k all day.

Me....I wouldn't mind paying you for the work.

It is excellent!

Keep it!

Sorce

 

[rockm]

I find that my "bonsai" are only worth money to myself, and when I started I wanted to reproduce one of those $4,000 show bonsai you see on the web. I wouldn't sell my trees because nobody would pay me what I think they are worth. If you check eBay, and see the trees that actually sell, are "pre-bonsai", because those looking for trees are wanting to buy something for $100-$200 and make it into a $1000 tree. Don't sell it, if that were my tree, I would think of it as a $1000 tree, but wouldn't pay anyone a fraction for it. I hope my Son develops a taste for bonsai, because it would be great to hand him my collection 36 years from now. Good luck with selling the tree if you need to sell it, otherwise, keep it for 36 more years; a 72 year old tree would be amazing.

As I get older, I've been considering in the back of my mind how I am going to handle my trees. I've come up with a few thoughts--Counting on your offspring to take an interest in bonsai is not all that realistic . It mostly won't happen and if you think that way, your trees will face a pretty uncertain future when you check out of this world.

The stuff on Ebay is what it is. Ebay is NOT the place to sell decent bonsai you care about. Buyers there can be fickle and silly and incompetent in caring for it. Shipping is prohibitive.

And ideal situation for premium, developed trees is to be sold to someone locally who knows how to care for it and who you can meet in person (or who you already know). Best way to find those buyers is through a local club. Most clubs have some kind of auction or sale where a tree like this would probably start a bidding war -- I've seen lesser trees at club auctions do that. If there is no auction or club close to you, simply making contact with one could lead to a sale or decent placement.

Another avenue might be to consign it with a local (and local could mean another adjoining state) bonsai nursery. You'd be surprised how that might work. I know bonsai nursery here in Va. helps a private collector of (completely awesome) imported Japanese azaleas connect with local buyers to sell his excess trees. The nursery owners know who would be interested in top quality stock in the area. Those buyers may, or may not, be involved in local clubs.

The bottom line of all this, however, isn't a pretty picture if you think your trees are worth thousands and you refuse to let them go for what you think is a small amount.

Bonsai are always vastly overvalued by their owners/developers. That tree you think is worth $2,000 is mostly likely worth about $400--probably less on the open market. That is why finding a local, knowledgeable buyer through personal contacts is important. That kind of personal connection can bring the best situation for your trees.

It's a hard truth and a lot of people don't get it. Thinking otherwise will make you hold onto trees too long, possibly killing them in the process from under-care as you get too old and decrepit to handle them -- I'm not old and decrepit yet, but my trees are BIG, heavy and old (been working on a 250 year old collected oak for the last 22 years) I am not a 30 year old anymore. The oak weighs 150 lbs or so.

 

[ABCarve]

I'm the recipient of of 6 trees, I call "hand me downs". They were free, one is 94 years in a pot. They were owned by a women who could afford good material but lacked the skills and later in her life, the stamina, to take care of them. All were in terrible health and somewhat undeveloped, but all have great potential from just being in a pot so long. I'm slowly working them back to health and style. That is the joy and rememberances of my now deceased pal. I hope that I can find a fitting person to hand down the trees to for free when the time comes and hope I know when that time is. It's never been about the money....for me.