rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Thought it might be instructive in light of recent postings about the Kingsville boxwood sold by Mirai, to explain my argument over it.
Some said the price tag was questionable and the tree wasn't a "good" bonsai. I agreed that the price was high, BUT not unreasonable given what it was. Others said it didn't matter was it was, it was just a bad bonsai. THAT ticked me off, particularly since those arguing that point had never seen a Kingsville, much less worked with one and assumed it was pretty much like any other boxwood cultivar. It's conformation as a bonsai is only PART of such a tree's worth.
The Kingsville boxwood listed on Mirai's site was an example of an extremely old, large plant that are extremely uncommon. Ryan has said the large Kingsville he has are among the oldest in the U.S. (and by default the rest of the world, since the cultivar originated in Maryland in 1912 and not sold through nurseries until the 1930's. I don't know if it's available in Europe). It's also an identified Kingsville (there are other cultivars that get passed off as Kingsville). Kingsville is arguably one of the best trees to use as bonsai, because it ramifies extremely well and its leaves are tiny and can be made even tinier (1/8th to 1/16th of an inch).
The Kingsville cultivar has a deep history in my area. It was discovered by Harry Hohman who owned Kingsville nursery near Baltimore in 1912. It was planted at the White House in the Rose Garden in the 1960's and the first bonsai at the National Arboretum was a Hohman-grown B. microphylla ‘Compacta.’ I've only seen one other that was anywhere near as large as the one up for sale at Mirai. If I remember correctly, it belonged to Dale Cochoy who bought it from a nursery that was using it to make cuttings to sell. It was also smaller.
To achieve the trunk and branch diameter on the Mirai tree indicates it is well over 60 years old (I'd say older). That kind of age is rare for this cultivar, as is its obvious treatment as a bonsai for most of its life. It's not a recently trunk-chopped landscape specimen.
Some are saying that Kingsville can grow an inch a year. That is true, however, that growth is only part of the story. While it may grow UP an inch a year, thickening of branching and the trunk are incredibly slow. There are not many Kingsville that have mature, old thick branching and trunk flare. Those are also big parts of the value and why someone who is familiar with the cultivar would pay for a relatively high price for it.
Kingsville is a 'dwarf' cultivar, which means everything is even slower than the original species. If you think "regular" boxwood varieties close wounds, and thicken slowly, Kingsville is doubly slow.
The value in the Mirai tree is in its age, scale and cultivar, not primarily in the subjective "good" or "bad" bonsai conformation--the same shift in perceptions that accompany old collected conifers applies, IMO, to other species and unusual cultivars. Actual age and rarity are big pieces of any bonsai's value. With this bonsai, they are THE biggest pieces in its value. Those unfamiliar with the cultivar may only concentrate on conformation. Those who have worked with the cultivar for a while understand there's more going on there than a wonky branch or two. Those who have recently purchased smaller Kingsville will begin to understand that in a few years.
Some said the price tag was questionable and the tree wasn't a "good" bonsai. I agreed that the price was high, BUT not unreasonable given what it was. Others said it didn't matter was it was, it was just a bad bonsai. THAT ticked me off, particularly since those arguing that point had never seen a Kingsville, much less worked with one and assumed it was pretty much like any other boxwood cultivar. It's conformation as a bonsai is only PART of such a tree's worth.
The Kingsville boxwood listed on Mirai's site was an example of an extremely old, large plant that are extremely uncommon. Ryan has said the large Kingsville he has are among the oldest in the U.S. (and by default the rest of the world, since the cultivar originated in Maryland in 1912 and not sold through nurseries until the 1930's. I don't know if it's available in Europe). It's also an identified Kingsville (there are other cultivars that get passed off as Kingsville). Kingsville is arguably one of the best trees to use as bonsai, because it ramifies extremely well and its leaves are tiny and can be made even tinier (1/8th to 1/16th of an inch).
The Kingsville cultivar has a deep history in my area. It was discovered by Harry Hohman who owned Kingsville nursery near Baltimore in 1912. It was planted at the White House in the Rose Garden in the 1960's and the first bonsai at the National Arboretum was a Hohman-grown B. microphylla ‘Compacta.’ I've only seen one other that was anywhere near as large as the one up for sale at Mirai. If I remember correctly, it belonged to Dale Cochoy who bought it from a nursery that was using it to make cuttings to sell. It was also smaller.
To achieve the trunk and branch diameter on the Mirai tree indicates it is well over 60 years old (I'd say older). That kind of age is rare for this cultivar, as is its obvious treatment as a bonsai for most of its life. It's not a recently trunk-chopped landscape specimen.
Some are saying that Kingsville can grow an inch a year. That is true, however, that growth is only part of the story. While it may grow UP an inch a year, thickening of branching and the trunk are incredibly slow. There are not many Kingsville that have mature, old thick branching and trunk flare. Those are also big parts of the value and why someone who is familiar with the cultivar would pay for a relatively high price for it.
Kingsville is a 'dwarf' cultivar, which means everything is even slower than the original species. If you think "regular" boxwood varieties close wounds, and thicken slowly, Kingsville is doubly slow.
The value in the Mirai tree is in its age, scale and cultivar, not primarily in the subjective "good" or "bad" bonsai conformation--the same shift in perceptions that accompany old collected conifers applies, IMO, to other species and unusual cultivars. Actual age and rarity are big pieces of any bonsai's value. With this bonsai, they are THE biggest pieces in its value. Those unfamiliar with the cultivar may only concentrate on conformation. Those who have worked with the cultivar for a while understand there's more going on there than a wonky branch or two. Those who have recently purchased smaller Kingsville will begin to understand that in a few years.
no pics... no share.
. I’d just like to be sure that the material is authentic and healthy. I figured it was worth asking here for first hand experience with reputable sources.
