Now that the polls are closed

[Rick Moquin]

Tom,

Thanks for an enjoyable experience. Now that the polls are closed and we did all this for you (you needed inspiration/assistance) so what is your choice, and why?

 

[irene_b]

Tom,

Thanks for an enjoyable experience. Now that the polls are closed and we did all this for you (you needed inspiration/assistance) so what is your choice, and why?

Let it go son.....
Mom

 

[Rick Moquin]

For starters Irene, please stop referring to me as son as I am not your son, and yes I do take exception to it..

Tom posted a question and generated a contest out of it. It was fun and I couldn't care who won or not. I just would like to hear his views, or would you rather us beat the dead horse?

 

[irene_b]

For starters Irene, please stop referring to me as son as I am not your son.

Tom posted a question and generated a contest out of it. It was fun and I couldn't care who won or not. I just would like to hear his views, or would you rather us beat the dead horse?

Rick I am sorry that my loving term upset you.
Most posters here know that I am a Mom to my core and will fight for all of you kids.
And most of you are young enough to be my children or grandbabies.
Irene

 

[Rick Moquin]

Irene, I'm probably old enough to be your father!

 

[irene_b]

Irene, I'm probably old enough to be your father!

LOL That would make you very very old!! LOL

 

[Rick Moquin]

Not fair you girls don't play on a level playing field

 

[grouper52]

I'm in an ornery mood tonight with a few minutes to spare, so let me just pipe in as well, Irene, that I find your infantilizing use of the term "son" and such to be quite obnoxious, to the point that I usually just avoid interacting with you. Independent of your chronological age, if you are so hung up on your identity as a parent that you feel a need to address everyone you meet as if they are your child then I think you've got a bit more growing up to do. Please afford us the common courtesy of addressing us by our chosen user names.

grouper52

 

[irene_b]

I'm in an ornery mood tonight with a few minutes to spare, so let me just pipe in as well, Irene, that I find your infantilizing use of the term "son" and such to be quite obnoxious, to the point that I usually just avoid interacting with you. Independent of your chronological age, if you are so hung up on your identity as a parent that you feel a need to address everyone you meet as if they are your child then I think you've got a bit more growing up to do. Please afford us the common courtesy of addressing us by our chosen user names.

grouper52

As you so wish grouper52 shall I call you daughter instead?

 

[Anonymous User]

For starters Irene, please stop referring to me as son as I am not your son, and yes I do take exception to it..

Tom posted a question and generated a contest out of it. It was fun and I couldn't care who won or not. I just would like to hear his views, or would you rather us beat the dead horse?

I am in total agreement on both points, thanks Rick.

For the record, I also find the whole "mom" thing a little annoying and have said so in the past. I am not a kid, my mother wouldn't use a computer (the devils tool) to save her life, and I find the whole thing rather patronizing, if not condescending. I also find Irene's response ("shall I call you daughter instead?") to Grouper52's request to "afford us the common courtesy of addressing us by our chosen user names" rude.

Having expressed my dislike for this in the past, and having failed in dropping subtle hints in the form of sarcastically signing my replies to her as "Dad" I am forced to just ask nicely,

Irene, please stop.


And that's all I have to say about that.




Will

 

[Asus101]

I like it. Such a title is give to those who deserve a high level of respect, and i think Irene has earned it. I also belive the nick name was given to her by someone rather special to the bonsai community.

 

[onthefringe]

Asus101,
I can see your point and I don't mind if She refers to herself as mom. It takes all kinds to make the bonsai world go round.

Sorry to say though Irene_b,
As endearing as the term may be, the title mom is reserved for a very special lady in my life that changed my dirty diapers and loved me when I was a rebellious little kid.

You can call me son though. If you are as mature as you insist culturally speaking calling me son or sonny still has it's place in my vocabulary.

 

[Asus101]

Asus101,
I can see your point and I don't mind if She refers to herself as mom. It takes all kinds to make the bonsai world go round.

Sorry to say though Irene_b,
As endearing as the term may be, the title mom is reserved for a very special lady in my life that changed my dirty diapers and loved me when I was a rebellious little kid.

You can call me son though. If you are as mature as you insist culturally speaking calling me son or sonny still has it's place in my vocabulary.

As a newbie, Irene has been like a mother. She is always cleaning up newbie mistakes, giving advice ect ect. I have never had a mother, lots of ladies who insisted i call then mum, but no real mother (i was in foster care), but Irene has been everything a mother should be. Kind, caring, gentle, hell i think i can even add lovingly.

 

[Rick Moquin]

It doesn't matter, in this day and age of PC, when someone is offended, the offender should take notice and refrain from any further comments which are deemed by some as offensive.

Now to bring this thread back on track.

Tom asked for ideas we offered him many as he was running the contest he couldn't participate. Now that the polls are closed, it would be interesting to hear is point ov view if nothing else.

 

[irene_b]

Tom asked for ideas we offered him many as he was running the contest he couldn't participate. Now that the polls are closed, it would be interesting to hear is point ov view if nothing else.

Rick,
I asked Tom whilst we were in chat for his comments on the pot/tree virtuals.
He said he did not feel comfortable discussing it but said he liked several of them.
He is a business man and as such would never want to offend future/present customers.
I respect that and left it.
Irene

 

[Anonymous User]

I picked Dale's pot choice #16 for numerous reasons, including, but not limited to, the size of the container, the shape, and most importantly, the color.

Wisterias are generally grown to be displayed for a short period of time during the year, namely when they are in bloom. Taking this fact into consideration, the pot color should be a complementary color to the blooms. Dale nailed this with his choice of yellow with slight green highlights.

After all, why not complement the blooms?




Will

 

[Chris Johnston]

I picked Dale's pot choice #16 for numerous reasons, including, but not limited to, the size of the container, the shape, and most importantly, the color.

Wisterias are generally grown to be displayed for a short period of time during the year, namely when they are in bloom. Taking this fact into consideration, the pot color should be a complementary color to the blooms. Dale nailed this with his choice of yellow with slight green highlights.

After all, why not complement the blooms?

Will

I totally agree. And I togally disagree. You are absolutely right that Wisterias are generally shown for their blossoms. They are spectacular. This is an unusual tree in that its trunk and branching works well as a bonsai in its own right. I would be proud to show this tree twice a year: once bare, and once in full bloom. For that you would need two pots, as any pot that would work in both circumstances would be a compromise between the two, and not best for either way.

 

[Tachigi]

Tom,
Thanks for an enjoyable experience. Now that the polls are closed and we did all this for you (you needed inspiration/assistance) so what is your choice, and why?

Very gratifying that you enjoyed it Rick. I always find inspiration where I can, even here on the forums

Irene mentioned that in a conversation that I was hesitant about commenting. This was primarily due to the fact that the contest was still running and felt it improper. I will admit that a small portion of that decision comes from not wanting to offend my customers.

However constructive critique and review is what we due to make ourselves better in the art and grow. So with that in mind here are my thoughts.

While all the entries had merit in one form or another. There was not one combination that made me go wow, that is it. Bill and his winning pot was a good traditional approach, the image was pleasing. The specific color was a bit off for me. Over all I think it was a safe approach in finding a solution to the combination problem. A safe traditional approach is not something I personally am looking for this tree. Which I think is evident by its planting angle, which in itself is a whole different story.

Dales antique pot is exquisitely gorgeous. I love it, however not for this tree. It is so ornate that I feel that it over shadows the tree. The color, shape and size were all right. The piping on the pot just took it over the top for me and actually for anyone in my extended family that reviewed the contest. I have seen Dale's azalea that is planted in it. It is most definitely the right pot for that tree a beautiful combination.

Rick your # 8 pot made by Dale was a favorite as well. Texture and hints of purple were fitting for the tree. Its draw back was that to me the pot overall was to dark and that it was to stout. I think the the pot it ends up in will need some movement such as the reticulation in Dales pot and Bills. This I believe produces harmony with the trunk movement.

I don't know if that answers your inquiry. I also hope it doesn't seem that I'm skirting any issue. I gleaned a lot of information and that for me was the sole intent. Choosing a right pot for a good tree is not one, at least for me, that you can do in a short time. It needs careful consideration weighing all the options.

 

[Rick Moquin]

Thanks Tom, your comments are extremely well appreciated. Choosing a pot is a difficult thing to do at the best of times and therefore any thoughts on what works and not is more than appreciated in our learning experience. Choosing a pot is difficult even for the best, to achieve convincingly at times.

 

[fwhou]

Pot Choices.....

Thanks Tom, your comments are extremely well appreciated. Choosing a pot is a difficult thing to do at the best of times and therefore any thoughts on what works and not is more than appreciated in our learning experience. Choosing a pot is difficult even for the best, to achieve convincingly at times.

Rick...Your comments are spot on, re choosing pots. Many times, when you can't find "the right one" the creative juices need to flow, and the ideas need to be transcribed into requests to your potter of choice.....and ain't it a wonderful thing when that "perfect" finished pot comes in for your tree!

I found some exceptional references for pot basics in:
- the website of Milon Klika, who had some wonderful pots at Ginkgo 2K5:

http://www.bonsai-keramik.com/en/teorie.html

- the book of Dave DeGroot (curator of the Weyerhaeuser Pacific Rim Collection): "Basic Bonsai Design", which has an exceptional discussion on pot shapes, color, etc., mirroring Klika's comments.

link to Pacific Rim Collection:

http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/Company/Bonsai

BTW..I find I have as much fun figuring out "the proper pot" as I do working on its' next resident!
Flex / 4MAAT