On a bit of a budget but looking for something nice

[sikadelic]

I want to finally buy my first piece of nice stock. I have been at this for 3 years and feel confident that I can work with something nice without killing it (I think ).

I am mostly interested in maples, hornbeams, and larch. I would also be interested in JBP but I have never owned one and I fear that I would have a bit of a learning curve so I may not want to tackle that yet.

My budget is about $300. Anybody here have anything that fits that bill or can point me in a good direction? I also have a local nursery here where my group studies so I will check with him first before making the final purchase, but I want to check the field here as well. Thanks!!

 

[erb.75]

you should be able to find really nice stock...the key is patience if you want the best deal. I bought a nice amur maple stock on face book's .99 cent auction for ~1/10th of that budget and i attached it below. Buying a maple with a base that is several inches is nice Also, with that kind of budget, you might be happiest with a plant from a bonsai nursery. Most of my favorite trees were purchased at dedicated nurseries (Meehan's or Ken's World of bonsai). Just my 2 cents.

 

[erb.75]

and please post the tree you end up buying. You'll get something outstanding for 300

 

[quietobserver]

I want to finally buy my first piece of nice stock. I have been at this for 3 years and feel confident that I can work with something nice without killing it (I think ).

I am mostly interested in maples, hornbeams, and larch. I would also be interested in JBP but I have never owned one and I fear that I would have a bit of a learning curve so I may not want to tackle that yet.

My budget is about $300. Anybody here have anything that fits that bill or can point me in a good direction? I also have a local nursery here where my group studies so I will check with him first before making the final purchase, but I want to check the field here as well. Thanks!!

One possible route is don blackmond from gregorybeachbonsai.com.....he's on the site occassionally (Bonsainut). Budget and what ur looking for and he'll send pics of what he has available. He doesn't list much on his site, but seems to have about anything I ever want and it'll be healthy and in great soil, so u won't have to waste years transitioning into decent soil.

 

[Eric Group]

One possible route is don blackmond from gregorybeachbonsai.com.....he's on the site occassionally (Bonsainut). Budget and what ur looking for and he'll send pics of what he has available. He doesn't list much on his site, but seems to have about anything I ever want and it'll be healthy and in great soil, so u won't have to waste years transitioning into decent soil.

It is solid advice- Don seems to be one of the gold standards for fine bonsai stock according all those who have bought from him... Me not being one. I admire from afar sometimes. I just cannot bring myself to pay full blown retail for bonsai trees very often... His trees are some from a very select few vendors in the US that are tempting even at these prices though, for sure!

Here is the sub $500 stuff from his website:
http://gregorybeachbonsai.com/5.html

 

[sikadelic]

Thanks for all the recommendations guys. I have emailed Don, Brent at evergreen gardenworks, and I am messaging Mark Comstock as I heard he has some nice stuff too. I will also take a trip to my local nursery this Saturday and see what my local guy has (Bogan's Bonsai). We meet there monthly so I know he has a lot of trees but I have never went with the intent on buying so I never looked at the price tags. I will update when I find something nice.

 

[FrankP999]

The Mark Comstock maples I bought are real nice, as are the Pines I bought from Don. Watch the auctions on the different Facebook groups. You will find something very nice for your budget.

 

[sikadelic]

I don't see a lot of action on the auction groups anymore. I see a lot of pots from Sonny Boggs but I haven't seen a tree in a long time.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Muranaka has good starter JBP on eBay usually around 100-150.

 

[GrimLore]

I don't see a lot of action on the auction groups anymore. I see a lot of pots from Sonny Boggs but I haven't seen a tree in a long time.

Two places to consider -

Nature's Way Nursery Inc
Address: 1451 Pleasant Hill Rd.
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Phone717) 545-4555

Kimura Nursery (Bob Pressler)
17230 Roscoe Blvd.
Northridge, CA 91325
(818)-343-4090

Both are more then willing to work within your budget, talk on the phone, share photos, etc...

Grimmy

 

[erb.75]

I don't see a lot of action on the auction groups anymore. I see a lot of pots from Sonny Boggs but I haven't seen a tree in a long time.

it can depend on the season...a lot of people were selling nice trees while they were dormant since they're easier to ship/can stay in a dark box for a couple days. There are more pots online now, but I'd imagine from december to march the number of trees will increase again

 

[Nybonsai12]

Two places to consider -

Nature's Way Nursery Inc
Address: 1451 Pleasant Hill Rd.
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Phone717) 545-4555

Kimura Nursery (Bob Pressler)
17230 Roscoe Blvd.
Northridge, CA 91325
(818)-343-4090

Both are more then willing to work within your budget, talk on the phone, share photos, etc...

Grimmy

Only thing Grimmy is that I don't believe nature's way ships trees, which is a shame.

 

[erb.75]

Two places to consider -

Nature's Way Nursery Inc
Address: 1451 Pleasant Hill Rd.
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Phone717) 545-4555

Kimura Nursery (Bob Pressler)
17230 Roscoe Blvd.
Northridge, CA 91325
(818)-343-4090

Both are more then willing to work within your budget, talk on the phone, share photos, etc...

Grimmy

I really want to get some maples, and I keep hearing that pre bonsai mark is a good way to go...will have to check it out. Also, I've wanted to go to Nature's Way for a long time, but haven't been able to make it out there...I'm sure it's wonderful!

 

[GrimLore]

Only thing Grimmy is that I don't believe nature's way ships trees, which is a shame.

I would be surprised honest. The website there has no shopping cart and all business seems to be conducted via e-mail natureswaybonsai@comcast.net. Perhaps worth a shot anyways. I thought my Wife had done business that way with them in the past but I could be wrong.

Grimmy

 

[Nybonsai12]

I know when i reached out to them a year ago they were not shipping trees. You either have to go there in person or arrange for trees to be picked up at a show. bummer considering many buy trees from all over the country and Nature's Way supposedly has some great stock.

 

[Vin]

I would be surprised honest. The website there has no shopping cart and all business seems to be conducted via e-mail natureswaybonsai@comcast.net. Perhaps worth a shot anyways. I thought my Wife had done business that way with them in the past but I could be wrong.

Grimmy

Mr. Pall addressed this issue in another thread. If I recall, Mr. Pall said Nature's Way does not ship trees or have images on a website as photos cannot really show a tree's true characteristics.

 

[GrimLore]

Mr. Pall addressed this issue in another thread. If I recall, Mr. Pall said Nature's Way does not ship trees or have images on a website as photos cannot really show a trees true characteristics.

I must be mistaken - perhaps she was dealing with Wee Tree. Now I am mystified

Grimmy

 

[rockm]

I've been to Nature's Way and highly recommend it if you're in that neck of the woods (Noted bonsai potter Ron Lang is just up the road from there about half an hour or so). There are all manner of trees scattered about Nature's Way grounds. You have to go and poke around. Photographing, keeping up with and shipping all that stuff is not only energy prohibitive, but also involves costs. I've heard that theme repeatedly from a number of bonsai nursery folks. There are more than few out there who don't want to mess with Internet sales and the associated hassle of shipping/damage/ and potential exposure to fraud from buyers.

 

[Vin]

I must be mistaken - perhaps she was dealing with Wee Tree. Now I am mystified

Grimmy

Grimmy,

I stand corrected. Some trees can be purchased over the phone. This is what Mr. Pall said:

"it depends on what you are interested in and how much you wnat to pay. Expensive,
complicated trees one cannot buy on the phone and also not on the net. One has to see
in person and take them right there. Easier trees could be purchased like that. Do not ask
to have photgraphs taken. This is an absolute nightmare. Every single tree is different".

 

[GrimLore]

I stand corrected. Some trees can be purchased over the phone.

Thank you - I am pretty certain she has never bought really expensive stock but rather nice stock from them.

There are more than few out there who don't want to mess with Internet sales and the associated hassle of shipping/damage/ and potential exposure to fraud from buyers.

Actually you would think common sense would tell a buyer to go get the tree when spending lets say over 1000USD. Buyer fraud never came to mind but a very good point. I can and have made some pretty fun road trips with the Wife even on smaller purchases - always nice to set water on auto and get a weekend or more away

Grimmy