Bolero
Omono
For the Record and FWIW, I have purchased the Amur Maple of the OP....I will do a thread on my efforts to Transform thru Carving this excellent Example so stay tuned all......
Chuck aka Bolero
Chuck aka Bolero
Opinions on an Amur Maple being auctioned
- Thread starter cheap_walmart_art
- Start date
Bolero
Omono
coachspinks
Chumono
@Bolero
I think someone mentioned Kurt's business in another thread. I was a little surprised at what they said because my only knowledge of his business was what I saw on the FB auctions so I checked out his website. I was surprised to see a number of much higher quality trees in the pictures there. IMHO he is hurting his reputation by what he sells on the FB auctions. I think he would do well to mix in some higher quality trees with the others he sells.
I think someone mentioned Kurt's business in another thread. I was a little surprised at what they said because my only knowledge of his business was what I saw on the FB auctions so I checked out his website. I was surprised to see a number of much higher quality trees in the pictures there. IMHO he is hurting his reputation by what he sells on the FB auctions. I think he would do well to mix in some higher quality trees with the others he sells.
I’ve never looked at Kurt’s online auctions, but have visited his store in person several times and have bought a few trees from there. The Flower Market has a really wide range of material: finished trees that I drool over every time I go there, good material with plenty of potential, some trees that are just starting development as bonsai, and a small number of trees that I look at and go “meh.. next!”
The trees below all came from Kurt’s shop:
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
Mr. Lorax, are these trees posted in defence of Mr. Kurt or to show something else??????
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
ahh...I didn't moderate anything.
The amazement has yet to come. That's where you will come in. This is where you earn the chance for me to respect your bonsai skills. You have blown a lot of smoke and now you face a challenge that is eagerly awaited by a "BONSAI" forum. Don't let us down. Show us what you got!
These are examples of trees that I acquired from Kurt’s shop. You can keep your opinions to yourself, Smoke. I don’t give a damn what you think about them.
coh
Imperial Masterpiece
Derek, I'm curious - what auction rules has he broken? From what I've seen, overall those groups are pretty well "regulated" and violations are usually dealt with quickly. I sold a tree and had a non-paying buyer (wouldn't respond to messages) and he was booted out of the group as soon as I contacted the admin.
Then again, I can't say I've ever really paid attention to Flower Market auctions.
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
I was courteous and only asked a question. I'm not an asshole. If you had just said yes I bought them there and it is what I found appealing. I wouldn't have said a thing. I would have come to my own conclusions.
Your very harsh and angry answer has given me my answer. Don't worry I'll keep my opinion to myself. I'm pretty sure that based on your anger you already know my opinions anyway.
People here try and try to show the best way to move ahead in bonsai, and for all the effort, people just continue to spit in the face of good bonsai and those that try to promote it. I don't get it.
Your very harsh and angry answer has given me my answer. Don't worry I'll keep my opinion to myself. I'm pretty sure that based on your anger you already know my opinions anyway.
People here try and try to show the best way to move ahead in bonsai, and for all the effort, people just continue to spit in the face of good bonsai and those that try to promote it. I don't get it.
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
I did.
M5's tree
Nice bark, smooth bark. Nice flare at the base with pretty good nebari already. The roots are radiating out from the flare with no open spots. The base is 360. The canopy is upright but will be styled in the future but 360 and healthy.
Initial wire has been done and it looks like this fairy tail look is going on here. Rather spooky and looks like a tree from Wizard of Oz, which was my initial meeting of the style when I was a very impressionable child!
The OP's purchase.
Much smaller tree. The one side has smooth bark and seems intact, while the other side looks more dead and sloughing off. I will reserve judgement and let him post better pictures after he has it to photograph. The trunk is rather short and has no discernable flare. If you count the open root which will need to be removed due to the distraction it causes, there is no flare at all, and maybe a little reverse taper which happens with an open root.
Don't worry. I will keep this thread alive or make sure that a seperate thread gets added to. I wouldn't want anyone to miss anything on the styling of the century. The similarities here are staggering.
No anger, just extreme disinterest in your opinion. And don’t play the victim, you have a well-known reputation for trolling. The only reason I don’t have you on ignore is because you occasionally say something insightful about horticultural practice.
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
Trolling for the truth. I never get it though, just like now, change the direction of the post to me rather than talk about your trees. You keeping me off ignore to further yourself says more about you than it does me. Just stay with it. In a enough years if you keep at it, you will understand where I come from. Right now your just a struggling bonsai newbie with no direction and gets it where he can, even if he has to put up with my shit.
What I am really interested in is seeing what you have done with those gems you purchased? Post up some work so I can see where your coming from. Tell me what you see in them. Tell me the good and what is bad and how your going to fix it. That's what a bonsai discussion forum is for. Being humble enough to understand that one knows nothing and is working towards knowing something by respecting those that do.
But no. About 15 percent of the forum comes here with a chip on their shoulder and is not going to allow anyone to explain what is wrong and how to fix it, you would rather just tell this person you express "extreme disinterest in my opinion".
I am retired now. I have 24/7 to be on this computer and hold people to their own honesty. Fess up now or put me on ignore, your choice.
Bolero
Omono
Thanks for your interest and commentary Mr. Smoke, I'll try to not disappoint...I need to get the tree in my hands to really ascertain my direction, I'll take pictures as I progress, hopefully you will offer some suggestions as I move along and ask for comment and direction...Good to know you are retired, so am I. I have over 50 odd years of interest in Bonsai as well as considering myself an Accomplished Bonsai & Penjing Gardner...
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Bolero
Omono
Lorax are you the Bonsai guy from Windsor ??? In any event your Flower Market trees show great potential...
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
This is all on you Mister. You threw out the challenge and how wonderful this piece of material was. Frankly I hope no one helps you. I want you to understand just what a pathetic piece of material this is and learn about that all on your own. I want you to think about what others had to say and what they said was wrong and how you treated them with contempt and disrespect. maybe you should seek out Mr Pall, you made it quite clear that he was your savior with this material. He spoke about how wonderful it was too. Maybe he can step up and show you the way.
I'm tired of all you wanna be's thinking you are so smart and calling out those with the experience and telling them they should just keep their opinions to their self.
This is on you Belero. Show us what "YOU" got. If you really have what it takes you will do this on your own.....or your just another loud mouth.
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
Bolero
Omono
smoke... you seriously need to go back on your Meds as well as getting some help, good bye...
No, that must be somebody else. I’m not from Windsor.
As for my trees, they’re coming along gradually. Enjoy your new tree!
wireme
Masterpiece
Well, good luck with it. Despite all that has been said I still believe it possible to pull a good tree out of this I’m glad it will be in the forum to get a better look at. Go easy on the carving, from that one pic I thought the base already had some cool texture and I would mostly leave it be while it lasts however long that may be. The upper portion looks like it could use some texturing. I’m happy to accept that this may rot away to an unusable husk but do have reason enough to believe that that may be an incorrect assumption.
Sorry that I poked a bit of fun at the Japanese elm maple thing. I know they are native to Japan as well maybe they do call them that there for all I know. If you succeed or fail I’m glad we get to watch anyways it will be interesting.
