Orion_metalhead
Masterpiece
Scored Progression - Celtis Genus:
Scored Progression - Contest Background & Intent
Any user of Bonsai Nut undoubtedly is familiar with what is arguably the forum's most important and useful all-around genre of thread: the Progression Thread. Simply put, a progression thread is a single long-lived and continually updated thread documenting the progress of a single tree over a long course of time. Naturally, this results in a vast quantity of progression threads for similar species. The educational and informational value of these threads can not be overstated. Lacking, however, is real "pressure" for individuals to try and maximize the quality of their bonsai within these threads outside of whatever internal motives can be mustered by the artist. On the flip side, there is tradition of long-lived contests. These contests naturally rely on progression threads, as well, however the competitive element provides the impetus for the artists involved in the contest to push their skills and ability to the maximum. Unfortunately, due to the nature of when these contests start, there is an exclusionary element if a new user wants to enter, but is a year, or two, or five, etc. late. Thus, the user does not get that competitive drive they would have if they were involved in the contest.
And so, I am proposing a new structure of contest. Instead of independent similar progression threads with no competitive underpinning, a "Scored Progression" aims to create equal competition amongst all contestants with no start or end limitation/date. Instead, by scoring an entrant's progress annually, by as many involved participants as possible, a matrix can be generated to show a "Leaderboard" by age of the progression. This allows new entries to the scored progression at any time, so long as they follow the set starting criteria and everyone's progress can be scored annually and ranked against previous entries from prior years of a similar age. Scored Progressions offer numerous competitive angles such as "the best annual scoring", "most total points", or even archivist style records such as "longest time atop the 3rd year ranking" and so on and so forth.
Perhaps, most importantly, a Scored Progression contest offers an even more refined repository of technical and anecdotal evidence of what works and what doesn't work for those laboring within whatever criteria is the basis for the scored progression. By creating a ranked scoring system, there can be determined some objectivity as to who is achieving the best progress and whose information and approach is the best to mimic.
Starting Criteria / Rules:
Scoring:
Each tree entry each year will be scored by all other contestants including new trees submitted in the appropriate previous year threads. Each year, the scores will be updated to reflect both that year's new entries for each age along with previous entries for that age. As we get older and more developed trees, scoring categories may be changed.
Year 1, being a bit of an odd year will be scored based on the following categories on a scale of 0-10 with 0 being "complete failure in every conceivable facet" and 10 being "exemplary capability and success worthy of the Goddess Dionysus":
Example: Year 1: A tree may get a score of:
Each year, a tree's previous total would be ADDED to that year's average for a new total and ranking. After Year 1, scoring categories would normalize a bit for a while...
And so, this would go on year after year. With each tree entered or added based on the age of the tree and new entries in each age/year judged and placed in the ranking. I am open to discuss the scoring categories but once trees are scored in a year, the scoring categories must remain for future trees to be judged fairly.
Awards / Prizes:
Every 5 years, awards or prizes will be issued to the top ranked tree in years 3, 5, 7, 11, 13... etc. (prime numbered ages) so long as the top tree for that year is different than the previous award period's tree. Awards are TBD and will be based on the overall interest and activity in the progression.
Resources:
Attached are some basic resources and info on Celtis:
Celtis Genus Wikipedia
Bonsai Empire Celtis Care Guidelines
Bonsai Today Celtis Care Guide
Sheffield's Seed
Current Contestants / Judges:
@Hack Yeah!
@bluone23
@Aaron the Great
@Oddly_Aude
@Orion_metalhead
@Gabler
@JesseKane
@JoB
@defra
@dbonsaiw
Any general questions should be asked in this thread.
Scored Progression - Contest Background & Intent
Any user of Bonsai Nut undoubtedly is familiar with what is arguably the forum's most important and useful all-around genre of thread: the Progression Thread. Simply put, a progression thread is a single long-lived and continually updated thread documenting the progress of a single tree over a long course of time. Naturally, this results in a vast quantity of progression threads for similar species. The educational and informational value of these threads can not be overstated. Lacking, however, is real "pressure" for individuals to try and maximize the quality of their bonsai within these threads outside of whatever internal motives can be mustered by the artist. On the flip side, there is tradition of long-lived contests. These contests naturally rely on progression threads, as well, however the competitive element provides the impetus for the artists involved in the contest to push their skills and ability to the maximum. Unfortunately, due to the nature of when these contests start, there is an exclusionary element if a new user wants to enter, but is a year, or two, or five, etc. late. Thus, the user does not get that competitive drive they would have if they were involved in the contest.
And so, I am proposing a new structure of contest. Instead of independent similar progression threads with no competitive underpinning, a "Scored Progression" aims to create equal competition amongst all contestants with no start or end limitation/date. Instead, by scoring an entrant's progress annually, by as many involved participants as possible, a matrix can be generated to show a "Leaderboard" by age of the progression. This allows new entries to the scored progression at any time, so long as they follow the set starting criteria and everyone's progress can be scored annually and ranked against previous entries from prior years of a similar age. Scored Progressions offer numerous competitive angles such as "the best annual scoring", "most total points", or even archivist style records such as "longest time atop the 3rd year ranking" and so on and so forth.
Perhaps, most importantly, a Scored Progression contest offers an even more refined repository of technical and anecdotal evidence of what works and what doesn't work for those laboring within whatever criteria is the basis for the scored progression. By creating a ranked scoring system, there can be determined some objectivity as to who is achieving the best progress and whose information and approach is the best to mimic.
Starting Criteria / Rules:
- Trees must be within the Celtis Genus and grown / started from seed or first year cutting.
- Seeds may be purchased or collected in the wild.
- Cuttings used for the contest must be taken from new first year growth (softwood cuttings). At this time hardwood cuttings and air layers are not allowed. Dirr states "cuttings have been rooted but the percentages were low" in my 1998 edition of Manual of Woody Landscape Plants.
- Cuttings should be taken from an identifiable parent or specimen.
- Threads are to be numbered as follows: USERNAME - TAXONOMICAL NAME - # (with no tree of the same Taxonomical name having the same number)
- Forests, clumps, multiple tree plantings are allowed however are scored as a single tree. Once submitted as a group planting, trees may be removed, but not added and the entry must carry this style forward once defined.
- Each tree must have it's own progression thread by the end of year one.
- You need to share all of your information - including where you sourced your seeds or cuttings, and all the steps you used to get them to germinate or root, as well as post germination/rooting care.
- Since I assume people will be growing more than one tree, it is ok if early photos showing numerous trees in early development (i.e. flats full of seedlings) are shown in an initial thread related to that species, but once trees are separated, they should get their own thread.
- At the minimum you need to post one photo per year showing general progress in your progression thread however photos of work throughout the seasons is best, to show a true progression and aid everyone in determining "best practices".
- Each year, a dedicated thread by the contest moderator will be opened for a final annual photo submission of each tree's progress.
- You may select this photo from at any point in that calendar year. (winter silhouette, spring bud break, fall fruit, etc)
- Ex: "Year 1 - Celtis Scored Progressions", "Year 2 - Celtis Scored Progressions", Etc... ad infinitum....
Scoring:
Each tree entry each year will be scored by all other contestants including new trees submitted in the appropriate previous year threads. Each year, the scores will be updated to reflect both that year's new entries for each age along with previous entries for that age. As we get older and more developed trees, scoring categories may be changed.
Year 1, being a bit of an odd year will be scored based on the following categories on a scale of 0-10 with 0 being "complete failure in every conceivable facet" and 10 being "exemplary capability and success worthy of the Goddess Dionysus":
- Germination/Propagation Technique
- Overall Seedling Health
- Initial Movement / Interest
- Growing Conditions
- Pot / Display
- Overall Score
Example: Year 1: A tree may get a score of:
| ENTRY | Germination / Propagation Technique | Overall Seedling Health | Initial Movement / Interest | Growing Conditions | Pot / Display | Overall | ANNUAL FINAL SCORE |
| Orion's Celtis Occidentalis #1 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6.00 |
Each year, a tree's previous total would be ADDED to that year's average for a new total and ranking. After Year 1, scoring categories would normalize a bit for a while...
- Roots
- Nebari
- Trunk
- Branches
- Apex
- Overall Health
- Pot / Display
- Overall
| ENTRY | Roots | Nebari | Trunk | Branches | Apex | Overall Heath | Pot / Display | Overall | ANNUAL FINAL SCORE | PREVIOUS FINAL SCORE | FINAL SCORE |
| Orion's Celtis Occidentalis #1 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 6.63 | 6.00 | 12.63 |
And so, this would go on year after year. With each tree entered or added based on the age of the tree and new entries in each age/year judged and placed in the ranking. I am open to discuss the scoring categories but once trees are scored in a year, the scoring categories must remain for future trees to be judged fairly.
Awards / Prizes:
Every 5 years, awards or prizes will be issued to the top ranked tree in years 3, 5, 7, 11, 13... etc. (prime numbered ages) so long as the top tree for that year is different than the previous award period's tree. Awards are TBD and will be based on the overall interest and activity in the progression.
Resources:
Attached are some basic resources and info on Celtis:
Celtis Genus Wikipedia
Bonsai Empire Celtis Care Guidelines
Bonsai Today Celtis Care Guide
Sheffield's Seed
Current Contestants / Judges:
@Hack Yeah!
@bluone23
@Aaron the Great
@Oddly_Aude
@Orion_metalhead
@Gabler
@JesseKane
@JoB
@defra
@dbonsaiw
Any general questions should be asked in this thread.
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I guess that the rest of us will have to overcome that head start lol.
