Thoughts on Peter Chan? (Herons Bonsai)

dbonsaiw said:
If anyone has any questions about Peter Chan's impact on bonsai, consider that this thread is already 20 pages long discussing him.
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If by any chance he enters here probably just laughs a good time reading the haters and then go to drink a nice tea in his beautiful garden lol 😂
 
Lurch said:
From there you get to see the very tree that made him famous.
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OK, I was wondering whether there is a famous tree I should have seen. This does not look like anything but just a nice tree, as you will find in most bonsai gardens when people have been doing bonsai for a bit?
 
Lurch said:
Huh? Let’s see another nice tree that’s won at an international level. We can skip the amount of times! At such a young age.
We can even skip the fact it could have paid for a whole new nursery purchase! We could even go as far as wondering how in your words just a nice tree that could be found in most gardens, there isn’t anyone on this board doing what this man has.

As for famous, it speaks volumes that this was in creation at the time the book he wrote, not at all refined to compete yet. It speaks even louder of the craftsmanship that this could be found in any garden, seeing he himself stated exactly what you did. In other words his modesty.
Now another thought strikes me, how many nice trees at this level, found in any garden arrangement, has a member here owned, notice I skipped saying directly to you, how many do you own, but to the complete hater crowd, I’ll ask again, how many times have you won at such a large bonsai expo?

Rip the man apart anyway you care, when your done realize his knowledge and skill. Then look at yourself a little harder, then glance back to man happy with growing and sharing his vast knowledge, crude techniques, and modesty, who probably really don’t give a shit about whether you like him or not.
Then glance at your wall, and see your accomplishments, if they match what this man has done, well, I need what your smoking, because not many have the skill, and the personality he possesses to overlook another’s feelings as he creates a genuine desire to share what he knows.

That’s my take on this whole what do you think of Peter Chan deal. The U.K is lucky have a guy with his regard to bonsai, not many would invest in a dead site, rip it down, and build it back up, just to bring trees from across the globe to compete.

I won’t continue on the well it’s just a fine tree path your leading me to, if that were the case, your wall, your garden, and devoted time would be a nursery such as his.
I could further go on to state the employees checks, the nursery stock, the cost of equipment, and free videos and advice he gives, comes at a cost. Many claim he’s over priced, crazy thing is, people here remind me of the man who goes to a hardware store and buys a 2x4, then cries the store not only did not give him enough lumber from that 2x4 to build a house, but also they didn’t come build it too!
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Peter Chan sucks














at being a mean guy
 
Gosh…. This is almost like a progression thread!…. Three years and running folks constantly trying to chat about and disparage at times, a gifted bonsai master who has tried very hard over the years to popularize our hobby …. and make a living at the same time…. Hmm….

…. do folks not have any work to do on their trees? I’m heading out to set up the materials for the first (Juniper) and second (Trident) repot of the year. After that it’s gonna be Katie bar the door… root wash / repot Azalea city in the back yard!

So it’s time to get to work and put one’s efforts where their texts are! 😎

cheers
DSD sends
 
Deep Sea Diver said:
Gosh…. This is almost like a progression thread!…. Three years and running folks constantly trying to chat about and disparage at times, a gifted bonsai master who has tried very hard over the years to popularize our hobby …. and make a living at the same time…. Hmm….

…. do folks not have any work to do on their trees? I’m heading out to set up the materials for the first (Juniper) and second (Trident) repot of the year. After that it’s gonna be Katie bar the door… root wash / repot Azalea city in the back yard!

So it’s time to get to work and put one’s efforts where their texts are! 😎

cheers
DSD sends
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Exactly... I wonder how many of the haters are now just trolling to offend others😂
 
Lurch said:
Huh
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Wow, why the aggression.

Can you explain to me why you think this is a special tree? And I am not asking which shows it has won. I am asking why this tree according to you is special.

If you have bothered to scan the thread, you will notice i am NOT bashing Peter, his expertise or his skills.
 
“ Three years and running folks constantly trying to chat about and disparage at times…”

Not an all inclusive comment whatsoever…?

There’s lots of folks here that know the energy used to denigrate Peter Chan could be put to better uses.

Cheers
DSD sends
 
Lurch said:
While the earlier post wasn’t aimed at you specifically, I gave an answer to your question, as well as enlightened you on his famous tree. I noticed the phrasing of your post. I also noticed you didn’t bash him, but left a loaded direction that could lead in any direction. So I also threw in my tidbit on what he has achieved, while some knuckleheads here critize him for what they feel they know of him.
To be quite honest, as said I hate conifers, pines especially. Though am searching for a blaauws as stated to work with, as it looks like a fun tree, and if I find one that’s not over inflated in price, ( check the blaauws it hits Peters name several times, I suspect nurseries ready to put it to you just for that mere fact). Back to point, the visionary work behind it, reminds me of a few of the pines that filled the area I grew up in. Nothing nostalgia mind you, just stunning how it resembles anything it truly was not to begin with.
But to further delve into this discussion I question who here can say the technique he uses for bringing a tree to its level does not work? If you listen he even stipulates what the rules are, and where he tosses them.
I merely pointed to a champion level tree he is known for. A modest man, with an above ordinary obtainable result, if you consider its development, his skills, and its ability to take itself from the - then ordinary garden stock material to what it is, is remarkable, the mere fact that he duplicates this on video for others to follow his steps, speaks loudly.

As for the aggression, critiquing a guy as many have here, who has brought much to the table for common people to enjoy a tree, versus their views into what he has achieved, this place is off the hook with assholes. Crazy thing, in many videos he compares trees to people, and potential. I ponder who is growing an asshole tree.

Which leads me to say what others have already said, if you have time to criticize a well known bonsai master who has left the competition, figuratively and literally, (and who continues to support newcomers, and competitors alike), the way Peter has, they’ve got way to much time on their hands. Their trophy winners need some kind attendance. Perhaps they even need to enter these great species they’ve grown, so a panel of judges could critique their prized trees. I would love to see their trophy material at international competitions, instead of their views posted as if they were gods who walked this earth, ready to devour non bonsai masters, and masters alike.

Crazy thought hit me, so many prideful people ready to pounce on a modest man, hmm.
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Lots of words, but none explain why this tree is exceptional. I am sticking with my original conclusion. The tree itself is not a special tree.
 
Lurch said:
A thought hit me, a bit back you posted up this:
Club auction last night. Sold 9 plants. Bought 2 new plants. Somehow I brought home less money than I had on me. Hm Doing something wrong.

Ever figure that out yet?
Perhaps your inability to recognize quality yielded you less?
I mean truly, 9 trees to gain back 2, and adding cash with the deal? Then claiming that Peter’s Blaauws is just another ordinary tree? I can definitely see where you went wrong.
I can certainly as well say that though they probably were lovely trees both sold and purchased, they probably aren’t anywhere near as inspiring, at the level Peter’s Blaauws has been, probably just ordinary trees in a persons collection. Notice I’m not nitpicking, just pointing out an oxymoron situation.

You find a way to try to dance in a circle, don’t expect to sit down when someone prefers to dance right? Personally, I don’t give 2 seconds of thought why I must explain to you what that tree means to me, though it’s creation came about when I was 15, and loved the tree enough to want to learn to grow one. I don’t feel that’s any of your business. Now, as the very place I flashback to is a small burg outside a swamp I knew as a childhood home, when I see that tree is none of your concern either. So when you ask a question and claim so many words and no answer, while given an answer, check yourself.
But since you opened the door, what do you see? Can you craft the same, repeating his results? He is nice enough to show how many times. Now let’s look at the amounts of cash that have been offered to Peter, and he’s turned down. How’s that working out for you?

Dig through previous posts claiming he’s into bonsai just fir the money, if that was the case, why does he donate it to the very place he rescued to continue bonsai shows at? Seems if money were his object, he’d have sold all the items and that very ordinary tree, and moved on. Would one not? It’s not economically sound to toss money away, let alone tear down, and rebuild a structure just to show a few trees.

But I’ll stick with response all trees when properly cut fit in the fireplace, just some maybe better suited for it than others.
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Interesting you start to make this personal about me. I would prefer to talk about trees. If you cannot bring yourself to talk about trees without attacking the person, I am through with talking. Bringing back a profile post of 7 years ago ... Not sure which point you are trying to make. I would recommend browsing a little through the forum. See a few of my trees and then judge whether or not I have an idea of what makes interesting trees.

Once again. You are trying to make a point how that juniper of Peter is one of the best trees ever. Yet you have not given a single reason why it would be. It is a pity, because the mental excersize to analyze a tree and decide what are the qualities and what are the weak points is the starting point to get better at bonsai.

Could I do the same? Yes. I have no doubt about it. Because, as said, it is not a surprising tree. It is well aged, but creating the basic tree is not a great challenge. Luckily, I do not need to make this point. Peter does it quite well himself:
. Maybe good to realize that what he was doing THEN was pioneering work, yet it is normal now. It was not then. But the hobby of bonsai in the West had only started at the time he was growing his name and fame. The trees that won prices in the 1990-ies would no longer be acceptable in the shows now. Levels have gone up dramatically.

I never made any claims about him being in it for the money, nor have I made any comment about him not being good at bonsai. I am talking about your statement that this is a really special tree. Which I still cannot follow. It is a decent tree. But it is to me not a show-stopping tree.
 
leatherback said:
Which I still cannot follow. It is a decent tree. But it is to me not a show-stopping tree
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Just forget it, @leatherback .
He will never say what he sees about the tree, only that it has won some prizes and got some offers that were refused.
Which in fact means nothing if one thinks the tree is boring, or too old fashioned.
As I do.
On the other hand, I respect Peter Chan's work, knowledge, and the successful bonsai business he has created. And yes, he is quite a funny guy. Likeable.
 
Mayank said:
That's kinda crazy you asked that. My google feed has recently been suggesting his videos quite frequently and I was like: who is that? And I was actually wondering about asking the same exact question! By the same token, what about Nigel Saunders??!!
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Nigel is awsome ! He's a clip and grow person so ypu know.
 
Lurch said:
It’s fair game to point that out, as you openly posted your economical situation selling 9 getting 2
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Read and learn little cricket.

Top and bottom trees...stack ranking

A common HR tactic is to "stack rank" our team, by identifying the top and bottom 10%, then come up with a plan to get the top 10% promoted, and the bottom 10% moved up, or out of the organization. I started doing this with my trees a few years ago, and at first it was pretty easy. Then, as my...
www.bonsainut.com www.bonsainut.com

When you have trees to show and talk about, happy to talk to you about them. For now, I am out. I ran out of troll food.
 
Perhaps we could all agree on one thing. That a tree will mean different things to different people, stirs different visions for its future development, perhaps even subconsciously stirs up an emotion from a long forgotten memory.

Bonsai is an art form and like all art, it is open to the interpretation of those viewing it. For example a tree that checks all the boxes and is a perfect example of a certain style might inspire someone but feel unremarkable to someone else.

The same tree will always be ugly, flawed, boring, unremarkable, perfect, inspirational, beautiful, awe-inspiring. It just depends on the viewer, there is no right or wrong.
 
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