Try try again...

[Kandoloh]

so I have to cancel my jade garden trip this weekend due to unforeseen circumstances. I would like to give boxwood another try as they are so easy to find here and within budget. I will hit a nursery and two bb stores tomorrow and try to get something that looks good. As my previous failures were multi-trunk I am going to look for a nice thick single trunk and try to keep it under $20. When I find one I will post a picture. This time around I am glad to have this resource at my fingertips! Any pointers on what to look for branch wise?

 

[M. Frary]

Really, what you need is to look at the trunk and surface roots. The branches that exist will probably need some cutting back. And some will need to go altogether.
Put up a picture of what you get and good luck on your hunt.

 

[Kandoloh]

So look for a fatty trunk and good nebari. Sounds easy enough...

 

[M. Frary]

Remember.
It's not the kill,but the thrill of the chase. Have a good time looking around nurseries. I love just going and looking around. I'm always looking for the perfect Hinoki cypress.

 

[sorce]

Me too.

Just remember. If they don't think you're crazy at the store, you're not looking hard enough!

Sorce

 

[Coach]

I think you will enjoy Jade Gardens when you get the chance to go. Chuck and his wife have some great trees...unfortunately for us they know it and are in no hurry to sell them or really even bargain over them

Suggestion: don't get caught up in lusting over one of his $500-2500+specimens (he has plenty, one of the best little Korean Hornbeams I've ever seen, for a smooth $895...wish I could but I'm just a teacher/coach

instead of drooling over them all, go to study them. If he's not too busy he will gladly talk about his trees with you and "teach" you if you are willing to slow down and just listen. The value I saw last time I was there after looking at everything was a Chinese Elm that he had collected and chopped 8 years ago...I paid less than 100 bucks and felt good that I had some raw material, my first...I should have been looking for more taper, better nebari, fewer bar branches, etc, but I went to BUY and wasn't leaving without a tree...the elm was in an air pot off to the side of his displays (I had to ask if it was for sale, wasn't obvious so I recommend really looking around before making a decision, he may have something nice/nicer out there).

I learned a lot from Chuck that day and I am thankful for it, but the best lesson I learned after working with the tree when I got home was that I can go "hunting" for my own material and make my own chops for almost nothing...so a few weeks later I went out and collected some Cedar Elms for free ...I will save that story for another post

Because I mentioned the tree here it is...I have a lot of work to do on that elm...this is what it looked like when I got it home and after its/my first styling

 

[Kandoloh]

I think you will enjoy Jade Gardens when you get the chance to go. Chuck and his wife have some great trees...unfortunately for us they know it and are in no hurry to sell them or really even bargain over them

Suggestion: don't get caught up in lusting over one of his $500-2500+specimens (he has plenty, one of the best little Korean Hornbeams I've ever seen, for a smooth $895...wish I could but I'm just a teacher/coach

instead of drooling over them all, go to study them. If he's not too busy he will gladly talk about his trees with you and "teach" you if you are willing to slow down and just listen. The value I saw last time I was there after looking at everything was a Chinese Elm that he had collected and chopped 8 years ago...I paid less than 100 bucks and felt good that I had some raw material, my first...I should have been looking for more taper, better nebari, fewer bar branches, etc, but I went to BUY and wasn't leaving without a tree...the elm was in an air pot off to the side of his displays (I had to ask if it was for sale, wasn't obvious so I recommend really looking around before making a decision, he may have something nice/nicer out there).

I learned a lot from Chuck that day and I am thankful for it, but the best lesson I learned after working with the tree when I got home was that I can go "hunting" for my own material and make my own chops for almost nothing...so a few weeks later I went out and collected some Cedar Elms for free ...I will save that story for another post

Because I mentioned the tree here it is...I have a lot of work to do on that elm...this is what it looked like when I got it home and after its/my first styling

Very cool! I'm actually working on my teaching license right now. Going to probably be working for Jarrell ISD as I was a sub there last year. Do they have a good selection of stuff there that hasn't been worked on yet?

 

[Coach]

It's a great job, especially now...haven't worked in 25 days , good luck with your certification process...takes time and study but well worth it all.

I was out at Jade in December. I would say he had 100+ import trees with S curve trunks that the "tourists" buy (saw your avatar , no offense to s-curves, I'm pretty sure every single bonsai enthusiast starts with an attraction to the "curve")...100+ decent small stock of Brazilian Raintrees, Pygmy Maples, and Junipers ($50-150)....100+ well trained shohin sized specimens ($350-750) and then 100+ large Specimen Bonsai, big $$$ stuff

Pre-Bonsai material that I saw was like 5 trees total

 

[Kandoloh]

This Fukien tea in my picture was a gift for my first Father's Day

 

[j evans]

Congratulations on your first Father's Day. Now there is a project that will be trying at times, rewarding and last a lifetime. Better than any old tree.

Jamie

 

[Kandoloh]

Oh it's been an amazing but hard 10 months thus far. I am a stay at home daddy right now so I'm experiencing every up and down lol

 

[Coach]

This Fukien tea in my picture was a gift for my first Father's Day

That particular curvy tree is priceless then ...congrats dad