AusBonsai

Hey Chris,

It's run on the last Sunday of every month at Bonsai World in Jilliby (51 Watagans Forest Drive). It's free and open to everyone. Your profile says you live in Dubbo, it's a bit of a trek to the Central Coast, will you be here on the weekend?

If you don't take any plants, you'll definitely leave with one.

They have a facebook page with all their info.

I'll be in Sydney this weekend and was thinking I'd pop into Bonsai World Sunday on my way home anyway and when I saw this I thought it'd possibly be a great opportunity just to have a look at a workshop and see how different things are done.


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Sweet!

I'll see you there then. Bring your wallet, you'll need it.

Bonsai world is fantastic. Prices are great and HUGE variety. Interesting to talk to the guys and got a 5 minute talk on black pine that was very informative. Very friendly and great atmosphere . I must admit I gave my credit card a bit of a canning.

I took a visit out to Bonsai World at Jilliby recently to see what the nursery is up to.

Their potting mix is still number 1. All my natives are in fantastic health after many years of using their mix, and its the cheapest I've ever found.
Excellent drainage. Their mix saved a lot of my stock. I usually combine their mix with river sand in different proportions, depending on the species.

If you're into exotics, you'll be very happy. Every time I go out there, it makes me want to grow maples.
But its their natives I visit them for.

Interestingly, their Banksia marginata they grow is the most hardy I've trialled. All other B marginata I've sourced from other nurseries have either died or don't have a lot of vigour. Provided you don't do severe trunk chops, their material is quite resilient.

Ash and Dave are always helpful and good to ask for advice.

I just thought to post an update to this topic, rather than starting another. I made the loooong trip from the Inner West to Bonsai World today.

They are a LARGE nursery for those of us used to Sydney nurseries. Lots and lots of starter and pre-bonsai stock. They have also made the effort to wire some really good movement into a lot of their starter and pre-bonsai stock e.g. junipers and a range of Aussie natives. The movement in some was really impressive and great to see them put the effort into doing this so that we can have a great starting point.

In terms of species, it is a mix of everything, although with a higher representation of natives than you might usually see. Lighter on the pines than some (e.g Bonsai South). Not a huge deal of old, developed, large stock (for those like me that prefer hernia-inducing bonsai)- but that is obviously not their thing.

I thought that their prices were really fair - so there was no financial/moral dilemma in adding 'just another' item.

I went there to pick up on some pots. They have a MUCH larger range of pots than any other nursery that I have visited (and an unpacked 40 foot shipping container of pots and more unpacked pots in a massive poly tunnel). So, if you need pots, they will have something to suit. They said that if you can't find what you want, just ask and they will be able to dig something out of the unpacked stock.

I got 4 very large pots (sorry, I didn't have the traditional bottle of beer for size).

Nate.bonsai wrote: ↑January 3rd, 2020, 4:04 pm Not a huge deal of old, developed, large stock (for those like me that prefer hernia-inducing bonsai)- but that is obviously not their thing.

Good sized pots there Nate. They have some great big trees on display "out the back" area (not for sale though). Did you get a chance to view these?
If not, here are some pics taken when I was there last June. I know they are caretakers of some Koreshoff trees also.

Geez there’s some good stuff there ...including Nate’s choice of wine!


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Keep Calm and Ramify wrote:[Did you get a chance to view these?
If

Yes, I probably should also have said that they do have a very large private collection of developed trees that are great for inspiration.

The one in your first pic (especially when you see it from front on) was especially good. They had it set up as the first thing you see upon entering the private collection.

I also spied some really nice pots out on the private (ie not for sale) area as well.

So, two great reasons to go - huge range of good quality trees and pots and a great collection of developed trees.


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Great nursery, highly recommend.....lots and lots of pots and trees to choose from, my card got a hammering, check it out.