Padre Pio

[MelaQuin]

This nursery opened last year. 158 Annangrove Road, Kenthurst. Not open on Sunday. Apparently Padre Pio is a patron saint of gardens but I preferred the original name of Dragonstone. But I'm only a customer.

Odd nursery... Nick 'specialises' in shaped stock and root over rock. There is a large selection of stock plants but you have to be careful. Last time I was there [literally] there were only a few things priced so he gives prices as you bring the trees up. And it sorta depends on how you look and how he feels as to how the price goes... some prices are quite reasonable, some are totally outrageous. Two of us were looking at similar serissas. I got mine at $35 [still a bit high but it was advanced] and the other was put back when the quoted price was $65 'because it was almost a bonsai'. Rats... it is so little advanced over the one I chose that there should not have been a price difference.

The 'shaped' stock is interesting, some is so twisted and distorted that it looks better left on the ground, some is very interestingly twisted but the price is even more warped.

The plants are in rows on a large cement slap at the top of rise and the wind blows a lot. In the winter it's cold, in the summer hot and dry. The stock plants tend to be a bit water starvation hardy but it takes a couple of months to get them to loosen up and start growing seriously. That's not a negative as they do grow but I just don't like seeing plants so needy.

If you are a nursery crawler it is reasonable to give it a go and maybe he has priced everything now. But don't be surprised if the stock plant you find that you really want is priced above its worth. I did get two Zieria for $5 but everyone thought I was a bit mental - but I know how they develop. So there are bargains to be had but you still really need to know the retail worth of a stock plant before you start adding to your tree collection.

[Asus101]

Yeah there is a nursery down in adelaide who do that. A fused ficus group was priced for me at $1,600 but only $200 for my girlfriend.

[Dave54]

Hi, I must say that I agree that the price goes up depending how you look.
There is an old saying that when buying, look like you have the backside out of your pants and when selling, drive the mercedes.
On the positive side, I think he has some of the best pre-trained bonsai in Sydney, however, you have to wittle down his telephone number prices, before he talks reasonable prices. I have found that you generally walk away with a good tree at a fair price, but only if you know the art of bartering.
He is one of the only growers I know of "Premna Japonica" ( Stinky Maple ) and I purchased 3 beauties growing over rock, earlier in the year and they will be beaut bonsai when I finish with them.
He also has some lovely field grown Elms, Figs and Black Pine but bring your money with you as they have been pre-trained and have nice trunk movement.
cheers
Dave

[Russ]

If you are a nursery crawler it is reasonable to give it a go

You make me feel guilty!

[kcpoole]

I beleive the proprieter is a relative of Ray Nesci.

From what I know he used to work with Ray but they went separate ways a while ago. I asked Ray and got a very noncommittal answer so ?

ps I have not been to visit but, I know others who have done so and not been that impressed with the stock and price. My mate who has been rekons they are too twisted mostly for his liking

one day I will get there to have a looksee.

Ken

[Joel]

I have been there, and i was told by him that he is Clinton's cousin.

I wasn't that disapointed really. I had been at Rays nursery and was heading out to bonsai environment when i saw the sign on the side of the road. Popped in and he was happy to talk. I was amazed at the amount of stock he had..... most of it was at the same sort of age in training, but he had just as much as the Nesci's.

His "no-pricing" did throw me off at first, but after i realized the prices were negotiable, i thought it was decent. The trees are all quiet contorted, and some are overdone, but a lot of quiet good. I have not had trouble picking up Premna japonica at Rays nursery, but i think dragonstone was the first place that i found larches for sale in Sydney.

I visited this nursery just after it had opened, so i don't know if the pricing issue has changed at all. I was always keen to go back for a better look, but never got around to it. It is only about 20 mins drive from rays nursery, and is worth a look.

JayC

[Bonbon]

Is it still open?

I was there few weeks ago and it was closed. I think it was a Tuesday.

I had been there a few times and agree that it's rather annoying that all stock trees are without price tag and you have to ask one by one. I talked to him a few time already it is better to have a price tag on them but he wasn't convinced. I did not know that he welcomes bargaining, though.

I enjoy so much more in RayNesci just because of their clear price tag.

[Jester]

I have been there twice in the last 2 weeks on weekdays - (All the way from Bondi) , and got really cranky to find that he was closed on both occasions. Maybe he won the lottery and does'nt need to be open for a full weekday. He is also the only Bonsai Nursery owner I know that does'nt open Sunday. I am extremely cranky that I have driven all that way on two occasions and there has not been anyone there. Does anyone know this guy's phone number? Does he have a web address?

I spoke to Ray Nesci's son today and he said other people have also found him to be open when he feels like it.