Starting collection

[luan]

I'd like to start a small bonsai collection of about 7 to 10 trees to begin with, so need some stock. Would like trees about $150 to $250 each, but am happy to consider higher priced ones up to about $500 if I like them. They do not need to be in good pots. You will need to be able to ship them safely to South Australia.

Please PM any offers.

Cheers

[Joel]

Welcome to AusBonsai!

Sorry I don't have any offers for you, but id like to say that its great to see somebody starting the proper way. I'm sure your collection will outdo mine very quick and Ive been doing this for some years now.

Good luck!

JayC

[luan]

Thanks for the encouragement.

I wouldn't know what starting the proper way would be... I don't even know what a good tree is meant to be like. All I know is if I like the look of a tree or not, and the ones for sale in Adelaide are not that nice...

I guess if I don't get any good offers I could always fly to Melbourne and hire a van....

[ketutg]

luan where in SA are you? Although i don't have any for sale there are good trees and stock at Bonsai Tree Gardens.
Here's the address
144 Seaview Rd Yatala Vale SA 5126
ph: (08) 8251 2362

I started my collection by buying stock from a fellow member of the SA bonsai society but added trees to it from this nursery.
I rarely go to the meetngs as i have other commitments on the days they have it but the meetings but it's a good way to get a hold of good quality stock at affordable prices

[luan]

Henley Beach, so I guess that is not too far away. Will take a look - never even knew they existed (but I've only tried googling).

Have thought about checking out the club, but it is not on at a convenient time, and I felt sort of weird comming along when I didn't even have a single tree!

Thanks heaps

[Damian Bee]

Hi Luan,

There is nothing wrong with going along to club meetings without trees. Some clubs have members that don't ever bring a tree in, they just like to see what others are doing. If you do have a tree, don't be afraid to take it along to show or to ask for advice, (one thing you should remember is not to be offended by critique of your tree by a club member as this is meant to help you along the road to a better tree). Clubs exist to share knowledge, meet like minded people, share resources and encourage the art of Bonsai in Australia. One more thing (amongst others which don't come to mind at present) is that you should not be daunted or put off by trees that you may see in books or on display at shows etc, these are great works of art at a level which one can aim toward or to surpass in their own way.

Good luck in choosing your trees......................but take your time.

Damian.

[kcpoole]

Thanks for the encouragement.

I wouldn't know what starting the proper way would be... I don't even know what a good tree is meant to be like. All I know is if I like the look of a tree or not, and the ones for sale in Adelaide are not that nice...

I guess if I don't get any good offers I could always fly to Melbourne and hire a van....

Hey Luan

Get along to a club and have a lok what the members are doing. then do the rounds of the bonsai Nurseries if you can but also maybe check out what is available online so you can get an idea
Leigh Taafe I think has trees online and is a member here so should be able to help out

As for import into SA, I thought that you were restricted as to what you can bring into the State?
Ken

[luan]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. I've now gone to all the nurseries, and joined the Bonsai SA club. Even have a few small trees - below is my first feeble attempt at taking a photo of a tree. I need a bigger backdrop! Got this Chinese Elm for $42 at one of the nurseries. It has a few wiring scars. Will they grow out with time?

DSC_3754.jpg

[aaron_tas]

nice pot

unfortunately the scars are permanent...

but i've seen some sweet trees that people have scarred intentionally.

you could make this one a scarred up mame if you bend the arse outta it and get some movement in the first inch or 2...

nice photo too

[Asus101]

Got this Chinese Elm for $42 at one of the nurseries.

which nursery mate?

[DavidN]

Hi Luan,
Glad to see you have interest in bonsai and are keen to grow your collection. From personal experience and from other more experienced bonsai people down here in Melbourne, one piece of advice we like to give for new people into bonsai is that if the are serious about learning bonsai then start with nursery/bonsai stock and lots of them too. There is no such thing as having too many trees when it comes to learning all the techniques, styles, creativity and horticutural skills when it comes to bonsai. So you are on the right path there.

So with the above advice, consider instead of purchasing the chinese elm for $40, you might have bought 4 x $10 nursery/bonsai stock type plants where you could have learnt to wire, trimming, repot, and other skills in keeping the trees alive. At our previous Bonsai Northwest Club shows you would have picked up a number of trees for the $40. Being a bonsai club and having club members selling their own trees, there is no nursery profit taking invoved and trees are sooooo cheap. (Promotion: Bonsai Northwest Inc Show October 24-25 yarraville Melbourne).

Hang around experienced people in your club and you should do well.

David

[luan]

Can the tree be bent? It feels so tough, like it would snap rather than bend. I'll take it to the next workshop...

I got it from the Yatala Vale nursery that someone recommended earlier in the post. She's just come back from a holiday, so doesn't have many trees. And she only opens on Sundays, which is weird.

Thanks for the advice David. Unfortunately with the work I'm into, I don't have that much time to own too many trees. Whilst I see the value of owning many trees, I am happy to learn slowly. Plus, I'm a bit of an impatient gen x, and have no time to wait 30-40 years until the trees are mature....

[luan]

Thought I would update this post with some trees I've collected over the last few months.

Except for the first one, they are all only a bit higher than a Red Bull. Comments/suggestions more than welcome.

L.

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[Matthew]

Nice collection you are starting to get. I like the figs as im partial to them. I have quite a few of daves figs and he defiantly knows what hes doing, I agree totally on the packaging. I think most of leongs willow leafs start as root cuttings. He seems to create some decent ones quick. watch any wire on those figs in summer. It wont take long to dig in. Im sure they will give you plenty of enjoyment


No conifers as yet.........

[luan]

Thanks for the advice.... although I've already taken the wires off the tree. I'm not sure why he had it... it wasn't giving the tree any shape that it didn't already have...

I have one pine, an ash, and a juniper which I haven't posted... they are a bit big for me and I'm thinking of selling them.