AusBonsai

Stopped there today - 8 August - and prices are really low. Last year's $50 ash was purchased for $10. Last year's $20 callistimon was going for $10. Water gums in abundance and from $8.50 to $10 for medium to advanced stock. The trees are in a more degraded condition and I lost too many in November - 7 months down the track I wasn't prepared to gamble tho last year's $30 Lemon Scented tea tree was available for $10. Again, I wasn't prepared to take the risk. But I have 'too many trees' and why gamble when there's enough at home to look after.

As long as buyers are aware that the plants require ant eradication, a water absorption product for a LONG soak [Saturaid or Wetasoil] and eventually careful root pruning, go for it. There are still some callistimons that can be revitalised, cutback and styled, including one or two that are begging to be styled literati.

For a beginner like me Melaquin is it worth me going and picking up quite a number of these struggling plants and trying to bring them back to helath? Is this a good lesson for me to learn to keep them alive? Given the prices you saw today, I'd be happy to consider it part of the apprentership....if you think I stood a chance

As long as you are prepared to lose..... My mate bought 3 today and said all were in loose soil. In this situation the chances of survival are high. It is when the root ball is so compacted that trying to tease the roots free of the cement like soil is a study in what one room in hell must be like that you learn what frustration means. However, if I did not have as many trees as I do I would have bought a couple.

Go for it. Blow $20 or $30... remember, cash only. They are really trying to move the stock and in all my trips to Riverview they have never been so keen to sell and the prices have never been so keen. Even if you only learn a bit more about root pruning it's worth the lesson for approximately $10 a plant. And throw some basic styling in as well and it is worth it.

Riverview is very good at taking a 6" potted tree or an 8" potted tree and putting the tree in a larger pot and filling around the often hard soil ball with fresh soil so don't get excited if the top soil looks good. Take a small chopstick with you or a bonsai rake and work a bit to see what you are getting before you get it.

Also, keep in mind to LOOK at similar trees and see if any shoot back on old wood... even if the shoots are dead. You can work with a tree like that. Get it healthy and it will shoot. But beware of kunzeas and baeckeas that are not as keen to shoot back on old wood and the spacing between the nabari and the foliage is extreme. You will never make it with trees like that.

I'd still say 'Go for it'.

I picked up some a month ago from there, Callistimon, Watergum, Buxus. all re doing good so far and I have Repotted and root pruned 'em pretty hard

Will see how we go but definitely worth getting some cheap stock and working to get them healthy

Oh my god.....

I don't think I could have spent five cents let alone $50.

A few plants I looked at had unceremoniously been repotted by being removed from previous pot bound, and then dumped into a bigger pot half filled with crappy mix. Literally on top with no further work.

I couldn't do it and waste the money (no matter how loud the sceams of "Save me Leroy Save Me" were.

Also went to Bonsai Nursery near Windsor today, had some nice trained trees but bloody expensive and very average stock plants.

Go to Ray, Oriental or South people.

My two cents worth....

used to go to kingston for pots, superior prices for the biggies

so you went to the right nursery for the wrong stuff...

dont worry sometimes i cant even do the wrong thing right

G'day Guy's,

I have been contacted by the Cuthberts of Riverview Nursery who have advised that the nursery is definitely closing down as the property is SOLD. Kind of like the boy who cried wolf really

The last day will be Friday 30th November 2010.

Address is...
Riverview Nursery
736 Victoria Road
Ermington
(Opposite Put-Put Golf)

Opening hours...
Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm

I'm sure there will be great bargains on the remaining plants but over the last 4 to 5 years many a bonsaist has picked the best out. There may still be that 'masterpiece in the making' waiting for you

Regards,
Steven

Pity I am not down that way to pick up a bargain. Oh well, I am sure that some nice stock will be purchased.

Fish

Just got back from a collecting trip to the nursery

Had a few hours to kill so took off with $100 in cash and my Saw Nothing Else I know feels like Yamadori hunting in an old Nursery

Picked up 6 Trees for my troubles and will post photos later after I finish soaking in Seasol and repot some of them

I got
1 Fig ( Stupendous ??) dunno if it a native or not but will find out, It was in a 12" bag but the roots had gotten into the ground and it went mad. It is about 8ft tall, and with a boring straight base but with real nice flare. It must be nearly 8" across the base and tapers to about 4" a foot above. Will get cut back hard to make probably a broom style tree and will layer off a few bits off the top too. I will make the most out to the $25 cost

1 Eucalypt. ( I have no idea what, but has lancelote leaves and a Pale yellow new bark, and dark brown old bark)
4 assorted Callistimon /Tea tree. (var Buggerifiknoweous )
The smallest was in and 8 inch pot and the roots have escaped into the ground so is rather large for the pot
The others are in 12" pots or plastic bags and also had roots into the ground ( hence the Saw )

From previous experience with these stocks, the first repot should be done sooner into decent soil, with as little as possible taken off. Give very cautios after care with Frequent Seasol and Water with No direct sun, wind till at least they show good new growth.
Repot again and slowly reduce the Original roots and do not be in a rush to get the tree into a shallow pot. ( I have rushed 2 now and booth have failed after the second potting )

Had a good chat to the Owner, and the property has not sold yet, but is up for Auction the end of the month. It is to be sold as a "Vacant possession". They are hoping to stay one till the end of the year but that depends on the purchaser. They Definitely will be gone by Christmas tho so get in soon. If you are coming from afar, then please call first.

What is there?
Heaps of everything and for the good stuff, be prepared to do some searching out the back. There are clumps of old Native stock that have escaped into the ground everywhere, which is easy to collect and will make great literati soon, or can be worked to bring the height down over a few years.

Enjoy

ps, If there are any Rich benefactors outthere, It would make a great place too turn into a Bonsai Garden .
Situated on a nice gentle Slope with views to the City. I Could just imagine it as a Bonsai Garden and Arboretum?
Maybe the Ausbonsai Display garden and we can all meet up there to work and display our trees! Hey Steven ?

Ken

Nice Ken!

I'm gonna head over there tuesday, around lunch time to see what's left.

Mitchell wrote:Nice Ken!

I'm gonna head over there tuesday, around lunch time to see what's left.

Should be heaps

Got them all cleaned up and potted now.

Took a few photos to show the sort of things you may find there

5 trees are Native, but I do not know about the Fig
The owner said it was a Ficus Stupendous? Anyone know for sure?

All trees were soaked in Seasol yesterday before starting work on them, and then were soaked after finishing too. They will all get seasol hand watered on every day for the first few weeks. All are Potted into 2/3 Diatomite / 1/3 Zeolite, and are out of direct sun ( Underneath other trees).

I will probably Layer off the Tops of most of them as well as they need shortening.

Also I need to replace my literati Comp tree as it did not survive the last repot so now have plenty of Natives to choose from

enjoy
Ken

Hi kcpoole,
It's a bit hard to tell from the pics but the Eucalypt looks alot like some of the Corymbia maculata (Eucalyptus maculata - 'Spotted Gum') I have seen around in pots. I have a few I have grown from seed for bonsai purposes but am having trouble getting a nice even taper with them, very quick growing though!
Cheers

hi bonscythe

Please don't even try to get a good taper on your Eucalyptus. It is unnatural for them. They respond well to being grown in a more "natural style".

For inspiration have a look at those growing naturally around you.

regards

Dennis Mc

Just got back. Damn!

Still doing the old, recovery procedures on them, I'll post later.
Got a Mel and a Cal. The Mel was about 5m tall, with a 5 inch base. The Cal was 3m high and has about a 7 inch base. Both had to be dug out, fortunatley the whole property is on a nice sandy soil which the tap roots/other roots can be pulled from without having to be cut.


Was really funny, I tracked the AB.com members trails all through the back of the yard. I believe I was onto Andrews trail at one point.



I must say, from what people were mentioning I was expecting much less. In fact the yard is more-so a giant growing field with hundreds of trees to harvest. Many massive specimens have low growing branches to work from the base. If anyone wants some serious big material, there are 30m high natives, many patches of Mel's and Cal's. Apart from the massive stuff, there are plenty of 1 inch thick trunks going for fair prices.



Anyway, off for a beer and some more recovery procedures.