AusBonsai

hi all

below is a shohin Japanese black pine that started out in 1992. it used to belong to a friend who tragically passed away in a car accident one and a half years ago now. it now belongs to the girlfriend at the time. she has recently realised how much work they take to maintain and have sadly decided to sell it to someone who will care for it.

it measures just over 30cm and i counted 17 well developed branches and only one visible scar in the back where the low sacrifice branch was. the close family friend who brought it to my attention will now thin out the needles and tidy up the branch structures with light wiring.

we would like raise as much for the family as possible and we think $3000 is what it is worth. any one who is interested in the tree can come to the nursery (253 centre rd narre warren south) for a closer inspection next week onwards.
regards

Tien

Good on you for helping out mate, hopefully everything works out.

-Mo


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Obviously open to any offer. Pm me if u like.
It is the best small size jbp I have seen in the country so far and I am interested to know what the general bonsai public value in such a tree.

Regards

Yes, a good specimen. Quite unusual to see so many reasonably well proportioned branches on a tree of that size in Australia. The original owner did a lot of hard ground work in keeping/encouraging all of them.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

hi everyone

the price has been dropped to $2400.

a few more shots showing all the desirable traits for a shohin JBP.
by the way, any comment or critique or advise welcome.


regards

Tien

Why not keep it in his memory and keep growing it?
Good Luck anyway.
Michael

Nate.bonsai wrote:Yes, a good specimen. Quite unusual to see so many reasonably well proportioned branches on a tree of that size in Australia. The original owner did a lot of hard ground work in keeping/encouraging all of them.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Hi Nate
It was grown by the best pine grower i know in victoria. And he is not growing them to sell anymore.

toohey wrote:Why not keep it in his memory and keep growing it?
Good Luck anyway.
Michael

Hi Michael
As I said earlier, she does not have the knowledge to maintain it. Plus she took custody of 25 or so trees after my friend's death, that's a lot of work. So we thought we'd try to sell some of the trees for her.
If no one is interested, we'd just have to look after them for her. Might end up buying them myself, but when that happens, the trees won't be sold at mate's rate anymore .

Regards

Great little tree, but a little more than I could get by the minister for finance. Maybe mentioning if the pot is from a recognised potter might drum up some more interest?

Scott Roxburgh wrote:Great little tree, but a little more than I could get by the minister for finance. Maybe mentioning if the pot is from a recognised potter might drum up some more interest?

Hi Scott
The pot is Japanese but not from a well recognized potter.
The tree has been neglected for 2 years and we have planned to restore the tree to its optimum condition. We are aware that it's a lot of money for a small tree but it ticks all the boxes as far as what we look for in a small pine is concerned.

At the AABC convention in Melbourne two years ago, I sold two old pines from the same grower for $2500(to a Brisbane lady) and $2300(to a local melbournian). I wonder what happen to them now. and I believe this tree is in the same category. But anyway, times are different now.


Regards


Tien

bonsaisensation wrote:The tree has been neglected for 2 years and we have planned to restore the tree to its optimum condition. We are aware that it's a lot of money for a small tree but it ticks all the boxes as far as what we look for in a small pine is concerned.

Promotion, promotion and promotion. You've got to get the provenance and rarity of this tree OUT in the open where people with $3K to spend on a tree (and hopefully have a professional maintain it) will find it. You need someone who thinks spending $1,000 on a watch is normal.

Outside well heeled Japanophiles you're looking at senior management at Japanese firms (eg Inpex, Mitsubishi, TEPCO, Kirin, Asahi) or in government offices. Or izakaya owners such as, for example, Simon Denton or Andre Bishop. None of whom you're likely to find here.

This is the equivalent of a garage find Ferrari - it's not going to sell to us hoi polli.

Indeed one of the big auction houses might be answer - especially as part of a Japanophile themed auction

Spin the story behind the tree. Hard! You probably need a suitably-connected journalist (preferably with a slight japanophile bent)

Like the Qantas in flight magazine. Or the Australian Polo Magazine. The Financial Review magazine or BOSS.

thoglette wrote:

bonsaisensation wrote:The tree has been neglected for 2 years and we have planned to restore the tree to its optimum condition. We are aware that it's a lot of money for a small tree but it ticks all the boxes as far as what we look for in a small pine is concerned.

Promotion, promotion and promotion. You've got to get the provenance and rarity of this tree OUT in the open where people with $3K to spend on a tree (and hopefully have a professional maintain it) will find it. You need someone who thinks spending $1,000 on a watch is normal.

Outside well heeled Japanophiles you're looking at senior management at Japanese firms (eg Inpex, Mitsubishi, TEPCO, Kirin, Asahi) or in government offices. Or izakaya owners such as, for example, Simon Denton or Andre Bishop. None of whom you're likely to find here.

This is the equivalent of a garage find Ferrari - it's not going to sell to us hoi polli.

Indeed one of the big auction houses might be answer - especially as part of a Japanophile themed auction

Spin the story behind the tree. Hard! You probably need a suitably-connected journalist (preferably with a slight japanophile bent)

Like the Qantas in flight magazine. Or the Australian Polo Magazine. The Financial Review magazine or BOSS.

Thanks mate, ain't that the truth.

I am preparing a few of the deceased collections as well as some of my shohin and medium size JBP for the AABC convention in Adelaide this May. Any one who is interested in mid size JBP with great taper, movement, buds close to the trunk with multitude of branches, they will all be up for grasp in Adelaide. Photos of what to expect will be posted closer to the date.


Regards


Tien

This tree was taken to the market day in Sydney last Saturday and received huge exposure and praises from all who saw it. As I as packing up to leave, one seller(sorry, forgot to ask your name) made a comment " this is the best pine in the country"
I didn't think much of it at that moment, but on my way back to Melbourne I had a bit of time to think about what I learnt from the trip.

I don't think this tree is anywhere near the best pine even in Victoria, but there is something remarkable about it. This is what I came up with.

As far as "achievability", this little pine is probably 9 and 1/2 out of 10 on the difficulty scale. As mentioned earlier, it was grown from seed in the early 90s, that made the tree 24 years old. I thought to myself " will I be able to grow something like this in 24 years? The answer is I'd struggle even with what I know now about how to grow pines. I then thought "if I can't grow it in 24 years from now even if I tried, that'd make this tree rather special".

So This tree will be off the market for now. There will be other good mid size pines up for graps in Adelaide as some of you saw them on the weekend.


Regards

Damn, Tien I meant to have a look at this today!!
Maybe next time.

you know I'm not allowed to buy any more Black Pines... So how come there's a new one in my backyard

Hi Tien . I met you at the market and was one of the ones who was really impressed with this tree . I think this tree is special too and I'm glad that it is staying in someone's capable hands .
Cheers Craig

Wow I didnt even recognize this tree compared to the market day!? fantastic job restoring this tree Tien!