Just wanted to throw out an idea for a “competition”... maybe better called a challenge for others to maybe get involved in. The basics of my concept are:
1. Pick some stock that you like the potential of, whatever you like... whatever size, but is yet to be considered a bonsai... one entry per person though - so be picky/strategic!
2. Post a pic of it in this thread and maybe give some background on the stock (if you have it), but probably more importantly how you see it developing over the next 3 years...
3. Develop your stock in whatever way you think will get you the best tree you can muster in the 3 years... BUT... do NOT post If you post any development shots/comments relating to this tree in this thread or any other, on any forum... you are out!
4. At the end of the 3 years you need to post a pic of your “finished” tree, and whatever development shots over that period (now, the more the better) so others can see what you have created and how you managed it. I would suggest a minimum of one picture from each year (3 in total) so we can get an idea of the development timeline, obviously more would be great.
5. There is a vote of some description ... possibly open to the whole forum, where people vote for the tree that has shown the best DEVELOPMENT over the 3 years. Note: not the “best bonsai”necessarily, but the tree that has progressed the most from where it began.
6. The winner gets my undying adulation for at least 3 weeks after the end of the comp. And, if I manage to rustle up a prize over the next few years, they can have that too.
Those are the basics of my competition concept. I want to encourage people who maybe don’t usually post stuff to whack up a picture of their “stick in a pot” and hopefully they’ll see it’s not that scary and continue to post more of their work and increase the traffic on our forum. No pressure really... chuck up a seedling, you never know where you can take it in 3 years!
Happy for any suggestions/ideas about how to refine the idea and make it better. I’m thinking of making the start date 01/01/2020, which makes it easy to remember the end date is 01/01/2023! There’s a bit of time to think about it!
What do you reckon?
I'll find something to enter over the coming weeks. I had a read through everything and the only possible problem I could see was having trees for prizes if someone interstate wins. Maybe pots or tools or a gift voucher at said winners local bonsai nursery could be a safer option.
