AusBonsai

Hi All,

I started fiddling around with some maple cuttings from my folk's garden about a year ago. They are coming along nicely, however patience isn't a virtue I possess.
I'd like to add some thicker-trunked bonsai to my collection.
It hasn't taken me long to realise good bonsai aren't cheap and cheap bonsai aren't good. Asking for "Cheap, thick-trunked bonsai" is probably asking the impossible, but if anyone (preferably) in Melbourne can help out a budding (pun intended) enthusiast I'd be very grateful.

Also, on the topic of plants...if you liked Hale & Pace, watch this...its good for a laugh

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTwonWl9 ... re=related

Thanks,
Steve.

Not sure who is the best to see in Melbourne Steve but I am sure you will get some great leads.
Thanks for the link though it gave me a laugh

Hi Steve and welcome. Perhaps you would have more success posting and wanted ad for rocking horse poo ? Seriously good stock is hard to find without worrying about the price. BUT remember you are buying time when you purchase good stock with a nice trunk.

Tony

Haha, welllll it was worth a shot... call me soft but I'd feel somewhat guilty buying a decent sized tree and cutting it at the base (I suppose I could air-layer).
Cheers anyway guys....my next [WANT] topic might be a request for "rocking horse poo", it seems more common.
Peace.

Your best bet, if you want a cheep thick trunk, (relatively decent one) is to go on a dig...

Perhaps you would have more success posting and wanted ad for rocking horse poo ?

I have some of that. I get alot of it when I am making rocking horses

Oh sorry thats saw dust

Bretts wrote:Not sure who is the best to see in Melbourne Steve but I am sure you will get some great leads.

Maybe not

Here is a link where you will find a list of Bonsai nurseries in Victoria
https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _Nurseries

I think it has been missed by the members that you do understand good stock is worth paying for but want to be pointed in the right direction.
As I have not been to the nurseries in Victoria I can only give you my best guess on the place for you but here are a few I might recomend from what I have seen of their stock on this forum.
https://sashieda.com.au/index.php
https://www.bodhidharma.com.au/
https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... onsai_Farm,_(Lindsay_Farr" )
https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... bui_bonsai

G'day Steve,

Bretts link to the wiki shows all our bonsai nurseries for Vic, and really depends on where in 'Melbourne' you're located.

From my experience in the outer Sth East ...
AtoZ starters - you'll get a bargain on some thick stock but it'll need lots of work to develop the branch structure (great if you're just starting out)
Imagination Tree and Bonsai Art both have more intentionally developed stock, and their prices reflect the additional work put in.

Go around to as many bonsai nurseries on the that list as you can (afford ) you'll soon get an idea about price vs. quality and how much you are willing to spend for what.

Sounds like you've got a road trip coming up Good luck

Gday Steve, and welcome to AusBonsai!

Having rarely bought Bonsai stock/starters, I may not be one to comment, but...

Some of the thickest, most work-ready trees I have purchased came from local club sales. In particular, the Bonsai Society of Victoria has a regular "Special Sale", and I have bought some ripper trunks from there in the past, for ridiculously low prices.

Good luck!

FlyBri.

Thanks heaps Brett, you're a good fellow. The help's much appreciated... cheers for sticking up for the new guy haha

Same goes to Flybri (I'll keep an eye out for bonsai society sales)...

I'm in Williamstown (over the westgate) Cre8ive, but I'm happy to travel around....which is a plus, because it looks like I'll have to haha...

I visited Northwest Bonsai Inc. for their last meeting and will become a member next month. Some of the bonsai I saw there were amazing.

As far as going on a dig goes....I wouldn't know where to begin....I've heard the great ocean road is decent?

Cheers all.

No worries Steve,
There was something I forgot to mention. Collecting trees is great fun but kinda like fishing some times you are better spending ya money at the fish shop but that is not as much fun.

A collected tree will take up most of your Sunday then you may not get anything or it may not survive. Then you will have to wait at least a year before you can start working the tree.

It is worth considering if your time would be better spent on the Sunday doing overtime at your job and then spending that money at a Bonsai nursery on a tree that you can start working on straight away,

Make sense

The Great Ocean road is decent for a day out but not for collecting trees! Mostly protected areas so do not go ripping off our public heritage. Its for everyone to enjoy, not for a few selfish ones to take and hide in their backyard...
Better places to collect are: private land - with owners permission; gardens that are being renovated; house/ commercial demolitions and renovations - put the word out in your networks and something will come up.
My experience is as Bretts alludes to - 90% of trees collected because they looked good in the field turn out to be poor specimens when you try to do something with them at home. Examine 1000, collect 5, keep 1 or 2!

nishiki nursery up in monbulk has Japanese maple in 14 inch pot i think for like $50?
some of them are like 4 or 5 inches thickens

msg him, his nick here is nishiki3

John

Lets not forget that often our members put up trees for sale too. I picked up a few good Japanese Maple trunks from Chiah a few months back.

If you are wanted something at a cheap price (cheap for the quality) I think bonsai club sales are the best way to go. You should still be prepared to part with at least $50, the trees are well worth it though.