Bonsai Nut Spring Box Store Challenge

[Vin]

Spring is around the corner and so is our next Box Store Challenge. The material will be evergreens that are not in the coniferous family in nothing larger than a three gallon pot and the cost must not exceed $50. The official annoucement and rules will be posted sometime during the last week in February. Material gathering will commence on the 1st of March and last the entire month. Proof of purchase will be same as last challenge with a dated receipt and photos, everything will be outlined in the rules. This post is more of a “Heads Up” to get everyone thinking about their project. Hope you all can join the fun!

Fall Box Store Challenge Winners: http://imgur.com/a/znUYi

 

[Eric Group]

Ok, so... Boxwoods, dwarf Holly- Yaupon, Japanese... Most Azaleas... Firethorn (in my area they are evergreen, I assume it is the same everywhere?)... What about Tropicals? Some species of Elm keep most/ all their leaves even in my climate and many can live in very warm environments without losing their leaves over winter... They do lose their leaves in very cold climates I guess... Just trying to nail down the definition of evergreen I guess. Are we talking trees that are ever green everywhere or regionally?

This should be interesting... It is harder to make an "instant bonsai" from trees not named Juniper! Especially the broad leafed trees... Harder to wire decent sized branches without breaking them, harder to find trees with good lower branches and foliage in close to the trunk... Can't wait to see what people come up with.

Anybody want to list a few trees I left off that would make good candidates?

How about Nandina? Or... Hell I can't think of any other good ones right now...

 

[Vin]

Ok, so... Boxwoods, dwarf Holly- Yaupon, Japanese... Most Azaleas... Firethorn (in my area they are evergreen, I assume it is the same everywhere?)... What about Tropicals? Some species of Elm keep most/ all their leaves even in my climate and many can live in very warm environments without losing their leaves over winter... They do lose their leaves in very cold climates

Tropicals are evergreen so they qualify. Elms are deciduous and semi-deciduous (I believe) so they will not qualify.

This should be interesting... It is harder to make an "instant bonsai" from trees not named Juniper! Especially the broad leafed trees... Harder to wire decent sized branches without breaking them, harder to find trees with good lower branches and foliage in close to the trunk... Can't wait to see what people come up with.

That's why we call it a challenge

How about Nandina?

I'll need to do a little research on this one but it would be a challenge. They grow wild around here and in Florida they're evergreen, yellow, red, orange, etc.

 

[fourteener]

This spring challenge is going to be more difficult for everyone. There won't be any nurseries open anytime near March 30th in MN. Even April wouldn't work for many northerners. Have fun down south. 55 inches of snow April 2013!!

 

[milehigh_7]

LOL we will be pretty much done with repotting by the end of this month here. It will be in the 90s in April.

 

[Cadillactaste]

This spring challenge is going to be more difficult for everyone. There won't be any nurseries open anytime near March 30th in MN. Even April wouldn't work for many northerners. Have fun down south. 55 inches of snow April 2013!!

I happen to "know" well my local nursery...if he has material from last year I'm hoping he'll let me root around amongst it. But..If I miss the challenge date...then, I will just look for one later when my areas open up...it won't be judged...but the hunt and fun will still be there.

 

[KennedyMarx]

We should come up with a list of species to use.

Boxwood
Holly
Azalea
Pyracantha
Gardenia
Privet
Camellia

Anyone think of any more?

Plus tropicals if you consider them in the same evergreen category:
Ficus
Bougainvillea
Fukien tea
Portulacaria afra (mini jade or elephant bush)

 

[Vin]

This spring challenge is going to be more difficult for everyone. There won't be any nurseries open anytime near March 30th in MN. Even April wouldn't work for many northerners. Have fun down south. 55 inches of snow April 2013!!

Well,,, we can push it to April or even May if that's the general consensus. Or, we could leave it as it is and have another one on the first day of Summer (June 21st) for those that couldn't participate in this one. Nothing is set in stone as of yet.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Well,,, we can push it to April or even May if that's the general consensus. Or, we could leave it as it is and have another one on the first day of Summer (June 21st) for those that couldn't participate in this one. Nothing is set in stone as of yet.

I'm fine with those who have access to go ahead with their plans...and we northern folk can grab the next one. Just remember...June 5th I'll be in Honduras for two weeks. No contact with the outside world. So if you do one for Summer...please keep that in mind. If you can't work around that...I'm also okay with it. I will still go a hunting and play around with a tree. On my own then...and share my experience in a different thread.

 

[Cadillactaste]

The nursery where I got my landscape trees...said they should have something doable to see them in February! Its a bit further from me...but well worth the drive! I see me being in the contest.

Oops...seeing this is for March. Still doable!

 

[Bunjeh]

Taxus?

Will Yews work? Berries no cones.

 

[Bunjeh]

Need help?

This spring challenge is going to be more difficult for everyone. There won't be any nurseries open anytime near March 30th in MN. Even April wouldn't work for many northerners. Have fun down south. 55 inches of snow April 2013!!

Though we are at the same lattitude it never freezes here. I can purcahse for you and send if you like?

 

[skrit]

A Yew would have been fun to work with, but I think it might be outside the 'rules'. Per Wikipedia "Taxaceae is now generally included with all other conifers in the order Pinales."
Seems they are conifers. Regardless, I'll probably try to participate, but around here, nursery stock may also be pretty limited in March. April may be better, but at worst, I'll participate in a Summer round.

FYI / TMI:
This may have been confusing because a conifer is not a Family level distinction, as suggested by the OP. IIRC, A conifer is defined at the Division/Phylum level (depending on where/when you learned biological scientific classification http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_classification). Specifically, division/phylum Pinophyta, also known as Coniferophyta or Coniferae. At least, I think so.

 

[Vin]

Will Yews work? Berries no cones.

Yews/Taxus are conifers so they won't work. Sorry.

 

[M. Frary]

This spring challenge is going to be more difficult for everyone. There won't be any nurseries open anytime near March 30th in MN. Even April wouldn't work for many northerners. Have fun down south. 55 inches of snow April 2013!!

A week or two before Mothers day is when nurseries start getting their stuff.

 

[tmmason10]

Maybe we could have a summer long competition? Pics of receipts, purchases, and initial styling due by the end of March, then a pic due for completion by September 1st? Just thinking it would let foliage fill in from branch setting.

 

[Wee]

Does it count if I hang out at the box stores and offer to dig up the old nasty bushes the folks are replacing with their carts full of new shrubs.....? Just kidding.

Sounds like fun....I'm sure the stores down here will be filling up soon. If I find something good before March can I put it on layaway....?

Brian

 

[Vin]

Maybe we could have a summer long competition? Pics of receipts, purchases, and initial styling due by the end of March, then a pic due for completion by September 1st? Just thinking it would let foliage fill in from branch setting.

I see what you're suggesting and it's not a bad idea but I think people would wane because the time frame is just too long. I wonder how everyone would feel about a "no wire" rule?

 

[JudyB]

I see what you're suggesting and it's not a bad idea but I think people would wane because the time frame is just too long. I wonder how everyone would feel about a "no wire" rule?

Bonsai is a game of inches and decades. Anyone who can't stick for a season is in the wrong place anyway...
No wire! No way! This is about helping folks hone some skillzzz, and that's the one biggie, that new people shy from. This is just the kick most need to learn how to.
Besides, where's the fun in just clipping?

 

[Cadillactaste]

Maybe we could have a summer long competition? Pics of receipts, purchases, and initial styling due by the end of March, then a pic due for completion by September 1st? Just thinking it would let foliage fill in from branch setting.

This summer is going to be crazy hectic for me...two weeks in the beginning of June on a mission trip...a family vacation tossed in there sometime after...my son graduates this year as well...so I've a graduation party to plan. (Husband suggested catering so I can enjoy it verses stress about it.) I'm not sure how much I'll be able to follow threads here on the forum during that time...if it goes through September. Though...if ones want to share their trees at the end of summer...sort of a progression thread on their contest trees...that might be cool! But myself I think short term might be easier for me to follow only because of my surly crazy summer.