Bonsai Nut Spring Box Store Challenge

[Rid]

Is anyone on these forums a cable tv producer? I think we have a great premise for a reality show.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Vance: it's simple, Vin's contest, Vin's rules. Play or don't, but you have no ground to stand on while you show your _ _ _ in protest. The last contest was fantastic camaraderie, excitement watching the entries pour in, judged by Bill Valavanis, and well-participated. I appreciate Vin's efforts; bravo to him for firing it up again.

 

[Vance Wood]

Vance: it's simple, Vin's contest, Vin's rules. Play or don't, but you have no ground to stand on while you show your _ _ _ in protest. The last contest was fantastic camaraderie, excitement watching the entries pour in, judged by Bill Valavanis, and well-participated. I appreciate Vin's efforts; bravo to him for firing it up again.

These are the same people that say its all about the bonsai. I don't understand for any other reason but to eliminate material and people.

 

[qwade]

You don't understand my angst??? What don't you understand?

I'm really having a problem understanding your objection. Someone wanted to have a contest that didn't involve conifers. So What. Don't like it. Don't participate. If you where to have a contest say on only mugo pines----- should I jump up and down because Japanese Maples are not included. You make no sense old man!

 

[RickMartin]

Then at the risk of me getting banned it should be Vin's Spring Box Store Challenge not Bonsai Nut Spring Box Store Challenge

Rick

 

[Cadillactaste]

Turning the channel...technicalities...and debates over something clearly meant for ones to just have fun with. Off to Facebook...to see what I can see.

Vin...on an off note...I appreciate your guidelines...I see them for what they were meant to do. Get ones thinking outside the box on what other types of evergreen are available to them. I do appreciate the time that goes into thinking up the next challenge. I am quite excited to be able to participate! It was worth contacting a nursery to see if they would let me in early...and see stock they had leftover from last year.

 

[Vance Wood]

You don't understand my angst??? What don't you understand?

I'm really having a problem understanding your objection. Someone wanted to have a contest that didn't involve conifers. So What. Don't like it. Don't participate. If you where to have a contest say on only mugo pines----- should I jump up and down because Japanese Maples are not included. You make no sense old man!

But; Yes I do and lots of people know it. Hey Quade? What is your problem this is not your contest? When I first saw this I assumed it was open to everyone with every aspect of bonsai. It grieves me that Bnut has let control of this fall out of his hands. I never expected to win, I never do, but I did expect to be able to participate.

 

[Vance Wood]

Vance: it's simple, Vin's contest, Vin's rules. Play or don't, but you have no ground to stand on while you show your _ _ _ in protest. The last contest was fantastic camaraderie, excitement watching the entries pour in, judged by Bill Valavanis, and well-participated. I appreciate Vin's efforts; bravo to him for firing it up again.

Sorry Brian it is Bonsai Nuts contest. It's on his site he provides the band width and everything else.

 

[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

Who wrote this crap? Who let it stand as a rule? You just made sure you only have a indoor/beginners/only contest. This must be changed or I will challenge it at the risk of being tossed from this site. This is flat out wrong!!!! Ban me now bacause, I'm pissed and here I come.

Jeez, relax Vance… I wrote that crap and it hasn’t stood as a rule yet that’s the reason for this thread. I needed to get some feedback and make any changes before the final rules are posted. However, it seems like you want to take the reins so I’ll be more than happy to turn them over. Be fair warned, I lost count of the number of PM’s I had to respond to and probably posted 200-300 times during the last challenge. Plus I had to write the guidelines, organize the judging with Bill Valavanis and Owen Reich and remain nearly constantly available for comments and questions all while working on my own entry for the challenge. It was a fun challenge last time, everyone learned a lot and there was not a single cross word amongst the participants, not even one. I hope it remains that way for this one. So, she’s all yours, no hard feelings. I wish you the best of luck and count me in as a participant!

 

[qwade]

Anyway enough squabbling with Vance. I'm thinking Ilex Crenata for my entry.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Anyway enough squabbling with Vance. I'm thinking Ilex Crenata for my entry.

View attachment 65936

Good for you! I'm not sure what I'll end up with. Pondered an azalea...but am keeping an open mind at other possibilities that are evergreen. Ilex is nice...I've seen some as bonsai during a google search. Good choice!

 

[Vance Wood]

Jeez, relax Vance… I wrote that crap and it hasn’t stood as a rule yet that’s the reason for this thread. I needed to get some feedback and make any changes before the final rules are posted. However, it seems like you want to take the reins so I’ll be more than happy to turn them over. Be fair warned, I lost count of the number of PM’s I had to respond to and probably posted 200-300 times during the last challenge. Plus I had to write the guidelines, organize the judging with Bill Valavanis and Owen Reich and remain nearly constantly available for comments and questions all while working on my own entry for the challenge. It was a fun challenge last time, everyone learned a lot and there was not a single cross word amongst the participants, not even one. I hope it remains that way for this one. So, she’s all yours, no hard feelings. I wish you the best of luck and count me in as a participant!

You're right I'll leave it be.

 

[Bunjeh]

Oops

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

"The seed cones are highly modified, each cone containing a single seed partly surrounded by a modified scale which develops into a soft, bright red berry-like structure called an aril, open at the end."

I'll crawl back under my rock.

 

[coh]

Amazing...just amazing.

 

[Vance Wood]

"The seed cones are highly modified, each cone containing a single seed partly surrounded by a modified scale which develops into a soft, bright red berry-like structure called an aril, open at the end."

I'll crawl back under my rock.

Yah me too.

 

[Vance Wood]

Amazing...just amazing.

I don't know how you can have any kind of contest like this while leaving out most of the material known in the bonsai community, not to mention the people that grow them. Most of the stuff you mention in this will not grow well in Michigan.

 

[Vance Wood]

You don't understand my angst??? What don't you understand?

I'm really having a problem understanding your objection. Someone wanted to have a contest that didn't involve conifers. So What. Don't like it. Don't participate. If you where to have a contest say on only mugo pines----- should I jump up and down because Japanese Maples are not included. You make no sense old man!

And you are someone without respect. A peculiar attribute for someone claiming to do bonsai.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Sorry Brian it is Bonsai Nuts contest. It's on his site he provides the band width and everything else.

Vance, in this case, Vin has championed this idea and has done all the legwork. As far as I'm concerned, it's his pony. If he wants to have a bonsai contest where people have to stand on their heads while styling, that would be up to him. It's just for fun, after all. If you don't like this particular set of rules, sit out one round until the next contest.

Maybe next one will be conifers only? You have to eliminate SOMETHING or otherwise every contest will be the same.

Oh and by the way - add Ilex crenata to the list.

 

[nickbachman]

As I understand it, the purpose of the "rules" and exclusions of species is to make things more interesting. A challenge. Challenge is in the title, after all. What's the sport in working on a conifer if you only work on conifers all the time? IMO, it's "easier" to raffia up juniper branches and bend them wherever your heart desires than it is to get an "instant" result out of something broadleaved and perhaps more brittle. So the exclusion of conifers was a positive to this rookie idiot. But what do I know?

 

[wireme]

My local nursery would carry at least 2 qualifying plants, kinnikinnick and cotoneaster. Maybe available by mid to late April.