Bonsai Nut Spring Box Store Challenge

[Paradox]

I think if Vin goes with his original time frame...it will allow another contest later in the game come early summer possibly. I contacted two nurseries who will open up with an appointment for me come March. One only needs to contact nurseries near you and ask if you can come in with an appointment (explain the contest) I too live in areas where they are closed. If I don't find anything that strikes my fancy with the limited stock...then, I'll shoot for the next contest. But I for one would be disappointed after making contact with nurseries to visit come March....

I dont know how the nurseries are set up by you, but with land value here, most of our places dont have space for large greenhouses to store tons of stuff, if they have a greenhouse at all, it is storing more valuable stuff than boxwood, etc. Even if they do have have a greenhouse, with the cost of electricity, it isnt cost effective for them to keep the greenhouses warm to overwinter large amounts of stuff.

Simply put, most literally have nothing to buy in March and wont start stocking plants until the end of April. Believe me, Ive tried looking in April when I had cabin fever and had to get outside for a while. Those that do have any stock at all, it is very large, expensive trees that wont die because of the massive rootball they have and those places are the expensive places anyway and wont have stuff that qualify.

With my suggestion, you can still get your plants on your time frame and others can get stuff when it is available to them.

 

[Vance Wood]

No offense to Vance or Mike, but I'd rather see him participate. Vance is a big part of this community and we all like seeing what he does with nursery stock. Maybe Vance could give his own separate critique similar to what neli did last time.

I appreciate your kind input. I may participate if the nurseries open around here anytime before May this year. Last year they were just starting to open the doors in April and most of their material was indoors or the kind of stuff not too suitable to bonsai.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I dont know how the nurseries are set up by you, but with land value here, most of our places dont have space for large greenhouses to store tons of stuff, if they have a greenhouse at all, it is storing more valuable stuff than boxwood, etc. Even if they do have have a greenhouse, with the cost of electricity, it isnt cost effective for them to keep the greenhouses warm to overwinter large amounts of stuff.

Simply put, most literally have nothing to buy in March and wont start stocking plants until the end of April. Believe me, Ive tried looking in April when I had cabin fever and had to get outside for a while. Those that do have any stock at all, it is very large, expensive trees that wont die because of the massive rootball they have and those places are the expensive places anyway and wont have stuff that qualify.

With my suggestion, you can still get your plants on your time frame and others can get stuff when it is available to them.

Well...I don't know...they aren't super large nurseries. Ones a bit larger than the other. It's just a cold frame she said they are in...which is why they won't open the doors in February. She said they are also covered with protection. But the doors won't be open in February to keep the cold chill out. Since they lost many zone friendly plants last year.

Wondering if the contest is even on...if you recall...Vin's last post was giving free reigns to Vance. I believe he declined. If I'm not mistaken...

Either way...as you suggest I will keep my scheduled appointments. Just for my own fun. If I find nothing...I am not going to stress...I may even peak at their magnolias for my own pleasure. But...the challenge rules last time one had to show receipt of when purchased. To qualify...I think Vin had good intentions...just not sure he's going to do it.

 

[Bunjeh]

Pernyetta

Happenend to be driving past one of my favorite garden stores today and I ran across a plant I have never seen before that may be a candidate for this contest. Pernettya. Has anyone ever worked with this material? I found indications on a French website but nothing else. Take a look if you get the chance.

http://www.suncrestnurseries.com/plantdisplaypage.php?id=pernmr

https://www.google.com/search?q=per...MIoG3ogTWvYLwCw&ved=0CCYQsAQ&biw=1849&bih=986

 

[sorce]

maybe Vance could give his own separate critique similar to what neli did last time.

That would be excellent. Some STRAITFORWARDNESS , and I would imagine a few new quotes!

Sorce

 

[Vance Wood]

That would be excellent. Some STRAITFORWARDNESS , and I would imagine a few new quotes!

Sorce

If I am available as in if I'm home and not on the road. I would be glad to offer opinions. I get the reputation of being a hard-ass and a lot of people have this opinion of me, mostly second hand. I do have a rule: I never say anything bad or over critical about someone's efforts to style a tree, or the results they achieved unless asked to, even when someone has said some really nasty stuff about my trees.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

A Thank You for Vin

Thanks Vin, for taking the time and effort for setting all of this up. I missed the first one due to other things going on in my life, but I hope to participate in this one. Sorry that you have a cry baby spoiling all of the fun. I think the rules are fair and that by picking a different species of tree it keeps it interesting and it gets people to try different trees and techniques that they might not ordinarily try.

John

 

[Cadillactaste]

Seems as I assumed (as well as I can see his point) Vin was serious when he passed the torch so to speak...do to the negativity...Vin has passed the torch. As stated earlier in this thread of passing it on to Vance. He was serious...and has no intentions of running this challenge. *see post #49

He'll be happy to pass on the rules and info from last challenge.

Edit: I forgot to add...he's looking forward to seeing everyones trees...and wishes everyone the best with their tree.

 

[Vance Wood]

Well then I guess there is going to be no challenge because I am not able to do this.

 

[M. Frary]

Seems as I assumed (as well as I can see his point) Vin was serious when he passed the torch so to speak...do to the negativity...Vin has passed the torch. As stated earlier in this thread of passing it on to Vance. He was serious...and has no intentions of running this challenge. *see post #49

He'll be happy to pass on the rules and info from last challenge.

Edit: I forgot to add...he's looking forward to seeing everyones trees...and wishes everyone the best with their tree.

What negativity? Some people had concerns on the time and type of tree. They resolved it.
Not everything in this world is going to be smooth sailing. There are bumps in the road.
I was looking forward to seeing what can be done to non coniferous evergreens in one shot to make them look like a bonsai.

 

[Cadillactaste]

What negativity? Some people had concerns on the time and type of tree. They resolved it.
Not everything in this world is going to be smooth sailing. There are bumps in the road.
I was looking forward to seeing what can be done to non coniferous evergreens in one shot to make them look like a bonsai.

I guess you and I, along with a few others seen things differently on how the contest rules for evergreen went down. Bottom line...not everyone wants to deal with those bumps.

I for one plan on keeping my appointments with the nurseries come March. It won't keep me from not doing a non coniferous tree thing for my own enjoyment. But, I for one...don't need bumps that come with being in charge of the contest that does take time. I don't blame Vin for not wanting it if I myself don't.

If someone wants to take the reigns then again as stated...Vin is happy to pass along the rules and info from the last challenge. But until then...I see this contest at an end before it had a chance to get off it's feet.

Doesn't mean we can't still take the time and do our own thing later with the same material that was to be used.

 

[tmmason10]

I guess I didn't realize Vin actually gave up. I had read his post quickly and thought he was basically saying, "Vance, if you don't like the rules, you organize it!" The point of this thread was to iron out the rules but I wouldn't let a few brash posts defeat the contest altogether.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I guess I didn't realize Vin actually gave up. I had read his post quickly and thought he was basically saying, "Vance, if you don't like the rules, you organize it!" The point of this thread was to iron out the rules but I wouldn't let a few brash posts defeat the contest altogether.

At some point...it gets old Tom. When it's repetitive...I think Vin reached his limit. We all reach that point at sometime.

 

[JudyB]

It takes a good amount of time to administrate challenges like this as Vin probably didn't know and found out in a hurry on the last one.

I can understand why negativity would make a person have second thoughts about spending so much time and energy on something that was supposed to be fun and is a generous gift of their time. And yes there was negativity, and a bashing of the idea of the material, and the people who would run such a contest.

It's one thing to decide not to participate, but completely another to malign the persons who are trying to do something to bring a spirit of doing to this forum.

 

[Vance Wood]

To every body harpooned by what has gone on in this thread it is apparently all my fault. For this I am sorry and to Vin I say I am sorry. To the followers of Bnut I apologize as well. Sometimes I am too quick to shoot off my thoughts without even knowing myself what I really think. I guess I have gotten so accustomed to people finding ways to eliminate other people I assumed this was just another edition of the same old crap. I was not here last year for the first Big Box Challenge and had no idea where I was standing before I threw the pie.

To everyone: I am sincerely Sorry especially to Vin. I was totally off base.

 

[Bunjeh]

To every body harpooned by what has gone on in this thread it is apparently all my fault. For this I am sorry and to Vin I say I am sorry. To the followers of Bnut I apologize as well. Sometimes I am too quick to shoot off my thoughts without even knowing myself what I really think. I guess I have gotten so accustomed to people finding ways to eliminate other people I assumed this was just another edition of the same old crap. I was not here last year for the first Big Box Challenge and had no idea where I was standing before I threw the pie.

To everyone: I am sincerely Sorry especially to Vin. I was totally off base.

We need to develop a sarcasm font.

 

[Vance Wood]

We need to develop a sarcasm font.

I am not being sarcastic. I know I was wrong and I admit it.

 

[tmmason10]

At some point...it gets old Tom. When it's repetitive...I think Vin reached his limit. We all reach that point at sometime.

Well here's to hoping he reconsiders. The last contest was a complete success and I imagine this one would have the same end result. Understood if he decides to abort the contest but I think there was more potential positivity to outweigh the smaller portion of negativity.

 

[Eric Group]

Sheesh! This went south in a hurry! So... We not having a challenge now?

 

[milehigh_7]

The Problem With Input

Some years ago, my wife and I learned a very valuable lesson while coaching young children's soccer. We were trying to come up with a team name and asked all the kids for ideas. Well we wasted the entire practice that day and all we got was frustrated. We found out that the quickest way to nobody's happiness is trying to make everyone happy.

In light of that story, here is what I propose. Vin, (or anyone else) you make the contest, your rules your way. If we can't participate or don't like it we can just watch and learn. No muss no fuss, you are the boss.

So let's give it another go and everyone cut the others some slack. It looks like Vance really stood up and took responsibility. Being a good person means you accept an apology and forgive. We have a good group of folks on here. I hope to see good come from this.