Getting Ready for the QMHE

[GazzaS]

20 minutes ago, Landlubber Mike said:

I haven't posted any.  It really takes a number of years to get a tree looking great, at least to what I'd like to achieve, especially with deciduous trees.  You can buy ones that have already been worked on for years, if not decades, but those can run into the thousands easy.  Plus, you need good skills which can mean hiring professionals, taking courses, being an apprentice, etc.  I have young kids and frankly, even if I didn't, I am not that into the hobby to do all that.  

People new to bonsai think you just clip here and there and you have bonsai.  To a certain extent that's true, but you have to work with the tree's natural growth to essentially "grow" a tree into a bonsai.  Seems counterintuitive, but that's how you develop taper, ramification of branches, etc.  You reduce the rate of growth using pots, different soil particle size, different fertilization, etc.  Then you have to worry about pests and diseases, as you have a living thing you are working on.  It can be excruciatingly frustrating when a tree you've worked on for years dies.   At the same time, it's fascinating really, but I just don't have the time these days with my kids playing travel sports.  I'm trying to figure out whether I want to stay in the hobby for the next ten years so I have something to do when the kids are in college, or do I want to just drop out of the hobby and restart later.

Instead of posting my trees, here are some pictures from Japan's Kokufu-Ten show (the top show in the world), and last year's US national show:

https://bonsaitonight.com/2020/02/21/prize-winning-trees-from-the-94th-kokufu-bonsai-exhibition/

https://bonsaitonight.com/2021/09/24/u-s-national-exhibition-critique/

Wow!  Thank you for the links.  I had a look and was mightily impressed.  Your description sounds like a very in-depth pursuit of perfection.   I figured there had to be more to it than gifted pruning.   Judging those....that would be hell-a difficult!   

I'm no green thumb, but I really hate it when any green thing dies or has to be removed.    I grew up in the Michigan north woods and have always loved my time among trees.  I'd rather be in the woods than on a beach.

I hope you can keep up with it...   your kids will be out of the house in a few years, sounds like.

[Landlubber Mike]

I got hooked when I bought my house and was looking at Japanese Maples for the yard.  JMs are used extensively in bonsai, and I ended up coming across pictures.  Eventually I joined a club and started buying trees, pots, etc.  Then kids came, and I'm just happy to be able to try to make sure they don't die, let alone work on styling them, etc.  There is a fun, relaxing aspect to the hobby sitting outside and working on them, even just looking at them.  Also being one that likes nature, I've always loved trees.

Funny thing is bonsai is what turned me back to modeling.  I had done models as a kid with my dad, but they were the farthest thing from my mind after college and grad school.  I was a member of a bonsai forum, and a guy there said in the winter when bonsai activities end, he did ship modeling.  I chatted with him a bit, which brought me to MSW, and the rest is history (well, a few years ago I met Ernie there, and he invited me to join you guys here).

[GazzaS]

5 hours ago, Landlubber Mike said:

I got hooked when I bought my house and was looking at Japanese Maples for the yard.  JMs are used extensively in bonsai, and I ended up coming across pictures.  Eventually I joined a club and started buying trees, pots, etc.  Then kids came, and I'm just happy to be able to try to make sure they don't die, let alone work on styling them, etc.  There is a fun, relaxing aspect to the hobby sitting outside and working on them, even just looking at them.  Also being one that likes nature, I've always loved trees.

Funny thing is bonsai is what turned me back to modeling.  I had done models as a kid with my dad, but they were the farthest thing from my mind after college and grad school.  I was a member of a bonsai forum, and a guy there said in the winter when bonsai activities end, he did ship modeling.  I chatted with him a bit, which brought me to MSW, and the rest is history (well, a few years ago I met Ernie there, and he invited me to join you guys here).

 I'm glad Bonsai helped you return to modelling.  It still sounds like a cool hobby.