Though I don’t think it was done in one season, still this Dwarf Kingsville boxwood is a pretty good example of a bonsai from nursery stock. So good in fact, that it appeared on the cover of Bonsai Today issue 107. It’s by Michael Persiano.
The stakes have risen in our Bonsai from Scratch Contest
In a moment of weakness we changed the first prize from $250.00 to $400 and added another $600 worth of prizes. We figured you wouldn’t mind.
The prizes
First prize $400 gift certificate to Stone Lantern
Second prize $250 gift certificate to Stone Lantern
Third prize $150 gift certificate to Stone Lantern
Another $200 worth of gift certificates will be awarded. Plus other gifts (for example, Robert Steven has already committed to donating 1 copy each of Mission of Transformation and Vision of My Soul).
How to enter
Find an untrained stock plant. Your choice of size, variety etc.
Photograph it from all four sides (and any other angels you want) before you do anything else. Send your photos to <wayne@stonelantern.com>. Put Bonsai from Scratch in the subject line and put your name and where you live in the text.
Grab your tools and get to work. You can get started whenever you want, but the sooner you do, the more time you’ll have to develop you bonsai. The contest will close October 15th 2011.
Take photos as you go if you want. The more the merrier, but the only ones that are completely necessary to enter are the before photos and the final photos.
When you’ve got what you want, either leave it in a nursery pot, or put it in a bonsai pot and photograph it from all four sides (and any other angle you would like). Hint: an uncluttered background that shows the tree to its best advantage is a good idea.
Send your photos to <wayne@stonelantern.com>. Put Bonsai from Scratch in the subject line and put your name and where you live in the text. Preferred image size is 680 pixel width at 72 dpi. If you don’t know how to do this, do let that deter you. Just send us what you have.
Rules
1. You must start with untrained stock. We prefer you use nursery stock that has not been grown for bonsai. We recognize there is a gray area and will try to be flexible.
2. Send your before photos when you get started (see #2 above for details). Do not wait for your final submission to send them.
3. You must start with untrained stock this year. Bonsai done before this year are unacceptable.
4. Your finished tree can be in either a nursery pot or a bonsai pot. Like the stock you started with, it must be photographed from all four sides.
5. Final submission must be in by October 15th 2011.
6. You must do all the work yourself. No one else should lay a hand or a tool on the tree you submit.
7. One finished entry per person. You can submit more than one untrained stock plant at the beginning, but you will have to make the decision on which finished tree you want to submit.
Judges
We will have at least three professional judges (let me know if you are interested). We will also ask our readers to get involved with the judging (more on this later).
Additional prizes
If you would like to offer something as prize, your prize will be listed with your name and business name and your site will be linked.
More information
I’m not sure we’ve covered everything, in fact I’m sure we haven’t. So stay posted for more information. Meanwhile, go ahead and get started.
Field grown stock. This is what the tree above looked like right after it was dug. Good stock like this doesn’t hurt, but your entry will be judged primarily on how much you improve upon the stock.
Good Morning — I am looking forward to taking part in this contest, but we are just now starting to see nursery stock for sale up here in the north country. I will send some photos soon once I find some suitable plants. While I have you though, I do have one question with regard to the definition of ‘stock’. I am fortunate to live here in the Black Hills of SD and enjoy collecting ponderosa pine and Black Hills spruce. I am guessing that yamadori would not be fair starting material for the purposes of this contest. Please let me know. Anyway, keep up the good work with Stone Lantern and the Bark — I enjoy both.
Steve Ristau
7320 Hellen Dr.
Black Hawk, SD 57718
Thanks Steve,
Yeah, same here in our Vermont north country. That’s why you’ve got until October to send your final photos.
We are encouraging people to use nursery stock. However, you can submit whatever you’d like. One of the main things we will be looking for, is the degree of improvement. So if you start with great collected wild stock, you might actually be at a disadvantage. But please, so whatever suits you. I look forward to seeing what you’ve got.
Always wanted a Bonsai! I think they’re beautiful!
I just emailed Wayne 4 photos of the Ficus, nursery stock I had in my backyard. I am going to prune it and transplant it into a bonsai pot. I will be sending you those photos when I’m done.
I enjoy your “new” interactive website.
Thank you.
Thanks Antonio,
The contest is heating up.
I agree about the Box not being done in one session. At least the photograph was taken later, because Boxes show pruning scars. Initially they stand out due to their colour. It takes quite a while for the colour to become less obvious. I like the design though!
Hi Pieter,
Yes. I think the photo here is at least a year or two after Persiano’s original styling. Beyond that, I’m can’t even say with certainty that there wasn’t any pruning done before Michael got his hands on it.
I just used it because it looked good and clearly wasn’t an old specimen that one could never hope for in a single year.