AusBonsai

From the Bonsai Federation of Australia https://www.facebook.com/bonsaifederati ... fref=photo

Ok can we have some more info around it. Many people do nt have access to FB

Ken

Sorry Ken

This is all there is on the FB page.

Hi Folks, please share wide and far!
The Australian National Botanic Gardens has suffered a major theft of plants (85) from their pot collection, including several that were being grown as bonsai. The species are mostly unusual and not what is generally found in either the bonsai or general nursery trade, so should be more easily spotted if found for sale.
Please be on the look-out, the attached list is what has been stolen from the gardens. If you have any information, please contact David Taylor on (02) 6250 9402 at the ANBG.

Wow, that is really not helpful. Unless some gumball tries to offload the whole shipment, I wouldn't even know what most of those look like

I'm guessing they didn't take photos.

Agree, Rory. How can anyone know whether they're stolen if there are no pictures to help identify them?

Still, the list is out there, hopefully the ANBG will add some more info soon...

(I can't believe they don't have cameras covering such an important resource?)

They have stolen a vast and botanically interesting array of plants. In saying that, there isn't much of a demand for botanically interesting natives and many of these plants are seldom cultivated. What does that mean? The thieves have a collection of bizarre plants on their hands that they will likely not know how to grow well, not be able to sell for much and if they do try and sell will likely be found out as it's such a specific group of plants.

In the off chance they read this; give the plants back. Just leave them by the gates at night or something. You can literally do nothing else with them.

I know cabin fever might be setting in, and apparently there is some football game on tonight which sends some people a little daft, but please keep the thread on topic and in our minds.
Keep your eyes and ears open and those that spend far too much time on Ebay and Gumtree, please be especailly vigilant and report any suspicious posts you may come across to the relevant authorities.

Ken

Anyone taking the trouble to steal 85 potted plants has done some serious planning. 85 plants is not a snatch and grab. These will probably be posted o/s along with our Native Fauna. the dollars locally just wouldn't be that attractive.
Cheers
Kirky

I'm revisiting the BonsaID tagging system I was working on a couple of years ago - to create a national database of horticultural assets using a variety of tagging solutions. Those of you I spoke to previously were hesitant about the idea of implanting chips deep into the trunks of your bonsai - but in light of this theft, and similar thefts across Australia in recent weeks, I'm wondering if the bonsai community would be more amenable to such an idea.