AusBonsai

Some visitors dropped in the other day and stayed for a quick bite to eat.
They were pretty quick but I managed to catch a couple of pics while they helped themselves to a feed.
I hadn't realised that cotoneaster flowers yielded enough nectar to interest honeyeaters. This pair have been around for a few weeks now, bathing in the water trays and feeding in whatever plant is flowering and I suspect they have a nest somewhere nearby in the garden.

Nice

They may be cleaning out some bugs too? I know they do that down here, if it weren't for the honey eaters there would be a lot of extra leaf munchers around

The trees are growing exceptionally fast this year so trimming has been a constant job. Some of the trees that came out of the growing beds last winter are already needing a second trim. This is just one of the latest batch of Root Over Rock tridents. I think this lot would have to be the best I have produced so far. Here's a few of them on the sales benches.

G'day Neil,

They are some nice ROR's you have shown.
Why don't you tell us all a bit more about your nursery and how we can find you. Some more pictures of the nursery and stock would be great too mate

Regards,
Steven

Hi Steven,
Shibui Bonsai is located at Yackandandah in the beautiful Northeast of Victoria. Just a short(ish), picturesque detour off the Hume highway from Wodonga or Wangaratta.
People just need to be aware that I am NOT a retail outlet. Open by Appointment ONLY so if anyone happens to be in this area and wants to drop in you will need to PM or phone first to see that I am able to take visitors.
All stock is grown here and I keep a range of different species from pines to natives but the maples seem to do best for me so there's always a good choice of maples and chinese elms along with some harder to get varieties.
Sizes range from small starters in 100mm pots through to field grown stock like the ones above. All are grown as bonsai from the start so roots and nebari are inevitably better than ordinary nursery stock.

Bonsai enthusiasts are welcome to visit by appointment or we can arrange postage for trees that weigh under 20 kg. PM Shibui or phone 0260271557.

More pics as I get time.

totally loving that last before and after photo. the maple is awesome.
how much is something like that and how old is it?

Nice stock man!!
Shotgun left hand front ROR haha

Wow I had no idea there was a place like this relatively close to me, I should be living near Holbrook come new year so I'll definitely be looking to visit, If you wouldn't mind Shibui, could you show us some photos of the place?

They are awesome maples!!!
please would you be able to place a price on those ror maples. Do you ship to qld?

Thanks Beausmatsu

Thanks for the encouraging feedback.
The Root over Rock I posted above is in a 30 cm orchid pot - just to give you a size comparison. All the ones in this batch are the same age. I take 1 year old seedlings and arrange the roots over the chosen rocks. These are then grown on in polystyrene boxes in the nursery for a year (too many die if planted straight into the growing beds the first year) then planted into the growing beds the following year. This one has been in the ground 2 years. That makes it 4 years old from seed. There's still a few years ahead to grow the branches and ramification but its a start.

The one posted is $120. Others from the batch range from $50 to $200 depending on size and how well the root/rock combination has worked out.

I've sent a few trees by post as this appears the most cost effective and is no slower than other transport however Aust Post has a limit of 20kg and some of these larger Root over Rock combinations would probably exceed that when well watered and packed for the trip.

Tenka, Good to hear from Wagga, We have had little contact with the Wagga bonsai growers since Jim Webb some years ago. Should make more of an effort to keep in contact - so much to do, so little time. We'll be happy to see you whenever you choose to make the trip, either from Wagga or from Holbrook in a few months.

Here's a photo of some of the growing on area where trees are grown in the ground for a few years to get good sized trunks and rootage. More pics when the rain lets up a bit.

Hi This is a message for Neil Padbery.
Last night at a meeting of the North West Bonsai a gentleman named Quentin showed the group a Japanese Quince he was bring back to life and during his talk he mentioned that you had some of these trees that maybe for sale.
Is ths true,if so is it possibe to call and make an appointment as we would have to drive up from Melbourne.
Regards, Michael

Hi Michael,
Sorry for the slow reply. I've been at a conference to do with rare and endangered native orchids for a couple of days. And we've had a bit of wild weather - no damage here though.

I do have some Chinese Quince among the many species here. There's a few in 150mm pots, maybe 20 in 100mm pots and a couple in 75mm tubes. I think there's a seedling tray to be potted up next year and the ones in the garden are loaded with fruit this year so there will be plenty of seed for the future.
There's also a couple of larger ones grown as root over rock style. You would be welcome to come up and visit. Just give me some notice - (send pm or phone) and we'll arrange a day to suit.

Neil

While watering the other evening I spotted this little fellow sitting in a Black pine. These frogs love the nursery and are often under pots. Here's the closeup.

great stock. will keep you in mind next time i feel like buying maples