I'm sure many of you have met the man and seen his demos. Any
tips on
what to bring ? Raw nursery stock or clean it up first? Tree
species
to bring ? Do's and Don'ts ?

Make it LARGE (3-4 feet with a husky trunk). An overgrown tree
(so he has lots of options and lots to cut!). At least 15 gal
Nursery plant -- & one that's been in the pot for a while.

Juniper, boxwood, Podocarpus.

It depends on how many trees he'll work on that night. He works
FAST!

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Only where
people have learned to appreciate and cherish the landscape and
its living cover will they treat it with the care and respect it
should have - Paul Bigelow Sears.

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In a message dated 5/19/2004 2:33:15 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
writes:

I'm sure many of you have met the man and seen his demos. Any tips on
what to bring? Raw nursery stock or clean it up first? Tree species
to bring? Do's and Don'ts?

I would heed the advice from Jim Lewis and add:

1. Ben will expect you to wire everything you don't cut off,
so you could cut off anything that is clearly not usable for a Bonsai.

2. Ben is comfortable with most plant stock, however, being
from LA, he is very comfortable with tropicals, including the many varieties of
Ficus. (Which Jim Lewis wouldn't mention because he doesn't do them.)

Billy on the Florida Space Coast
BSF Annual Convention May 28 - 31, 2004 Radisson Hotel, Cape Canaveral,
Florida
Sponsored by The Bonsai Society of Brevard and the Treasure Coast Bonsai
Society
http://www.bonsaisocietyofbrevard.org/2004/2004.html

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Xref: kermit rec.arts.bonsai:74841

You will really appreciate Ben Oki's talent after you have seen him
work. He will work on anything but he does a very good job on big stuff
as Jim Lewis said. I have seen him work on nursery stock that has a one
inch trunk and maybe one foot tall. I also have seen him work on
collected trees that have a six inch trunk and three or four feet tall.
He also likes Black Pines and Azaleas. He will trim on your tree for a
bit to get an idea of what it is to look like and then he will draw a
picture of it and date it and sign it. After that if the tree needs
wiring usually he will have you do the wiring. After that he will come
around and prune some more if needed and then shape the tree into a very
nice looking bonsai. He usually brings his own tools but it is a good
idea if you had some also. He is very fast and depending on how many are
in the workshop and the time limits you could get two to three trees
done. You can ask him questions about anything, styling, tree care, or
whatever. As Billy said it may be a good idea to trim off the obvious
branches but if in doubt leave them.

Have fun,
Bill Watkins from Bartlesville, OK.

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