Memories of Golden Bonsai

While I was sorting through old files on my computer yesterday, I came across some pictures from Golden Bonsai Nursery, before it burned down, some of which I don't think have ever seen the light of day. Just thought I'd share them.

Golden Bonsai, an online fundraiser?

Rich is having a rough time of it. I feel really bad for him honestly. I can't even imagine what he's going through the right now.

The fundraiser didn't go as well as he'd hoped, and insurance is covering even less than was originally thought. What does this mean for Golden Bonsai? Unless something seriously changes, it means nothing. As in potentially no Golden Bonsai. We spoke today, and after hearing that Hilary Clinton manages to raise some hidiously large amount of money through only online fundraising, he's asked me to look into it for him. My response? "Well, Hilary Clinton is Hilary Clinton, but I'll look for you."

Would an online fundraiser do any better for us? He knows that I have extensive contacts in the online bonsai community, but there is a big difference asking someone for their advice on a tree or an article, and asking them to send money to rebuild a nursery that they have never seen, and likely never will. How do you ask someone that? There are some things I am good at. I don't know if this is one of them, or where I stand on it really.

We'll be looking into the option, though how it would be implemented if we do it has yet to be seen. If anyone knows of any fundraising references, or anything of the like for on-line fundraising, drop me a line. I'm off to wandering around the net on the quest myself.

Tomorrow's the day....

The fundraiser for Golden Bonsai is tomorrow. We've got the auction stuff lined up, music, people, and whole shebang. The folks from Changing Times Pub have been really fantastic, really going out of their way to make this go as smoothly as possible for us, and I can't even begin to thank them enough. I'll have pictures up sometime after the event. I'm looking foreward to the event itself, but also to being able to move foreward with helping Rich rebuild GB. We'll be heading to Green Garden Nursery in Northport in the next week or two, and MidAtlantic when the time comes to start looking at rebuilding stock for the nursery- I'm looking foreward to both of those trips. My own funds and space limit the amount of trees I can bring home, so what could be more fun than helping someone pick out stock that I know will one day make a great tree, even if I don't have the space for it? It's the next best thing to being able to bring it all home myself.

I might have some other big news in bonsai pending, but I'm waiting to hear back before I get overly excited. Keep your fingers crossed!

Green Garden Nursery

It's time, and over due for some other bonsai news.

For those of you on Long Island, head out into Northport. A little out of the way off Jericho Turnpike is a nursery called Green Garden Nursery. It's been there for 53 years (if I remember correctly), and I have to say, I was floored when I stepped on to the property. From the road, it doesn't look like much. But once you clear the driveway and the trees that block the (6) greenhouses from the road, the possibilities suddenly become endless. Edna (the long time owner and all around fantastic lady) has done a phenomenal job. I wish that I had more of a chance to speak with her. She was friendly, helpful, knowledgeable about her stock and bonsai in general.

I could have spent hours there, going over the stock both in the cold frames, the hot houses and on the rest of the grounds, but unfortunately, other time restraints allowed me little enough of a chance. The one reason I had gone there in particular, was the mention by Eric (of the Eastern Suffolk Bonsai Society) of an extensive selection of Kingsville boxwoods. These are one of my favorite species to work with, so that in and of itself was enough to get me out there.

The selection of the boxwoods, even if I didn't have time to look at much else, was amazing. Everything from a few year old cuttings, to fifty year old field grown stock, she had it all in abundance. I left there with a 30 year old tree, a beautiful twin trunk boxwood that has been so well cared for and grown with bonsai in mind it is going to be an utter joy to work with.

I have full intentions of returning, not only to continue going through the stock, but also to have a chance to speak with Edna more than the small amount I was able to.

For those interested, the address is:
16 Burr Rd
East Northport, NY 11731
(631) 499-4235

They're open 10-5 (at least), seven days a week. Definately give a stop by. I highly recommend it.

Golden Bonsai Fundraiser

The fundraiser start rebuilding Golden Bonsai will be held on Sunday, the 24th of Febuary. It will be from 1-6 at Changing Times Pub, right next door to the nursery. There will be a 20 dollar recommended donation at the door, and those who choose to do that will also received a 20 dollars off a purchase of 100 dollars or more coupon for when the nursery re-opens. Food and soft drinks will be provided, and the pub will be offering those who wish happy hour pricing on other beverages. We'll be doing a 50/50 cash raffle, along with a chinese auction. Along with music, it'll be a good time all around with good people and company. Tell a friend, and join us for part or all of the afternoon!

Changing Times Pub
1247 Melville RdFarmingdale, NY 11735

Feel free to email me or contact me here with any questions you may have about the event.

Golden Bonsai

Sometime between 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm today Golden Bonsai nursery caught fire. I got the call from Rich a bit ago, and it's gone. Some of the hot house survived, with a few of the trees, but otherwise everything is gone. The fire department is still trying to figure out where the fire started, at least they were as of half an hour or so ago.

I don't have the energy, or the ability right now to write up how I'm feeling. This is a huge blow, not only for those of us personally effected, but for the bonsai community on Long Island as a whole.

Feel free to drop a line to Rich here.... I will make sure he gets it. Any photographs or memories you have of the place, also feel free to share here. I just updated the GB website, so people will know.... now you guys know too.

I'll post as I have information here.

Golden Bonsai

Rich Perricone and I will be at Golden Bonsai in Farmingdale today from about 10:30 to 3:00. We'll be photographing most of the store and I'll be finishing his website for him.... that primary distraction that has kept me from updates to my site and this blog. Between that, work, and company from out of town for the last few days, the trees have been getting their daily care and no serious work done, so no fun updates there. If you're free, stop by the shop today and say hello, browse, make suggestions on the website *as* I'm coding it, or just generally hang out. Over the summer it was often difficult to work out appointments at the shop, but it should be easier as the summer season winds down.

Golden Bonsai is located at:
1242 Melville rd.
Farmingdale, NY 11735

Some other news. The BSGNY will be at the Hostra Show at Farmingdale University this weekend. I'll be getting more info today on booth and times, and I'll update that here. Definately stop on in, we'll look foreward to seeing you!

Also the winners of the Progressive Styling Contest at the Knowledge of Bonsai forum, http://www.knowledgeofbonsai.org/forum/viewforum.php?f=88&sid=5fed5b26e14917722e7fd424cd8a328a have been announced. Some of the work was fantastic, the stock sometimes presented some real challenges, and even those trees that didn't have that extra something, seeing the progression on works like these is one of my favorite things about bonsai on the internet. I invite you to check out the winners and the other entrants alike, each one has something different to offer.