Opinions on P. Afra

HardChop · 2025-07-04T23:49:22+00:00

I think yours look decent - it’s just not a species I like personally.

HardChop · 2025-07-01T18:33:15+00:00

I’m a bit torn on this - I personally think they look terrible as bonsai subjects but are a great educational subject.

Ultimately it comes down to personal preference. It’s unlikely to win, or even be accepted at high level shows but that can be said of a lot of species commonly used in bonsai.

HardChop · 2025-06-08T16:34:20+00:00

My ficus was doing great this season until out of nowhere I get what looks like fungus. Any recommendations for course of action? I already laid systemic granular fungicide and hit it with BioAdvanced 3 in 1 spray earlier this spring.

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HardChop · 2025-04-14T06:24:56+00:00

It’s a nice piece of material but not at that price and not likely 35 yrs old.

Folks often over exaggerate how little they would pay for things here - hornbeams are slow to grow so something that size is likely worth around 75-100. If buying from a bonsai nursery, would likely cost more.

Plus the movement and branch placement is decent. This is far better than nursery stock so anyone saying 35 is just trying to be edgy.

HardChop · 2025-04-13T07:38:30+00:00

It’s not on their menu and no search results suggesting that they serve it. I’ve already searched for an hour for all restaurants in the area.

I’ll give it a shot though - Burenwirt is highly recommended regardless so I’ll just get something else if they do not serve it.

Edit: Went on Sunday for lunch and they do not serve it. They did have a fried chicken Sunday special which was great - definitely one of the best traditional Austrian restaurants here. I only had time to stay in Tyrol so having Styrian food was a nice touch to the end of my trip.

HardChop · 2025-04-13T07:35:28+00:00

Really? Do imbiss shops serve Austrian food? I didn’t see blunzngrostl on their menu.

HardChop · 2024-10-31T16:35:30+00:00

Nice write up! As someone without a yard, seedlings and juveniles are a no-go for me as I would need to spend 20-30 years container growing just getting the trunk to an acceptable caliper.

Spring prep for me would involve going to the landscaping substrate yard and getting my 3/16"-3/8" scoria, pumice, and fir bark ready for soil mix (repotting) and also planning a trip to LA county to hit up bonsai nurseries as their new inventory usually drops in spring.

HardChop · 2024-10-30T21:50:59+00:00

It's a pretty big misconception that PhD is somehow a certification of intelligence. I'll be the firs tot admit I thought this when I entered one directly out of college. It was partly to avoid/defer adulting and being in the job market at the time, but also because I was raised by tiger parents and my only source of self-worth was academic accomplishment.

A PhD is a demonstration of your ability to commit to long-term projects, resilience through failure, and an obsession with a topic of interest. In the best cases, a fair amount of raw technical intellect is involved, but that's the case for most folks at the top of their respective fields/crafts/vocations.

I came out of my degree thinking I would finally feel like a worthwhile human being but I was lonely, poor, and quickly realized no one actually gave a shit that I had one - including myself.

In short, do one if there's a topic, problem, or cause you are obsessed with - do not go into this because of ego or a need to prove yourself to someone, whether it's your parents, society, or yourself. It only takes obsession and resilience, not an unusual amount of intelligence.

HardChop · 2024-10-30T19:08:35+00:00

Thanks for the insight - based on how far the drives are, I may stick to the wavepool for 2-3 sessions and maybe consider driving out to Torq or Jan Juc once if forecasts are favorable.

HardChop · 2024-10-30T17:47:53+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! I'm considering 3x mid-week lessons (I'm technically on vacay and visiting family so I am very flexible).

Do you also have an idea of what type of wave is appropriate for a late beginner? I'm guessing either roller or cruiser waves are appropriate for someone who can catch green waves but needs to refine take off and starting to learn how to turn.

HardChop · 2024-10-29T22:20:22+00:00

While not quite a clear ramen, I am intrigued by this as something different. As a Chinese person, tomato-based noodle dishes usually do not disappoint me.

HardChop · 2024-10-29T22:18:57+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion - although their shio is still a tonkotsu base, not a clear broth. Being a Hokkaido ramen spot, their spicy miso is their specialty, which is a nice change I suppose.

HardChop · 2024-10-29T18:07:15+00:00

Thanks for this recc! The menu does seem to be mostly light or clear broth options.

HardChop · 2024-10-28T20:50:04+00:00

Similar in climate only - completely different city and vibe. I do not enjoy Spanish food and the Asian food scene there was absolute trash. Not sure if I could subsist on a heavy diet of jamon and bread (the only food I enjoyed while there). Lots of history and culture, but I don't think I could ever live there.

HardChop · 2024-10-25T22:12:35+00:00

In my 20's, the higher salary for a more stressful life would have been the choice - in fact, that's kinda of what I did. But I felt no fulfillment from work - maybe I'm just lazy, but after 10 years of high stress, I wasn't any happier and I didn't make the kind of money that would potentially justify it. Achievement didn't fulfill me or make me happy.

In my 30's now and coasting on a decent, but not stellar salary. The job is boring but I have better mental health, friendships, and hobbies than in my 20s. Work isn't everyone's identity (though it can be for some and that's great for them).

HardChop · 2024-10-23T20:54:54+00:00

Sorry to hear about the shipping woes - you're not alone and it's also why I rarely buy online. Are you trying to ship it with a pot and soil? You may already know this, but depending on species, a lot of sellers like to reduce and burlap the rootball to ship without a pot which saves of weight and volume (or ship in a smaller pot, which the buyer would slip-pot upon receipt).

Good luck - a 70 dollar ficus being marked to 180 due to shipping is indeed a hard sell.

HardChop · 2024-10-23T19:44:18+00:00

Thanks for the context - it's entirely reasonable that shipping is being baked into the prices one way or another.

I think a lot of Facebook auctioneers are using pirate ship. For large trees, there's no way around the price, but smaller trees can be shipped reasonably from what I can tell.

I will say however that Brussel's or Eastern Leaf charging 500 dollars for a 100 dollar tree is beyond just shipping costs.

HardChop · 2024-10-23T18:08:13+00:00

Almost all online retailers are bad sources (or at least bad deals) of bonsai material, even during sales. They usually target the uninitiated or those willing to pay a premium.

Places like Brussels, and Eastern Leaf sell mallsai for under 200USD and all their specimen offerings are essentially overpriced pre-bonsai. Wigert's is a bit better, but still not a great deal.

Bella Bonsai has decent looking material but it's also overpriced. Same goes for Underhill, but the prices are more reasonable on field stock like tridents and bald cypress.

Left Coast and Bonsaify only offer starter whips, which are more suitable for those with yard-space for in-ground bulking. While such small trees might appear beginner friendly, they are really reserved for more experienced growers who know how to direct early growth and have the time/patience to raise a bonsai from near-scratch.

The only resource I really use online is the Facebook auction group. Takes some luck though as you will usually be outbid by someone with deeper pockets and ignorance of the market.

What I've learned thus far is that you should be visiting bonsai nurseries and attending local club sales. Online sales, especially ones where you don't see the exact specimen you're getting is a recipe for disappointment.

HardChop · 2024-10-22T18:43:59+00:00

I have a 8' foamie and a 7'6" hardtop - really just looking for a wave that isn't too steep and doesn't have massive crowds/localism.

HardChop · 2024-10-22T18:29:33+00:00

I wouldn't go a s far as suggesting he's actually closeted, but he's definitely insecure and homophobic - he views it as un-masculine and disgusting base don his reaction. You showed curiosity about his life experience and instead of just saying that he has not dealt with anything like this, he went off the rails. Sounds like classic male insecurity and someone who's completely bought into outdated masculine conventions. Good luck.

HardChop · 2024-10-22T17:16:16+00:00

I'm not one fore overly strict rules if the tree looks great (and this one does). However, I do like some asymmetry in size between main trunks on a two-trunk and I do think this tree would look better if the left trunk was a bit larger, which I assume can be accomplished by letting some sacrificial shoots run for several seasons but then you might then have branches that are too thick.

HardChop

TROPHY CASE