-
- Fuku-Bonsai president David Fukumoto
- E-mail Newsletter!
- by David W. Fukumoto, president & founder, Fuku-Bonsai
ALOHA & MAHALO! This has been amongst the most satisfying times since I began bonsai in 1962! Everyone knows that I love to share my bonsai knowledge and to see customers and students produce exceptional results. Since we began offering bonsai workshop packages the results keep getting better and better! A few years ago, Angela Tillman of North Carolina helped us to test the first Keiki Bonsai Workshop and later the first Living Lovable Workshops. She just completed her third class that trained Living Lovable Hawaiian Dragons!
*** Go to "An Introduction to Dr. Barry Grayson's Workshop Report"
But not content to do a standard workshop for his friends, he took it to another level by using Living Lovables Roots and created a "root-over-rock" workshop! It's an impressive story!
*** Go to "Dr. Barry Grayson's Root-over-rock Workshop Report"
INTRODUCING MAJOR NEW SHIPPING SAVINGS!
For many, this is a pleasant surprise. Some Internet or mail-order companies discount to make it appear that their products are reasonably priced. But when you complete payment, you may sometimes be hit with a monster shipping charge that is higher than the cost of the products! Unfortunately, some see the shipping and handling fee as their profit center. We decided that our plants should be properly priced as they are the finest such plants available anywhere.
So there is a flat $9 each charge for the first two plants regardless of size. AND FOR THREE OR MORE PLANTS (AND/OR MICRO-LOBSTERS) GOING TO THE SAME ADDRESS, SHIPPING IS FREE!
We are continuing the MAHALO MIX & MATCH III SPECIAL so when you order 5 or more of any combination of small lava plantings with melamine saucer or saucer and gravel; or any of the Living Lovables, your cost will be about $20 each including delivery! In the past year, there has been a movement toward building a "Mame" (miniature) True Indoor Bonsai Collection near a window and the Mahalo Mix & Match Special is a great start. When you order, include "Attention David" and state that you're starting a mame bonsai collection, and I'll try to find those that will be maintained as small sized bonsai.
*** Go to "Mahalo Mix & Match III Special!"
There's also been adjustments to the quantity discounts as Fuku-Bonsai True Indoor Bonsai and Micro-Lobsters are being given out as company gifts, for Christmas presents, for promotions, etc.! They are also being used as centerpieces for restaurants, for award dinners, for weddings, etc. Bonsai clubs are now featuring True Indoor Bonsai beginner workshops! By combining individual orders from members and associates, the entire order earns a higher discount!
***Go to Quantity Discounts & Gift-Wrapping.
WORKSHOPS AT THE FUKU-BONSAI CULTURAL CENTER!
If you write or call ahead and I'm available, schedule a beginner, intermediate or advanced workshop. The three Living Lovable stylings have opened up some large creative opportunities and I use the workshops to try to keep stretching and learning more too! When I told a customer how Dr. Grayson had done a great "root-over-rock" workshop with a rock and a 4LL8-R, he wanted to do one too. But he began with a #17LS8-S that retails for $225 and took it to a whole new level! So someday you may see such advanced training workshop plants showing up in the Custom Collection offerings!
We haven't had time to photograph new plants but the digital camera allows me to shoot a photo and email it in a very short time. So if you're looking for high-end high-quality bonsai, please send me a budget range and a wish list of the preferred styling. Custom Collection represents my best efforts and I'd prefer that they go to those who have had significant experience with our plants rather than those just beginning.
Whether you're beginner, intermediate, or advanced, check out "Gift List #3; Workshop Items"
FUKU-BONSAI CONTINUES INCREASING THE NUMBER OF WORKSHOP PACKAGES. I'm pleased that customers purchase our Hawaiian Lava Plantings for themselves and as gifts. They are the most successful bonsai for anyone who can grow houseplants and it's great to every so often hear from one of our long-time customers who have had one for 10, 15 years, or even longer!
I'm really delighted when the "bonsai bug" strikes and a new great wave of enthusiasm washes over a person who has enjoyed our trees for years but only now suddenly wants to begin training! But often they're very cautious types and a bit afraid too! So we do very high success beginner workshop and explore the many possibilities! Potting a pre-trained HM8 lava planting into a 17 size conversion kit takes the popular HM8(S&G) to a whole new level! My expert bonsai friends keep telling me I'm making it too easy! My customers keep telling me easy is good!
Our bonsai workshops are increasingly going to schools, garden clubs and even bonsai clubs! Bonsai clubs are actually getting smaller as the old-timers pass away and relatively few have the time or commitment to pursue traditional outdoor bonsai. Some clubs are finding enthusiastic new members when they offer Fuku-Bonsai's True Indoor Bonsai Workshops.
Bonsai has now reached the stage where the basic information is widely available. But the success or failure of the class or workshop is really dependant upon the quality of the workshop plant materials. Costs can be greatly reduced if you already have suitable potting materials. When workshop materials are combined with purchase of a number of our other products, significant discounts are possible. Please contact me if you are interested in conducting bonsai classes or workshops.
Now's also a good time to review all the basics in "Training True Indoor Bonsai" portal. If you've got some time, review that items in "Fuku-Bonsai Workshops" portal.
- We are saddened to learn of the passing of a very special friend, pioneer, and international penjing patron at the age of 100. The memorial tribute includes an article reprint attempting to explain and define Man Lung Penjing and compares it to traditional Japanese bonsai.
DAVID CHUNG'S PAGE. Another outstanding Micro-Lobster Team member is the most successful in captive breeding with a lot of information and observations on each stage! His most recent success is 24 larvae hatching with all surviving. A new record! SEE HIS PAGE 2!
REQUEST FOR MICRO-LOBSTER FEEDBACK
Initially we produced the finest possible products and stayed with the large 1/2-gallon size. I'm delighted that there are increased reports of successful reproduction in the larger units. But there was significant requests for smaller less costly units for gifts and I believe the new ML10 Micro-Utopia meets that need and will become the popular introduction.
But we are not willing to compromise on quality and include a vial of Premium Micro-Lobster Food. Initially we estimated that the vial would be a one year's supply and emphasized not over-feeding. I'm delighted that I receive very few problem reports, and those who do have problems are those who fail to read our instructions.
For those who have had our units for more than one year, I would appreciate an email report on how your units are doing? Did that vial of food last for a full year? Is it time to order another vial? Have you spotted females with eggs, larvae, or small juveniles? Does your tank stay reasonably easy to keep clean?
HERE'S A DEAL! Send me an email report of your first year, order a ML-10 Micro-Utopia (or any other Fuku-Bonsai True Indoor Bonsai or Micro-Lobster unit and receive a FREE extra vial of Premium Micro-Lobster Food for your first 1/2-gallon unit! Thank you for being amongst our oldest Micro-Lobster customers! MAHALO!
- A PERSONAL
- MESSAGE
TO OUR CUSTOMERS: Most of our retail customers are repeat customers. Many visit the Big Island annually or every few years and we are honored and always delighted when they take the time to drive from West Hawaii to visit us. I'm usually around and would be happy to "talk story" if you have the time and want to learn more.
I feel that I'm amongst the luckiest in the world. I've had the opportunity to live in a wonderful place, amongst beautiful people, and work at what I love to do! I "retired" in 1973 when we moved to the Big Island to start an export business. We never dreamed that Fuku-Bonsai would become the premier bonsai company and that our large sizes would be priced at $189.95 plus shipping and still be close to being sold out much of the time! We may not be the largest bonsai company, but our hardworking staff produces the finest quality and best value available!
In 1985, Fuku-Bonsai became a corporation with the dream of building an international bonsai visitor center and we began with the enthusiasm of a large number of stockholders. Unfortunately, we sprayed defective DuPont Benlate fungicide in 1989 and 1990 and it killed or stunted much of our original Brassaia specialty.
Like others who sprayed defective Benlate, we are finding that the residual contamination of the nursery makes it difficult to grow our original plants and we were forced to develop Dwarf Schefflera as our new specialty and we finally fully discontinue production of Brassaia. We continue our legal war with DuPont to collect damages.
We are fortunate to have senior plant manage Michael Imaino who joined us in 1983 and who has become a bonsai master in his own right. A few years ago I turned over all bonsai to Mike and began to devote much of my time and energy to researching opae-ula and developing Micro-Lobster products. We've made amazing progress! Much of the progress is due to our associates like Bryan Yoshimura, David Chung, John Chan, Thomas Iwai Jr., and many many others.
There are three major remaining opae-ula challenges: 1) Developing a major Captive Breeding Mass Culture Facility. 2) Creating Micro-Lobster educational programs & products. And, 3) Writing and publishing a major Micro-Lobster text. This week we send out our first Micro-Lobster workshop materials. We've begun large scale captive breeding. And the book is also heading down the home stretch.
- It's a satisfying time. Myrtle joins me in thanking everyone who have made our country lifestyle possible! MAHALO!
- ~~~David W. Fukumoto, president & founder
- May 1, 2005