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http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,193785,00.html?
Move plant to penthouse? Get helicopter
So man scraps plan to buy $88,000 tree
February 24, 2009
GIANT BONSAI: Mr Jack Lee with the 100-year-old Chinese podocarpus at his nursery. TNP PICTURE: JONATHAN CHOO
WOULD you pay $88,000 for a plant?
One millionaire nearly did.
But he had second thoughts after realising that the only way the 4.6m-tall tree could be placed in the balcony of his Newton penthouse was for a helicopter to airlift it.
Relating the incident, Mr Jack Lee, 34, who is director of Bonsai Gallery, where the tree is on sale, said: 'There was no other way. The building has been completed and no cranes were at the site. After all, the plant weighs over two tonnes!'
Commonly known as the Chinese podocorpus (Podocorpus macrophyllus), the tree is over 100 years old.
It was bought six months ago during a buying trip in Taiwan. It is expensive because of its age and structure.
Said Mr Lee: 'We bought it simply because it's beautiful. If it is sold, great. If not, we are fine with keeping it at the nursery. It's like buying a painting from an old master, only this is being crafted by nature.'
The bonsai tree can be found at the nursery at Turf City.
Occupying nearly 1,200 sq m of space, the 11/2-year-old nursery is home to what Mr Lee claims is South-east Asia's most diverse range of bonsai plants - over 50 different types are available for purchase.
The bonsai have been individually handpicked from China, Japan and Vietnam.
While many eyebrows may be raised by the hefty price tags, the cheapest variety available - jade bonsai, goes for just $12.
According to Mr Lee, a bonsai plant's worth is determined by two main things - the plant's age and its aesthetic beauty.
The nursery was started in September 2007 by Mr Lee's father, Mr LK Lee and his business partner, Mr Yue Kih Chan.
Both are retirees. The senior Mr Lee, 70, was chairman of Cowai Investments, a watch manufacturing company based in Hong Kong.
Mr Yue, 73, is a director of New Shan Travel Service. He said: 'We're doing this out of pure interest.'
Mr Lee and Mr Yue personally own more than 200 pots of bonsai altogether.
The two met while looking for bonsai to buy at the very nursery they now own. The nursery was previously owned by other people.
The younger Mr Lee revealed that the nursery receives a good mix of both Asian and Western customers who appreciate bonsai plants for their beauty.
'That's probably why we see some Caucasians indulging in what many would consider an Asian interest.'
Mr Lee adds that one does not necessarily need green fingers to tend to bonsai.
'They're like any other plant. Just water them daily, put them in the sun and fertilise them once a month and that's it,' he said.
Eoin Ee, newsroom intern
Move plant to penthouse? Get helicopter
So man scraps plan to buy $88,000 tree
February 24, 2009
GIANT BONSAI: Mr Jack Lee with the 100-year-old Chinese podocarpus at his nursery. TNP PICTURE: JONATHAN CHOO
WOULD you pay $88,000 for a plant?
One millionaire nearly did.
But he had second thoughts after realising that the only way the 4.6m-tall tree could be placed in the balcony of his Newton penthouse was for a helicopter to airlift it.
Relating the incident, Mr Jack Lee, 34, who is director of Bonsai Gallery, where the tree is on sale, said: 'There was no other way. The building has been completed and no cranes were at the site. After all, the plant weighs over two tonnes!'
Commonly known as the Chinese podocorpus (Podocorpus macrophyllus), the tree is over 100 years old.
It was bought six months ago during a buying trip in Taiwan. It is expensive because of its age and structure.
Said Mr Lee: 'We bought it simply because it's beautiful. If it is sold, great. If not, we are fine with keeping it at the nursery. It's like buying a painting from an old master, only this is being crafted by nature.'
The bonsai tree can be found at the nursery at Turf City.
Occupying nearly 1,200 sq m of space, the 11/2-year-old nursery is home to what Mr Lee claims is South-east Asia's most diverse range of bonsai plants - over 50 different types are available for purchase.
The bonsai have been individually handpicked from China, Japan and Vietnam.
While many eyebrows may be raised by the hefty price tags, the cheapest variety available - jade bonsai, goes for just $12.
According to Mr Lee, a bonsai plant's worth is determined by two main things - the plant's age and its aesthetic beauty.
The nursery was started in September 2007 by Mr Lee's father, Mr LK Lee and his business partner, Mr Yue Kih Chan.
Both are retirees. The senior Mr Lee, 70, was chairman of Cowai Investments, a watch manufacturing company based in Hong Kong.
Mr Yue, 73, is a director of New Shan Travel Service. He said: 'We're doing this out of pure interest.'
Mr Lee and Mr Yue personally own more than 200 pots of bonsai altogether.
The two met while looking for bonsai to buy at the very nursery they now own. The nursery was previously owned by other people.
The younger Mr Lee revealed that the nursery receives a good mix of both Asian and Western customers who appreciate bonsai plants for their beauty.
'That's probably why we see some Caucasians indulging in what many would consider an Asian interest.'
Mr Lee adds that one does not necessarily need green fingers to tend to bonsai.
'They're like any other plant. Just water them daily, put them in the sun and fertilise them once a month and that's it,' he said.
Eoin Ee, newsroom intern
