many know I love to hunt for bonsai

[Carmen Stafford]

I didn't know you hunted for these plants in the woods. I thought people went to nurserys and bought them and then started training them.
Carmen

[JanT]

Absolutely a gorgeous picture/place!

I am jealous, Dick. Enjoy.

[dick benbow]

Jan, I've traveled the world and while there are lots of beautiful places, I don't know of anyone place where you can get to the Mountains, deserts, ocean any quicker than here in the pacific northwest. Here's a pic of a weather beaten fir that makes a great inspiration for bonsai

Carmen, it is easier to find trees at nurseries but often they don't have the basic shape to work with. Most are ramrod straight for landscaping. I looked at Wells Nursery on my way past Arlington yesterday but the Cedar's I liked were over $100.

[Carmen Stafford]

I wonder how old that tree is and what storm caused it to break in half.
Carmen

[Eugeneg]

Quote: Originally Posted by dick benbow hiking around the mountains keeps me young for koi chores.....

The problem is that the best bonsai are nearly impossible to move I tried a few times but lost them . There are some young shoots that have managed to take root on a little mossand rock but it would take at least 30 years to make them in to bonsai and that is baybeing them for that time so I have given up . Mostly because of the ones I killed
Regards
Eugene

[dick benbow]

hands on experience is a good teacher. In japan, most bonsai are started from seed or cuttings because the yamadori or wild ones are no longer available. I only wish i knew back 30 years ago what I know now. I could start some from seed and have some wild looking stuff right now!

[aquitori]

Driving through Lake Tahoe I saw alot of small pines on the side of the hill...thought to myself....wow those would make a great bonsai....then again, even if I collected trees from the wild I better have the know how to keep those trees alive...

[Lam Nguyen]

Hi Dick, you are truly a man of many talents. I can close my eyes and imagine my stress melting away when I am alone in the mountains collecting bonsai. I collect a few myself.......hopefully one of these days we can share pictures.