JR_Roosa

I agree with the book/online synergy, but I like to have the basic info on hand. Also, it's hard for a beginner to differentiate between good advice from different climates on the internet, so it's nice to have a book that might be more explicit in the generalizability of certain info.

I also really like to raid the local library. When I was in grad school, I found a Japanese bonsai book in the university library from the early 1900s with beautiful B&W plates of gorgeous trees. Wow, they could really grow crysanthemums. It was in the traditional Japanese fold-out format and was held closed with silk ribbon. Stunning. Couldn't read a bit of it, but really cool.

Should we be mentioning most useful books from our collection?

Sunset Bonsai. Great for general ideas and basic information for beginners/novices. Pretty cheap. Available at most public libraries, and all reasonable bookstores. Really nice pictures. I've found that the Sunset zones and tree recommendations are very useful. Trees they say won't grow here (Denver, CO, USA) really are miserable. Trees they say will, thrive.

Also the Sunset Western Garden Book. Not really a bonsai book per se, but good for the "I wonder if I could get that to grow here?" questions on plants not in the Bonsai book. Super useful for the rest of the garden too.

-J.