I guess in some ways I am more of a plant collector then a pure bonsaiist. I seem to find myself obtaining plants that most of the serious crowd seems to not consider real working material. For me it all started when I moved from southwest Colorado to central Florida. I have always had a love for nature and plants. I do not know how many of you are from the mid west but the growing conditions are very different there compared to here.

In my first few days of arrival here in Florida, I was just in total awe. The lush over growth of plant life compared to the semi desert region of the 4 corners area of which I had just come from was a major change for me. Suddenly I began to see plants and trees in a new light. Even now if I am driving down the road, I find myself staring at what is growing on the side of the road or in people’s yard. People down here have fantastic landscaping in there yards. How can you not help to admire a plant that you saw your whole life kept inside as a houseplant living outside as a 30-foot tall tree, (I am referring to what I was used to calling a rubber plant).

Right now, I have around 50 plants in containers I keep outside year round, so as you probable guessed I have a lot of tropicals. I do have some maples and a few junipers and heaven forbid some variegated trees and vines. Financially I am not able to spend a lot of money on larger more expensive stock nor am I able to go plant collecting in the wild so at the moment I am doomed to visit the local plant nurseries. Which for me is a wonderful day spent. Here in Florida there is no shortage of nurseries.

I did collect 1 wild tree growing on the side of a dirt road not far from the place I was living at when I first moved here. It was what the locals called a Mimosa tree. I noticed there in the Gainsville area they grew wild everywhere except in my yard. So I went to one of the bonsai forums and mentioned it. I did get a very strong negative response also had the same reaction when I mentioned an Orchid tree I picked up at the local botanical garden here. I became fascinated with these “weeds” because of there beautiful flowers and the fact that there leaves close at night. I would have loved to have seen “weeds” like this back in Colorado. I did learn that they are considered a pest here and I promise not to let the 2 I have in containers to escape.

Some people make comments on the forums that some of the so called not very good candidates for bonsai trees have a very short life span, like say around 10 years or so give or take a little. For me 10 years is a pretty good chunk out of my life, I can say that I have had very few things in my life last 10 years or longer so for me to say that I was able to keep a tree or any type of plant around for 10 years is a pretty good thing. I realize that some of my tree experiments may never work out to be bonsai but for me the pleasure is in the journey of the learning experience and not entirely in the end result. Of course I would be happy to say I did create one bonsai before my demise would be an OK thing too.

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JoAnn,
I was prepared to answer your post with, "Garbage is garbage." But after reading a little closer, I came to appreciate your point of view.

Don't get me wrong, I think buying garbage trees is a waste of money and time. Cheap, bad nursery stock pines will always be cheap, bad nursery stock pines. The key is to learn what to look for and collect those trees that have something that makes them have potential value.

I have never grown mimosa for bonsai, but with the way the seasons are warming up, I am going to plant one for my wife. Not too much trouble with being invasive here in Kansas. But I have often wondered about them as bonsai. What you will find is that many bonsai enthusiasts think every bonsai must be from a type of tree with close internodes, small leaves, etc. so they can practice their "First branch, second branch, back branch" style of bonsai.

What I would recommend for beginners is finding the right person to help you in your quest, someone who really understands bonsai and is able to teach you the basics without putting you in the straightjacket that is old school bonsai. Good luck to you and I hope you enjoy Florida!

Chris,

http://artofbonsai.org/galleries/valavanis.php

second tree from bottom.
D.

JoAnn:

I agree with you in many ways. I make exclusively tropical bonsai. Many of them are obtained collecting in the field or nurseries. As tropical trees, they respond very different than temperate trees. I do not know how long have you been a bonsaist, but you have two options: First, to follow forever the rules of many. It doesn't mean they are always right. In another hand you can (*according to your experience) to be a master, breaking rules, following what the tree (nature) dictates, andd what your artistic sense determinates. Then you will find you will make stunning bonsai from rejected trees.
OSHO.

Not picking on you OSHO, but you see this more and more of late, but with this attitude everyone that takes any cute, adorable, interesting (whatever lable you may want to put on it) material can be a master, if they work on it for years and like it as art( defined by?).

My issue with this is typically everyone will see some classical Bonsai whether it be pictures or the real thing, become interested and decide to dive in. Then for what ever thier personal reason is ( lack of money, lack of local club, lack of a car- the list goes on) go against the centuries old "rules" , get a few people to say hey it doesn't matter how you approach it as long as it's what you want to do. But this is a bonsai forum and it's because we want to persue, forward the "art", and my question back is this - Is it a bonsai, or is it a "interesting" tree in a bonsai pot.

I am not saying that there aren't a lot of nice plants out there wothy of admiration, but where do they fit in the grand scheme?

Bonsai is not all. Just love your plants, man.

It makes me wonder how we got all the different bonsai styles to begin with. I would love to see what a bonsai forum in Japan in the 1400's would be saying when someone brought a double trunk to a show. Is this guy nuts? Did you see that tree, two trunks, what a mess? Or how about the first slant style? What is he trying to do with that piece of c*%$? I would have never bought it? It will never look like anything. Where did he get that, something some one else threw away?

This is the great thing about bonsai as well as any art form, it has people in it and people are different. Different backgrounds, different cultures, or just want to be different. It all plays into the game. I have been in clubs where there were some "radical" bonsaists. They had some great trees, didn't conform the the "rules", but were voted the 2nd and 3rd best trees in the show.

Is it garbage? I don't know, depends who is looking at it.

I have a feeling those crazies in your club spent some good time mastering the craft though. I think, like mose art forms, bonsai is a craft long before it becomes an art. Rather, the bonsaiist is a craftsman long before he is an artist.

Imagine the first guy to bring a bonsai to the 17th century BC japanese tree appreciation society annual convention.

The ridicule he'd receive would only be matched by the thoughtful expression fom thise at the back thinking "It actually looks pretty awesome really."

Hmm. I know a bonsai when I see it, I also know what a plant in a pot is. If you want to have plants in pots (other than bonsai) great, just don't pretend and calll them bonsai- they are plants in pots. Not lesser, just not the same.

John