Collecting Time Questions

commiejones

Hi I was curios on when I can collect wild trees in the state of Washington? What should I take with me when i go collecting? What are must have items? I would also greatly appreciate it if someone could tell me what species are good to collect for bonsai in WA. Thanks for your interest in answering my questions as I greatly look forward to collecting my first wild tree.



P.S. What are good traits to look for in a wild specimen? Should I look for Nebari over branch structure, or... u get it. Thx

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Craig Cowing

Don't go out alone collecting. Go with an experienced person.

When I collect I look for the following features in order of priority:

Root base (nebari)
Lower trunk
Main branches
secondary branches.

The root base is the hardest to develop so that's the thing to look for first, generally. Then, look at the movement of the lower trunk. Then, if it looks good, consider the main branches.

Don't dig the first thing you see.

I don't know about collecting in Washington state but these guidelines could apply anywhere.

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37

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I'm not finished yet, neither are my trees.

EarthgirlOK

BE SURE to get permission to dig. On federal land, you could get in pretty deep in fines. Even on state and private land, be careful. If you own some land, or have friends or family that will allow you to dig, you're way better off.

In most states, it's illegal to dig on the sides of highways. Be careful out there.

I have a couple of sites where acquiantances have given me permission to dig what ever I can find...even though they think I'm a little "off."

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Sonlight NurseryGreen Country Bonsai Society

Alasdair

And be careful with your fingers!

I was recently on holiday in bonny scotland and went collecting scots pine and mountain ash. It was all going great, i had found few lovely specimins and was digging them up.
Cutting through a particularly thick root i managed to slip and put the knife straight through my thumb, the area of the print was barely hanging on.

A few stitches later, and a good lesson learned i now have more respect for the ability of my equipment!

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I can feel another "I wish that was my tree" moment coming on...
Currently studying BSc Plant Biology at the Universty of Wales, Aberystwyth