Collection Suggestions

LostHawken

I'll be returning home in May and want to collect some trees from my back yard. Before doing so I thought I would ask of anyone had suggestions as to better types of trees local to my area. I also need to know when the best (and also the almost best, since I will be home only for certain months) time to collect these species is.

I have 7 acres of woods in Northern Maine (Zone 4a) to work with. I'm planning on air layering (or trying too) a wild crab apple, and need some sort of conifer to work with to balance my nascent collection. However, I'll be glad to take suggestions on any kind of tree that you all know are good for bonsai.

Here is a brief list of what we have that seems like potential species to me:

White Pine
Easter Cedar
Balsam Fir
Spruce
Birch (white and golden)
Poplar
Maple [Sugar and striped (but I don't think striped would work well due to the gigantic leaves)]
Mountain Ash
Alder (is it possible to make neat jin with the deep red stained wood of this tree?)

That's mostly what we have; sorry I don't know all the scientific names. Let me know if you have any suggestions, or are aware of any special concerns with how to collect.

~Justin

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LostHawken

Sorry to post twice on my own thread, but it seems that I gut dropped on the bottom of the forum befo'a I got any response.

Ya don't have to be a Main'a to help me out he'ya. I was just wonderin' anybody was familia' with these here trees. I recently found that there is all of one bonsai club in my state, so I'm dependin' on you folks to lend me a hand he'ya.

I ain't opposed to flatlanda's since I've practically become one myself . Do you think you guys could give me some advice before I fill my dooryard full of trees that will never be good bonsai?

Thanks,

~Justin

TreeBay

You may not have had a response because not many have experience with these species. If you find some interesting, mature stock, the species is secondary to other considerations, but with these trees, for me, it would have to be a really promising specimen.

A lot of trees are rejected because they are difficult to work with (foliage problems with size & texture). Most of these fall into that group - I don't know which kind of fir you are talking about. Some people try the Eastern Red Cedar. You can probably find some in the gallery? THis will take you to all the Cedars I don't recall if Eastern Red Cedar is a true cedar, but it will be in there anyway because of the name.

I probably wouldnt waste my time with these unless the trunks were extremely impressive. The link may give you some ideas. I am sure you'll find something out there in those woods that strikes your fancy. Just don't go pulling up Eastern White Pine seedlings, 'cause it's going to take a good sized tree to make that foliage work.

As to your other question, deadwood isn't usually very long lived on decidious trees In any case it weathers to grey or white over time, so color really doesn't matter.

Good luck,

Matt

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LostHawken

Thanks TreeBay,

While perhaps not the response I was hoping for, that’s exactly the kind response I needed. Thanks you. I had looked @ the gallery cedars before and found the single eastern red cedar belonging to Thomas J. (Although on his personal website I believe he lists it as a juniper) I guess there just aren't many good native species local to my area that are good for the art.

I already suspected that spruce and balsam are bad choices, having worked on a Cmas tree farm in middle school; I remember them having an ugly star shaped growth pattern when pruned too heavily.

I was just asking because I found a bonsai nursery online back home, and couldn't find anything for sale for less that $145. Which is pretty well out of my price range since college has put me well into debt.

My apologies if my attempt at a written Maine accent came off a bit abrasive. I was just trying to be clever to get attention.

I also want to thank you TreeBay for your patience in general with us newbies. That's what makes this site one of the best on the net (well besides a professional design, and enforced rules of conduct). I've seen you, and many of the other more experienced members show a lot of patience with newcomers who are irritating due to lack of knowledge or manners and I just wanted to make sure that you know I appreciate it. You do a good Job making everyone feel welcome, that's why I'm still here

Ok, well I'm going go do a google search on eastern red cedar bonsai, and maybe birch since I found a few of those in the gallery too.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge,

~Justin

grampz

I could be mistaken on what you are refering to as 'Eastern Red Cedar', but I think you are talking about 'Juniperus Virginiana'...If this is indeed the case it would be worth looking for a suitable tree in my opinion...these are a close relative to what we have here in Texas called the 'Mountain Cedar'...'Juniperus Ashe'...a worthy specimen for working with but difficult to collect and keep alive...I have had, and have seen some real nice trees developed from both these varieties of juniper...of all trees you have named, this would probably be my choice...

Regards
Behr

Jay

Hi there.... I have a book by Nick Lenz (actually A.N. Lenz) "Bonsai From the Wild" if you can find it pick it up! He list several species and gives thoughts on trees to collect from the wild in the temperate US and Canada. He lists both the White Cedar --Thuja Occidentalis, and the Eastern Red Cedar-- Juniperus Verginiana. A few of the other trees he mentions are Larch (his favorite), Field Juniper, Honeysuckle, Wild Apple, Beech, Birch and even Poison Ivy... OK you have to know (or know about) the man to understand that one.

The book is from the American Bonsai Society, it is out of print, but does come up on Ebay from time to time. It is supposedly going to be re-issued, but that is only what I've heard. The book is mainly about the collecting and care of trees... worth a read even in the library!!!

Jay

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TreeBay

It's out of print but here are details online at Amazon. Maybe you'd see it on Half.com or Ebay?

Regards,

Matt

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