Where to find Pre-bonsai in Northern California

Hermes33

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I have started collecting bonsai and wanted to know if there is a good place to get pre-bonsai in Northern California. I am looking for some variety to allow me to grow trees with bigger trunks versus the thinner trunked already potted bonsai online.
 

Mikecheck123

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On the peninsula my favorite is Summer Winds in mountain view. Lots of interesting stuff, especially California natives you won't find anywhere else.

Further up 101 is Golden Nursery in San Mateo.

But honestly, a lot of my best finds were at good ol Home Depot. You just have to be picky and patient.
 

BrianBay9

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Depends on what you mean by "northern" California. Brent Walston has Evergreen Gardenworks ( https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/ ) in Kelseyville, CA about 3 hrs north of San Francisco. Mendicino Bonsai ( https://mcbonsai.com/ ) is in Mendicino County on the coast. Both have substantial pre-bonsai. Lone Pine Bonsai ( http://www.lonepinegardens.com/ ) is in Sebastopol, Sonoma County. I'm not as familiar with their material though. Maruyama bonsai ( https://maruyamabonsainursery.wordpress.com/ )is in Sacramento. Lotus Bonsai ( https://www.lotusbonsai.com/ ) is a bit further east.

Of course you can find good material in regular nurseries too.

What county do you live in?
 

Mikecheck123

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In the ground

😁 sorry
There's an element of truth there. After moving to Virginia last year, I find that people in Northern California were a lot more likely to list free trees for collection on Nextdoor and Craigslist. Slim pickins here, it seems.
 

casun

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PaulH

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PaulH

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Hermes33

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There's an element of truth there. After moving to Virginia last year, I find that people in Northern California were a lot more likely to list free trees for collection on Nextdoor and Craigslist. Slim pickins here, it seems.
That would be great! What sections would it be under?
 

Hermes33

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Depends on what you mean by "northern" California. Brent Walston has Evergreen Gardenworks ( https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/ ) in Kelseyville, CA about 3 hrs north of San Francisco. Mendicino Bonsai ( https://mcbonsai.com/ ) is in Mendicino County on the coast. Both have substantial pre-bonsai. Lone Pine Bonsai ( http://www.lonepinegardens.com/ ) is in Sebastopol, Sonoma County. I'm not as familiar with their material though. Maruyama bonsai ( https://maruyamabonsainursery.wordpress.com/ )is in Sacramento. Lotus Bonsai ( https://www.lotusbonsai.com/ ) is a bit further east.

Of course you can find good material in regular nurseries too.

What county do you live in?
Thank you! I am in Gilroy but likely will move to San Jose.
 

Hermes33

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Depends on what you mean by "northern" California. Brent Walston has Evergreen Gardenworks ( https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/ ) in Kelseyville, CA about 3 hrs north of San Francisco. Mendicino Bonsai ( https://mcbonsai.com/ ) is in Mendicino County on the coast. Both have substantial pre-bonsai. Lone Pine Bonsai ( http://www.lonepinegardens.com/ ) is in Sebastopol, Sonoma County. I'm not as familiar with their material though. Maruyama bonsai ( https://maruyamabonsainursery.wordpress.com/ )is in Sacramento. Lotus Bonsai ( https://www.lotusbonsai.com/ ) is a bit further east.

Of course you can find good material in regular nurseries too.

What county do you live in?
Also, I in particular are looking for coastal redwoods.
 

BrianBay9

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Then, Bob Shimon at Mendocino Coast Bonsai is the place to go! He also vends at most Northern Ca. bonsai shows and events.

There's a show in Santa Nella in February - close to Gilroy. Bob will likely be there. If you're looking for something specific contact him through the website and he can bring it down to Santa Nella.
 

JLBonsai

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There's an element of truth there. After moving to Virginia last year, I find that people in Northern California were a lot more likely to list free trees for collection on Nextdoor and Craigslist. Slim pickins here, it seems.
I 2nd that...
 

Hermes33

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Depends on what you mean by "northern" California. Brent Walston has Evergreen Gardenworks ( https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/ ) in Kelseyville, CA about 3 hrs north of San Francisco. Mendicino Bonsai ( https://mcbonsai.com/ ) is in Mendicino County on the coast. Both have substantial pre-bonsai. Lone Pine Bonsai ( http://www.lonepinegardens.com/ ) is in Sebastopol, Sonoma County. I'm not as familiar with their material though. Maruyama bonsai ( https://maruyamabonsainursery.wordpress.com/ )is in Sacramento. Lotus Bonsai ( https://www.lotusbonsai.com/ ) is a bit further east.

Of course you can find good material in regular nurseries too.

What county do you live in?
I visited Lotus and Maruyama..... Both had great material, but Lotus was excellent. I got this flowering quince which I just repotted, turned into a dual trunk and wired initial branches along with an Israeli Oak (small leaves; need to grow a while before decide what to do) and some time of pine... thinking dwarf Mugo (any help here appreciated) in a pot designed to develop an exposed root bonsai which I will start exposing slowly over the next 3 years from Lotus. Any help on the pine as I believe dwarf Mugo's are more bush like? From Maruyama I picked up a couple odd trident maples (I like weird ones I can play with); one root over rock which I just buried in a large nursery pot and the tilted Maple I have to decide how to work with. Along with this there were plenty of small black pines and Japanese maples I picked up.

It was also great to see the amazing collection of older bonsai at Lotus.
 

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BrianBay9

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I visited Lotus and Maruyama..... Both had great material, but Lotus was excellent. I got this flowering quince which I just repotted, turned into a dual trunk and wired initial branches along with an Israeli Oak (small leaves; need to grow a while before decide what to do) and some time of pine... thinking dwarf Mugo (any help here appreciated) in a pot designed to develop an exposed root bonsai which I will start exposing slowly over the next 3 years from Lotus. Any help on the pine as I believe dwarf Mugo's are more bush like? From Maruyama I picked up a couple odd trident maples (I like weird ones I can play with); one root over rock which I just buried in a large nursery pot and the tilted Maple I have to decide how to work with. Along with this there were plenty of small black pines and Japanese maples I picked up.

It was also great to see the amazing collection of older bonsai at Lotus.
Glad you found some spots you like!
 
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Depends on what you mean by "northern" California. Brent Walston has Evergreen Gardenworks ( https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/ ) in Kelseyville, CA about 3 hrs north of San Francisco. Mendicino Bonsai ( https://mcbonsai.com/ ) is in Mendicino County on the coast. Both have substantial pre-bonsai. Lone Pine Bonsai ( http://www.lonepinegardens.com/ ) is in Sebastopol, Sonoma County. I'm not as familiar with their material though. Maruyama bonsai ( https://maruyamabonsainursery.wordpress.com/ )is in Sacramento. Lotus Bonsai ( https://www.lotusbonsai.com/ ) is a bit further east.

Of course you can find good material in regular nurseries too.

What county do you live in?
I live in San Diego county, so "northern" to me is the next 700 miles up.
 
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