kbonsai8
Mame
OK, good call, do you have a recommendation for a timeframe?
Yamadori Spring Natives Contest **idea**
Gabler
Masterpiece
I'd say five years at a bare minimum, and that's not for a show-ready tree—just the basic structure.
kbonsai8
Mame
OK sounds good to me… 5 – 17– 2030, seems so far away 
. Anyone have any idea of the above pictured tree species, or a wild guess?
. Anyone have any idea of the above pictured tree species, or a wild guess?
kbonsai8
Mame
Will probably be easier to tell in a week or so when these leaves are fully open
DeepSouth
Mame
Here is my recommendation for the competition (modified from yours):
Competition Rules
Voting Recommendations
Because this competition only last for 5 years from collection, it is not expected that participants will have "finished" bonsai at the end. Apart from smaller trees, most will only be partially developed and quality should be judge based on the tree's potential as future bonsai and the artist's decision making in the design from collection to its current state. The choice of pot should not be a consideration in the vote, as many trees may still be in training pots at the end of the competition.
Competition Rules
- Participants are allowed a maximum of 2 entries.
- Each tree must:
- be native or naturalized and collected in the participant's region, identified to at least the genus level.
- have been collected between November 1, 2024 and January 1, 2026.
- be a broad-leafed tree (no evergreen or deciduous conifers)
- The competition will last for 5 years, ending on May 15, 2025, upon which participants will vote for the best tree (cannot vote for one's own tree)
- The top three winners will win prizes (TBD)
Voting Recommendations
Because this competition only last for 5 years from collection, it is not expected that participants will have "finished" bonsai at the end. Apart from smaller trees, most will only be partially developed and quality should be judge based on the tree's potential as future bonsai and the artist's decision making in the design from collection to its current state. The choice of pot should not be a consideration in the vote, as many trees may still be in training pots at the end of the competition.
kbonsai8
Mame
This is a solid refinement, thank you for taking the time to do this!! I think these are all great suggestions/additions to the contest..only 1 correction to make, the contest ends 2030 not 2025!! Most of my favorite stumps I collected are budding and putting out leaves so it wont be long until I'm making my submissions. I believe the tree pictured above that I am trying to identify is likely an acer rubrum (red maple) or acer saccharinum (silver maple).
In the meantime, while we are waiting for more leaves to identify our trees (hopefully I'm not the only one lol), everyone is welcome to use this thread to post trees that have been collected this spring for our viewing pleasure!
Jrmcmich
Chumono
How do you enter in contest? I collected 2 trees this past February so have the, I could enter provided they stay alive. You never really know until following year it seems.
kbonsai8
Mame
Once you have an idea of what the genus is that the plant comes from, feel free to post pictures and along with tree type. We can post progression shots here and there for the next five years until the contest ends, showing the style choices we decide on and keeping the thread active.
kbonsai8
Mame
If you don’t know what type they are, feel free to share some photos and maybe somebody can help with identification…
Jrmcmich
Chumono
Elm 1 - corky bark
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Jrmcmich
Chumono
Elm 2 - smooth bark
kbonsai8
Mame
kbonsai8
Mame
Here are my top choices grouped together
Jrmcmich
Chumono
At least you got choices
kbonsai8
Mame
Spice of life lolAt least you got choices
kbonsai8
Mame
It’s crazy how many of the trees I collected this spring are buckthorn…stuff is everywhere here in Illinois!
DeepSouth
Mame
To make the competition official, I think we need to get @Bonsai Nut involved to set it up.
The rules that I think we have all agreed upon are as follows:
Competition Rules
Voting Recommendations
Because this competition only last for 5 years from collection, it is not expected that participants will have "finished" bonsai at the end. Apart from smaller trees, most will only be partially developed and quality should be judge based on the tree's potential as future bonsai and the artist's decision making in the design from collection to its current state. The choice of pot should not be a consideration in the vote, as many trees may still be in training pots at the end of the competition.
The rules that I think we have all agreed upon are as follows:
Competition Rules
- Participants are allowed a maximum of 2 entries.
- Each tree must:
- be native or naturalized and collected in the participant's region, identified to at least the genus level.
- have been collected between November 1, 2024 and January 1, 2026.
- be a broad-leafed tree (no evergreen or deciduous conifers)
- The competition will last for 5 years, ending on May 15, 2030, upon which participants will vote for the best tree (cannot vote for one's own tree)
- The top three winners will win prizes (TBD)
Voting Recommendations
Because this competition only last for 5 years from collection, it is not expected that participants will have "finished" bonsai at the end. Apart from smaller trees, most will only be partially developed and quality should be judge based on the tree's potential as future bonsai and the artist's decision making in the design from collection to its current state. The choice of pot should not be a consideration in the vote, as many trees may still be in training pots at the end of the competition.
The Barber
Chumono
I collected something like 40 trees this spring, you can definitely count me in on this contest.
trigo
Mame
How close does it need to be collected? Is it okay if it's collected within the country?
Joe Dupre'
Omono
Parsley hawthorn. Going for a short, chunky tree.
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