augustine
Chumono
My response is not a criticism, just sharing some thoughts, and probably based on my years - mid fifties. I am not an expert or qualified to give instruction but I do try to be a good student of bonsai and put in an honest effort. I'm glad that you are pursuing bonsai and are a visitor to this site.
Bottom line is don't waste your time and effort on a butterfly bush when there are so many other types of plants that will make a quality bonsai. Good material is easily obtained at a reasonable cost or through a little work.
Time is so precious and good bonsai takes lots of it. For instance, you can buy a nice a nice maple like Japanese, Trident or Hedge (maple) (or many other species) and eventually produce a good bonsai if you take time to learn, read, join a club and obtain a decent piece of stock.
If you can't get stock - try on-line, plenty of good vendors out there and you can start small (and still enjoy it as much as if it were a masterpiece). Joining a club will give you access to material at very reasonable prices: sales, trades, digs, an old nursery someone knows about, etc. If you don't want to spend the money look around and find a hedge/shrub you can dig. Find some old junipers in the neighborhood and ask around. People may want them removed to tidy up their yards.
The butterfly bushes that grow in our region have long internodes and large leaves (junk). Leave these to the butterflies, hummingbirds and landscapes.
Now I'm on my soapbox - I don't get it when people show junk and say they want to grow it because it happens to be available or it only cost $3.00 from a clearance sale. Spend your time on something worthwhile.
I know how it feels to be bitten by the bonsai bug. We want to dig and collect and stop off at the Big Box nurseries (wow this only cost $6). However, if you read the stories of accomplished artists, and they are here on this site, you'll discover that they did the same thing. After a few years it dawned on them that they wasted much time and many resources to grow junk and that good bonsai is dependent upon good plant stock (plus good horticulture plus good technique plus time).
Just one fool's opinion...
Best regards and good luck,
Augustine
central MD 7a
Bottom line is don't waste your time and effort on a butterfly bush when there are so many other types of plants that will make a quality bonsai. Good material is easily obtained at a reasonable cost or through a little work.
Time is so precious and good bonsai takes lots of it. For instance, you can buy a nice a nice maple like Japanese, Trident or Hedge (maple) (or many other species) and eventually produce a good bonsai if you take time to learn, read, join a club and obtain a decent piece of stock.
If you can't get stock - try on-line, plenty of good vendors out there and you can start small (and still enjoy it as much as if it were a masterpiece). Joining a club will give you access to material at very reasonable prices: sales, trades, digs, an old nursery someone knows about, etc. If you don't want to spend the money look around and find a hedge/shrub you can dig. Find some old junipers in the neighborhood and ask around. People may want them removed to tidy up their yards.
The butterfly bushes that grow in our region have long internodes and large leaves (junk). Leave these to the butterflies, hummingbirds and landscapes.
Now I'm on my soapbox - I don't get it when people show junk and say they want to grow it because it happens to be available or it only cost $3.00 from a clearance sale. Spend your time on something worthwhile.
I know how it feels to be bitten by the bonsai bug. We want to dig and collect and stop off at the Big Box nurseries (wow this only cost $6). However, if you read the stories of accomplished artists, and they are here on this site, you'll discover that they did the same thing. After a few years it dawned on them that they wasted much time and many resources to grow junk and that good bonsai is dependent upon good plant stock (plus good horticulture plus good technique plus time).
Just one fool's opinion...
Best regards and good luck,
Augustine
central MD 7a
