Yeah Bill, you'd think we'd be tripping over the bonsai here, but I'm actually having a bit of trouble.
there are no bonsai shops in my county. I can go up to the SF bay area where there is one, or down to LA where there are a bunch.
But I'd really like to find someone who collects trees and sells them, without the huge jack-up in price that the typical bonsai nursery adds on. I have a hard time paying $4000 for a tree that I know they got for free (not counting the time, effort and know-how to collect it and keep it alive which I grant is valuable and worth compensation for.)
Kinda like what Oregon Bonsai is doing with their collected ponderosas. Really nice, healthy trees with very reasonable prices. Is there anyone doing that with California Junipers?
Or, is there anyone that goes collecting and would be willing to take me along? I've dug alot of "urban yamadori" but have not been out in the wild on a real collecting trip. I would love to learn the ins-and-outs of that from someone with experience (not to mention pick up a few trees.)
- bob