Red Maple Bonsai?

Forsoothe!

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I wish it were that easy. I can not collect from most areas here as they are someone's property, the city's property, or a state park.

You're in Central Jersey, so around the Pine Barrens?
The railroad right of way usually has a strip on either side that is untended because it is a no man's land between the right of way and the adjacent property, often industrial or commercial. They are everywhere. Next time you cross a set of tracks, look both ways! You'll see miles of free stuff often beat up by sloppy cutting and/or half poisoned periodically. Bring a digging fork and loppers you can plunge into rocky soil.
 

Forsoothe!

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I actually purchased a trident that came in last week, it's young and needs to grow. The problem is that no one has really that type of maple (rubrum) around here, they either have the Trident like I got or what you see in the links above. Especially the closest place. The next closest which is a couple of hours away doesn't carry maples at all.

I am just in the wrong state for what I want really. They just aren't that popular here.
Actually, FastGrowingTrees.com can do. You'll note that the hardiness zone stops in what looks to me to be the Great Okefenokee Swamp, but don't let that stop you. You're not really a bonsaiist until you've got a few pelts under your belt.
 

Orion_metalhead

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The railroad right of way usually has a strip on either side that is untended because it is a no man's land between the right of way and the adjacent property, often industrial or commercial. They are everywhere. Next time you cross a set of tracks, look both ways! You'll see miles of free stuff often beat up by sloppy cutting and/or half poisoned periodically. Bring a digging fork and loppers you can plunge into rocky soil.

Great place to scour!
 

Orion_metalhead

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Looks healthy. Hopefully you get some low buds to cut back to.
 

Orion_metalhead

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When the tree is actively growing, prune the tree down to only one or two pairs of leaves. Removing the apically dominant leader will force the tree to redirect auxin to dormant buds.
 

QuintinBonsai

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I'm airlayering one for radial root development. And this one even has a tiny watchdog for protection ...😆
I miss seeing these in NC. I know they aren't the best, but they have the smallest leaves of our native maples.
 

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Crawforde

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Nice
And I like the guardian too.
that may have been small enough to take a cutting.
 
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