Wow! Great video and tips John.
The talk and demo you did at our club meeting was very informative, and much was learned about azalea by all in attendance, but I was secretly wishing the topic would have been on bald cypress. They are my favorite of any tree used for bonsai, and I find the ones I have seem to get much more attention and admiration(by myself) compared to the other trees I have. I have memories of bald cypress all the way from my early childhood. Those huge buttresses standing in swampy water have caught my eye as long as I can remember, even from coastal trips with my family as a toddler. I have lived in this area(east and north of Charlotte) all of my life, yet have seen only one place were BC grows, and it is off limits. I have fished, by boat, area lakes for years, and have had my "eye out" for baldies growing in this area for collection, but nothing yet. I have heard they grow naturally at Mountain Island Lake, and plan to scout it out soon, for large mouth and baldies. When I do find that "sweet spot", the tips and techniques in the video you posted will , I am sure, help me with successful collecting.
Should you and / or Ken do further lecture/demo for us in Charlotte, I would like it very much if it would be on the finest native tree ,IMHO, for bonsai, Bald Cypress.