Where do you fellow bonsai artists acquire your material?

[QuintinBonsai]

While I've seen some marvelous looking trees from the members of this site, I've always wondered how you guys acquire your beauties? Do you guys grow them from seed, collect yamadori, or purchase them from other artists either at a nursery or through the mail?

 

[Dan W.]

Lol, all of the above for me! I can get more specific later as I'm running late at the moment.

 

[Martin Sweeney]

Intrigued,

I occasionally buy from local Bonsai nurseries (mostly Bonsai Learning Center), other bonsai enthusiasts, or landscape nurseries.

I have ordered bare root seedlings and potted cuttings through mail order. I have collected some local deciduous trees. I take cuttings and do air layers. All sources work, all have benefits and drawbacks.

I do not believe I have ever purchased a "finished" bonsai. Or, at least not a tree in anything more than a training bonsai pot.

Regards,
Martin

 

[davetree]

Well you are in California. You are probably near some good bonsai nurseries. A lot of my stuff comes from California or Oregon.

 

[Tona]

Southern California has many venues to acquire good material. Some but not all are:

House of Bonsai in Lakewood
Fuji Bonsai in Sylmar
Chikugo En in Gardena
Mount Fuji Gardens in Upland
San Gabriel Nursery in San Gabriel
Kimura Bonsai in Northridge
Yamaguci in West Los Angeles
There are probably many even closer to Escondido

Joining a local club also will give you insight to other areas to get material.

Good Luck,
Tona

 

[Poink88]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...so...most of my beauties (may be junk to some) are mostly dug from other people's yard when they are re-landscaping. I bought a few as well through eBay, online, local nurseries, bonsai club, etc.

16 of my tropical plants are from Puerto Rico and I probably paid same amount for shipping as the trees...but the total is still much cheaper than buying locally...if you can even find the same quality.

 

[Dav4]

With my particular collection in mind, in descending order; specialised bonsai nursery (New England Bonsai Gardens, mainly), self propagated material (cuttings and layers), landscape nurseries, my yard (landscaping, volunteers), my in laws' yard, my neighbor's yard.

 

[bonsai barry]

I do buy an occasional tree from Muranaka Bonsai nursery (about a ten minute drive from my house); mostly because I enjoy chatting with George, the owner. I also like to buy from local bonsai clubs. Most of my trees are from landscape nurseries. Most of the local ones know me and send me to the back lot where there old stuff sits... they know I pay cash, so I get a pretty good deal.

 

[Vance Wood]

Mostly local nurseries. I buy a lot of things from some cultivation growers and develop for resale later down the road.

 

[JudyB]

I used to scope out material from mom and pop old landscape nurseries. But as they've gone under or retired, or given way to the mega hardware store landscape places, I've lost that avenue.

I've since bought most of my nice material from either NEBG, Gregory Beach Bonsai, or Wee Tree. Starter material mostly from Ebay. If I just want a learning tree, (like pine) I have gotten it from ebay, and not spent a lot to learn on it. But you almost always get what you pay for....

Don Blackmond from Gregory Beach is a great resource for me for a wide range of material
NEBG has some beautiful well developed material, and some interesting variety.
Wee Tree has less developed, but good potential trees, their bare root stuff is beyond compare for the price.

I have always wanted to buy from Teleperion, I hear such good things about them, perhaps next year.
It always helps to know what you're in the market for, as that can have a bearing on who you look to for that type of tree.
I tend to just ask around for what my resources have at my price point. Then you can compare what the best tree at the time that you can afford is.
Hope this helps.

 

[nathanbs]

I'm growing trees in valley center, ca, minutes from Escondido. So if you stick with it I'll be able to supply you with some insane material. I grow umes, crab apples, JBP, some junipers, and a variety of other things

 

[QuintinBonsai]

I'm growing trees in valley center, ca, minutes from Escondido. So if you stick with it I'll be able to supply you with some insane material. I grow umes, crab apples, JBP, some junipers, and a variety of other things

We'll have to meet up sometime. Maybe in spring when it's time for repotting. Are you a member of the San Diego Bonsai Club by any chance?

 

[BigDave]

Are you a member of the San Diego Bonsai Club by any chance?

No he's not, but but since he's has legendary stock, well make him an honorary member, what do you think QAW ?

How about that Nathan ?

 

[treebeard55]

If you know what to look for, you can get decent starter material at general-purpose nurseries. But you have to be prepared to invest plenty of time: 1 worthwhile find in 50 trips is a good return.

Some bonsai clubs have annual auctions, where we pick up material from one another.

 

[nathanbs]

We'll have to meet up sometime. Maybe in spring when it's time for repotting. Are you a member of the San Diego Bonsai Club by any chance?

I'm not because I live in LA but my dad lives in valley center. My material isn't ready just yet but I will have some material ready in the next couple years. I just pulled some shohin olives out of the ground this last spring, they were they first to come out.

 

[Paradox]

I get most of my trees from general nurseries. I'm not ready to spend a few hundred or more on one nice bonsai yet. Even if I was, I'm not sure I want to.

 

[Brian Underwood]

I buy mostly from auctions, a few nurseries, and a couple different collectors. Club shows are sometimes a good way to get decent trees at good prices if you have an eye for potential. Clubs usually have a member sales area, or an auction. Being in CA you have lots and lots of options, and if you have the money you can get just about anything you want.