Here are a couple of Grand Fir I collected a few weeks ago. Both of these were collected at around 6000' in an area with a lot of porcupine activity (see my earlier porcupine thread). The 1st was the smaller of the 2. Counting the rings in the severed taproot, it is approximately 25 yrs old.
Note the back budding this species does quite well. 
I've walked by thousands of these and finding suitable candidates for bonsai is rare. 
The 2nd, larger one. This one is about 30 years old. Note the scarring and swelling from earlier animal damage. Both of these were collected at the south edge of an open area. Tall Fir and Hemlock just south of them. They look like they struggled with competition, heavy snow and snow bombs from the taller trees next to them 
Note the back budding this species does quite well. I've walked by thousands of these and finding suitable candidates for bonsai is rare. The 2nd, larger one. This one is about 30 years old. Note the scarring and swelling from earlier animal damage. Both of these were collected at the south edge of an open area. Tall Fir and Hemlock just south of them. They look like they struggled with competition, heavy snow and snow bombs from the taller trees next to them 
