Best starter material for a newbee

I understand I have a few ...
But I wanted to start weading out the "will be nothing" plants and start getting things better suited for bonsai.
Actually I have
(1) Zelkova Serrate
(1) Grey Bark Elm
(1) Acer Buergeranum
(1) Acter palmatum
(1) ulmus Parvifoloa
(2) Sargents Juniper
(2) chinese juniper
(2) procumbous Nana
(3) field maples
(2) oaks.
(1) cotoneaster
(1) shimpaku
(1) New unknown elm

If I post my trees on this thread will someone be willing to help me down the right road with them?
Oh and I did stop at Natures Way... GREAT place. I almost fell on the bottom jaw when I saw some of the prices though...... Picked up a shimpaku and elm...

Yea go ahead and post up! I am sure you will get plenty advise on how to style them.

One thing to think about on going to a bonsai nursery and pricing out trees is the amount of time it takes to grow and develop the trees. Not mention what thier knowledge is worth some thing. I mean just think about a nice tree on the sale rack. Its a nice tree with lets say a 1" to 1 1/2" trunk nice pot beautifully styled. Now lets start putting some estimated prices to it. now these are random numbers I'm talkimg about here.

Stock depending on what it is? 1 to 1 1/2" trunk approx 10yrs old. $100.00
Wire to develop the tree this has to be done every year for 10 yrs not including labor. 100.00
knowledge on how to create the image and keep the tree alive for 10 yrs cheep price of $20 per year. 200.00
Basic bonsai pot 100.00
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We are at $500.00 already, do you see where im going with this ?????? $500.00
Basicly you are trading $ for time.
Just take this thought to mind when you are looking at a tree on a shelf with a price on it.

Mitch

I will take some photos tonight.

I understand the cost involved with material but way over the budget for this working man. Most were well over $700. I bought the shimpaku for $5.95... and the elm for 14.00.

By no means am I saying the nursery is not worth the trip and for some a very good investmenet if you have the money.

I am happy to wait the extra 10 years to get the trunk growth.

remist17 wrote:I will take some photos tonight.

I understand the cost involved with material but way over the budget for this working man. Most were well over $700. I bought the shimpaku for $5.95... and the elm for 14.00.

I am happy to wait the extra 10 years to get the trunk growth.

My thought exactly. I even went as far as considering buying a block of land, just to grow pre-bonsai stock. After 5-0 years of rough maintenence (Repositioning every 2 years, do the rootwork and remove some of the extreme growth) move it to shallow containers, do a pre-styling. And put them on the market the next year. I don't agree that the prices are fair. Some of it yes. But most stuff you see sold for 100$+ are really not more than e.g. japanese maples cuttings, left to grow 4 years, with a twist in the trunk and a yearly haircut..