My humble start

Most of my bonsai are just collected so they don't look like much right now-Since I restarted my collection last year when I bought my house-but give it time and there all look great.soda can for size reference

unknown maple(left collected last week-gonna be a tall root over rock down the road), Bosnian pine(middle) Freeman maple(Right-suffered a bad ant attack last year but is doing great this year!)


Nine bark diablo(left-ran out of thick tie down wire ) Japanese black pine(middle) Crepe myrtle(right)


The 9 bark is one of my fav's that I have right now-there are a couple issues but for right now i'm just gonna let it grow as I just potted it.


A literati juniper in the works


Another unknown maple that I collected this year-that I've had my eye one for the last couple years. It has very unique roots and most of it is buried right now but it will be pretty unique once in a bonsai pot and developed-I'm going for a tree nature produced rather then a typical tree-also that wound has cut paste on it. Also can see the new benches I'm building for more bonsai


Another crazy exposed root one and grows like mad. I got this last fall when someone was digging it up in their yard. I asked and he said sure I don't want it. I have no idea what it is if anyone has an ID-don't mind the massive zip tie. I ran out of wire and use that to tie it down. It's pretty heavy so, once the roots establish I should be able to remove the tie.


close up of the roots


leaf

Congratulations on your new house and collection.

Im also having problems with ants, how do you combat those little fellas? In mine, it looks like they already formed a civilization in the soil or root areas.

nice collection you got going there- quite similar to mine! I like the idea of starting from scratch; it's a great learning experience and the work is the fun part!

I just used ant liquid traps and a mild spray and that finally got rid of them after a couple weeks


Yeah once I'm confident in my skills I'll purchase a "finished tree", but for now I like useing collected material as you have to learn what to do and techniques better.

I like the looks of some of your stumps but I have to wonder if these trees are conducive to bonsai culture. Will they be able to live in a container, can the leaf size be reduced etc.
Not saying you have collected bad material at all. It's just sometimes people new to bonsai culture jump in feet first without checking exactly how deep the water is lose a tree or two because they started out with something that takes a lot of skill to take care of. Then they give up.
So in short nice trunks. Good luck. And keep coming here and asking questions. I don't own a computer and do all of my posting from my phone and am not able to show pictures of my trees. Not paying for tap talk.

M. Frary wrote:  I like the looks of some of your stumps but I have to wonder if  these trees are conducive to bonsai culture. Will they be able to live in a container, can the leaf size be reduced etc.
Not saying you have collected bad material at all. It's just sometimes people new to bonsai culture jump in feet first without checking exactly how deep the water is lose a tree or two because they started out with something that takes a lot of skill to take care of. Then they give up.  
So in short nice trunks. Good luck. And keep coming here and asking questions. I don't own a computer and do all of my posting from my phone and am not able to show pictures of my trees. Not paying for tap talk.

Lol there all fine

anyone have an ID on the last one?

Nice material, I know exactly what it's like to start over again but like you said it's great for learning. Keep it up

giga wrote:anyone have an ID on the last one?

Euonymus japonicus.

Sweet thanks for the id, look like it's an uncommon for bonsai but cool none the less

Looks like you're off to a good start.   

I see a lot of pumice in your soil mix, and that stuff is definitely tough ($$$) to get around here.
Nice work.

Plus... You may want to try looking for some decent Eastern Red Cedars, (Juniperus virginiana). There are a ton of those things growing along the edges of the clear cut where the Norfolk Southern rail line used to run through Virginia Beach.

And lastly... you missed the annual dig this year in March at Gloucester, VA. This is an amazing place to collect American Hornbeam trees (Carpinus carolina), plus some other pretty nice, and somewhat rare things - proven locally to develop as Bonsai.   

At least you started with the right size trunks...mine were all sticks, which I harassed terribly in my excitement and desire to DO SOMETHING...
My only solution was to get more than I can handle.
I have a feeling you will need to sort out the interesting roots down the line.