Are Exhibition Shows generally dominated by Yamadori and older landscape trees?

[Toastmaster]

For context, I've only starting studying bonsai for about a year, so I've mainly been reading books and basically learning how to grow and care for plants, basic wiring/pruning etc.. through my own experimentation. I've also done a bunch of online content consumption (youtube/blogs etc.) and some things seem to stand out to me,

1. Yamadori and older landscape trees - I've only been to one bonsai exhibition which was in the US (hosted by Bonsai-bsf in Florida), but the majority of trees I saw in person seemed to be dug up from somewhere, whether it be from a more natural setting or perhaps on someone's property. I guess some of them could have been air layers of older trees as well, but I guess my point is they all seemed to be quite old. The alternative in my mind would be trees developed from seed/cuttings, but I guess if I have this assumption that all these trees were all dug up having quite a bit of years on them, then the artist must have done a great job. I would love to hear other's experiences.

2. Region/Location and access to material (pre-bonsai, nursery stock, refined bonsai etc.) - To me, it seems like this dictates someone's development of technique, they way they view/practice bonsai, and of course what trees nature allows them to care for. I'm in central FL, so I'm fortunate to have access to a few bonsai nurseries around, but it seems the majority of their stock are tropicals/sub-tropical; obviously, tropicals are very popular here in FL since they grow so well and they're everywhere.

I love pine trees and junipers for their foliage, but acquiring anything but seedlings seems like a pipe dream. I've started growing some natives such as sand pine, pond pine, spruce pine, sand live oak etc.. mainly from seed, as acquiring these as even seedlings is quite difficult. It can be a bit demoralizing realizing how long it will take, I am in my 30's, and I'm just beginning, so it's hard to imagine development over 10-20 years. It's also hard to practice or get hands on experience with these species if there's not much to do because it's a very young tree (lack of branches/foliage.. waiting for it to grow). I also have no idea where to try collect any of these, as it just seems illegal because what property isn't privately owned around here in Central florida.

Since the grass is always greener, I do get envious of people farther north, and of course it's wild seeing the quality of trees you can get in Japan for 5-10x the cost in the US. It always seems like the folks in the more northern regions (PNW/West always seems poppin) have access to a lot of higher quality trees and collecting opportunities since the climate is friendlier to many popular bonsai tree species and of course the physical environments.

Please feel free to correct anything, these are just my observations and my inexperience talking.
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A bit long winded, but I hope this can start some good discussion. I would love to hear everyone's opinions and thoughts.

 

[19Mateo83]

Since you are in Florida, you may want to look into collecting some native bald cypresses. I’m sure you can find some with nice taper and fluting on the trunks. If you do some searching around here you will see that they can be a little quicker to develop than anything you will plant from seed.

 

[Shibui]

the majority of trees I saw in person seemed to be dug up from somewhere, whether it be from a more natural setting or perhaps on someone's property. I guess some of them could have been air layers of older trees as well, but I guess my point is they all seemed to be quite old. The alternative in my mind would be trees developed from seed/cuttings,

While it is true that a lot of trees in shows are yamadori, some of the old trees you see might also be old bonsai grown from seed/cutting many years ago. All trees have to start somewhere and the only better time to start than today is yesterday. 20-30 years might seem daunting to someone who has only been alive that long but it is possible and you will have the satisfaction of knowing that all the mistakes in your trees are your own.

It's also hard to practice or get hands on experience with these species if there's not much to do because it's a very young tree (lack of branches/foliage.. waiting for it to grow).

I find the first few years are the most frustrating. Always seems to be 2 steps forward and 1 step back and progress is painfully slow. As the tree gradually develops, those incremental improvements start to accelerate and suddenly you have to stop encouraging ramification and start thinning out. Suddenly trimming a tree takes an hour or 2 rather than a minute or 2.
Try to have a few of each species developing all the time. You will almost certainly make mistakes but learn from those and sell off trees that are not coming along as planned. Selling or giving away lower standard trees at that stage will also allow more time to concentrate on the better ones because, by then you'll need that extra time.

but it seems the majority of their stock are tropicals/sub-tropical; obviously, tropicals are very popular here in FL since they grow so well and they're everywhere.

The trees that grow well and are everywhere are prime candidates for bonsai. Why struggle with trees that just don't like the conditions? Ficus make great bonsai. They develop fast, thicken easily and can be chopped back to remove evidence of poor technique.

I also have no idea where to try collect any of these, as it just seems illegal because what property isn't privately owned around here in Central florida.

Permits to collect are required almost everywhere now. It's almost impossible for us to get permits to collect native species down here so I concentrate mostly on garden plants. Make contact with builders and landscapers in your area. Building renovations and garden renos are great places to obtain older stock. Do people have azaleas in gardens in your area? Azaleas make great flowering bonsai, are very easy to transplant and can be chopped back hard to reduce size and reshape the trunk. You may also have access to some Aussie natives in gardens down there. Many Callistemon and Melaleuca species make great bonsai and are also easy to transplant and chop.
Keep an eye on your local freebie sites and social media. People changing gardens often offer unwanted plants before digging them.
Talk to friends, family and work colleagues about your crazy bonsai obsession and that you are willing to take unwanted garden trees and shrubs. People are not going to offer you things if they don't know you want them.

The grass IS always greener. Those growers in PNW and other northern states envy your ability to grow Ficus outdoors all year round. Don't let envy distract you from growing your own great bonsai.

 

[Gabler]

I also have no idea where to try collect any of these, as it just seems illegal because what property isn't privately owned around here in Central florida.

It's not illegal to collect on private land. You just have to ask the landowner first.

 

[Toastmaster]

I find the first few years are the most frustrating. Always seems to be 2 steps forward and 1 step back and progress is painfully slow. Try to have a few of each species developing all the time. You will almost certainly make mistakes but learn from those and sell off trees that are not coming along as planned. Selling or giving away lower standard trees at that stage will also allow more time to concentrate on the better ones because, by then you'll need that extra time.

The grass IS always greener. Those growers in PNW and other northern states envy your ability to grow Ficus outdoors all year round. Don't let envy distract you from growing your own great bonsai.

Appreciate the words of encouragement, it definitely does feel like 2 steps fwd and 1 step back; I'll make some cuts or do some repotting and then just kinda hang back waiting to see if it went well. About a year in, I'm finally starting to realize what I should (not) have done better 6+ months ago.

Since you are in Florida, you may want to look into collecting some native bald cypresses. I’m sure you can find some with nice taper and fluting on the trunks. If you do some searching around here you will see that they can be a little quicker to develop than anything you will plant from seed.

It's not illegal to collect on private land. You just have to ask the landowner first.

Permits to collect are required almost everywhere now. It's almost impossible for us to get permits to collect native species down here so I concentrate mostly on garden plants. Make contact with builders and landscapers in your area.

I guess my question would be how do others go about finding out who the owner is in the first place and how do they even convince them? There are a few patches of forested land down the street from me which I believe are owned by the county, but I feel like I would just get some head scratching responses asking to 'dig up trees so I can pot them'. What kind of scripts are people using to get permits/permission?

 

[BrianBay9]

There are lots of posts about collecting and how to get started. This site has a Collecting Forum, and a search function, but the search here is not great. It's easier to use Google and include bonsainut in the search, like "bonsainut collecting florida site:www.bonsainut.com". That will get you lots of bonsainut posts specific to Florida.

Also, check out your local bonsai clubs. They'll know more about where you can go in your area and how to go about it.

Like this one - https://centralfloridabonsaiclub.com/

 

[The Barber]

You can make a post on Facebook Marketplace, offer to do free shrub/bush removal for free in exchange for the shrub/bush. Just be honest with the people that you don't bonsai, and ask for photos if you get a response. If it means removing an entire hedge to get 1 nice tree, then so be it. You can also find some old landscaping trees on marketplace rather frequently, sometimes already removed from the ground just needing picked up.