Newbies - want to share your trees?

[Clorgan]

A small Chinese elm that I chopped last year. I decided this year I hated the movement I put in the leader so I cut back to a new one.
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Blue rug juniper I picked up a few years ago and did the initial styling this spring. Planning to put more movement in the branches next time around to compact it more.View attachment 309701

LOVE the juniper!

 

[Clorgan]

I'm about five years in and still consider myself a newb. Each time I get into a new species my newbi light shines brighter. New is a relative term compared too... I suppose beginner or intermediate is really where I'm at. I love this hobby and thread.

I'm posting to offer some advice, not on individual trees but about the journey. Mainly the mistakes I've made and years/trees I've wasted.

Don't rush them into a pot too soon. I still do...
Don't try to learn 30 different types of trees at the same time. Still doing it.
Don't base your collection on seedlings exclusively, especially if you are near 60 and impatient as hell.
Don't spend a ton of money right away unless you have 5 tons of it laying around to spare.
Don't expect instant gratification unless you buy finished tree which you will likely kill. Back to the Ton$
Don't get too many trees in relation to the time you have to care for them. Overwhelming
Don't try to grow zone 7-8 trees when you live in zone 6. Grow zone 3-5 making winter less stressful and spring less sad.
There are many more don't you will discover and more I could post.

Do have enough trees to keep your itchy fingers busy so you don't "love" the few to death.
Do your homework here before you post questions as so much good info is already here.
Do join a club nearby if you have one. Mine is an hour away and on Sunday afternoons I don't like to spend indoors in summer. I've been to a couple meetings but should go more when we get back to having meetings.
Do dig trees and plants with good trunks but only after doing your homework. I have killed 2 spectacular trees collected and still feel the remorse.
Do listen to the many advanced people here who take their time to offer you advice and follow it. Leo, OSO, VanceW, Adair, Judy and several others are solid. Put smoke on ignore.
Do look constantly for landscape projects and demolitions for older specimens to save you years of development.

Instant Bonsai isn't really possible but there can be accelerated bonsai.
I'll post two trees I dug from a yard just last spring for encouragement. These could be called rushed bonsai for the impatient. Enjoy the journey!



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I might print these tips and put it in a frame next to my projects

 

[JoB]

I will sneak These two in as well... Little cherry and cotoneaster

 

[Clorgan]

Promise this is the last post
I have some mugos which i got from a nursery reduced shelf.... All were looking sick... I messed with them last spring.... Felt like i made every mistake possible then worried they would die.... So only trying to get them healthy and reading up on them.... Thanks Vance!
Then some babies... Pines, pomegranate, both Granat and dwarf View attachment 310017View attachment 310016View attachment 310015View attachment 310013View attachment 310012View attachment 310011View attachment 310007View attachment 310005View attachment 310001View attachment 309999

Don't make it your last post - keep sharing!!!!

 

[Clorgan]

I will sneak These two in as well... Little cherry and cotoneaster View attachment 310019View attachment 310020

Really like the cotoneaster!

 

[JoB]

@JoB nice collection for a beginner. I like your azaleas best. I had one too in the past. I killed it because I trusted the bad information I've read on some sites.

Thanks.... I am avidly following the Competition on here... Picking up alot of Tips....also have a few Alberta spruce to work along side the christmas tree comp... Maybe i might feel brave enough to enter one of these next time

 

[JoB]

Really like the cotoneaster!

You need to get yourself one.... Or 3.... They grow sooo well, i really enjoy mine.... Miles away from any good... But great beginner trees.... They have loads of them in our local garden centre and are cheap as Chips

 

[Clorgan]

Saw this little Cork bark elm and just had to I know mames are tricky to keep healthy but I couldn't resist, it's like a child of my other elm! Will just be babysitting this one!

Also got a potentilla, will probably plant in a flower bed or big pot at somepoint and let it grow for a good while. Potentilla reminds me of being a kid - we had loads of them at my primary school, yellow flowers though! Rather like the orange

 

[Clorgan]

You need to get yourself one.... Or 3.... They grow sooo well, i really enjoy mine.... Miles away from any good... But great beginner trees.... They have loads of them in our local garden centre and are cheap as Chips

Yeah I did think about getting one - some members recommended them on one of my other threads, but the ones in my local nurseries have been a bit naff! Keeping an eye out for a good 'un!

I actually did have a seedling, but the dog ate a lot of it the other day...probably did me a favour - it wasn't going places

 

[Clorgan]

Oh, also ordered a very cheap stand! I'm not expecting too much for the price, but it's got decent reviews and will keep them off the ground!

 

[JoB]

Prepare to be a little disappointed.. I have one... Not sure how long it is going to last after a few rain showers
I ended up buying some breeze Blocks and wood and making a couple myself

 

[BrazilianMoistWood]

Haven’t seen any brt yet so I’ll throw mine into the mix! Started playing 3 months ago with this tree and been having fun ever since! My family thinks I’m crazy but that doesn’t bother me haha

This is a photo I took a couple weeks ago but all I have at work right now. Temps have been up and down so I’ve been keeping him inside until it’s consistently above 10*c at night. I’ve also tried cuttings, first three dried out pretty quick so I tried more mature chutes and touch wood it seems to be working!!

 

[JoB]

Not great but at least solid and gets stuff off the floor.... You can See my China special in the background... Left side

 

[Vali]

Not great but at least solid and gets stuff off the floor

You lucky people. I have 4 dogs. 3 of them love hunting lizards, mice, rats, moles and everything they can find. I had to quickly improvise a wooden fence from scraps last spring and, of course, I had to add more and more to it's height because they kept jumping over. A little stand wouldn't help me at all

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Not great but at least solid and gets stuff off the floor.... You can See my China special in the background... Left side View attachment 310048

Those cow pots are awesome!

 

[JoB]

Those cow pots are awesome!

The danger of covid distancing in the queue at the garden centre.... Especially when the reduced stuff ID lined up couldnt resist

 

[Housguy]

Here is a couple JBP shohin style trees I am working on. I have had them for a couple of years and decandled them today without any wiring, want to see the next flush before I start branch selection and wiring. One has some reverse taper going on, will have to figure that out as well down the road.

 

[Clorgan]

Prepare to be a little disappointed.. I have one... Not sure how long it is going to last after a few rain showers
I ended up buying some breeze Blocks and wood and making a couple myself

Yeah I suspected that might be the case, but thought it was worth a punt for the short term at least

 

[Housguy]

Very much a newbie to Bonsai but figured I'd give it a shot. Started simple with a Blue Juniper and wanted to see what happens and learn. Love to get some feedback on what you see, what to look out for next, etc. Feel free to be blunt!

Nice little tree, make sure you go at a 45 to 60 degree angle on your wiring, you have yours to bunched up. Enjoy!

 

[Underdog]

Thanks.... I am avidly following the Competition on here... Picking up alot of Tips....also have a few Alberta spruce to work along side the christmas tree comp... Maybe i might feel brave enough to enter one of these next time

I've entered every contest here since I joined 5yrs ago for fun and experience. Just do it