Working with only a few species

[mattspinniken]

It seems like the tendency among hobbyists is too try to have one of everything and the tendency for pros is to work with only a few species. Maybe that is one reason why the pros have gotten so good?

I am currently in the mood of just working with a few local species, for me White Cedar, Larch, and White Birch. Although I do have a few others that I like. Do you try and "specialize" on a short list of species? Thoughts...?

 

[BobbyLane]

atm moment im really fond of european beech and hornbeam, but tbh i just really love working with native material and especially raw material. i dont collect myself, but i'll happily buy raw yamadori, but i get great pleasure from picking up cheap, unassuming stock from garden centres/nurseries/bare root nurseries and trying to make something of it, have quite a few of those projects on the go atm, i find them very satisfying and i learn a great deal from them, the material is cheap, abundant and easy to attain. i can be sometimes ruthless in my approach

My go to species are mainly native, Hawthorn, Beech, Hornbeam, Elm, Birch, Oak, Yew, Field maple, Spruce.
Trident maple and Chinese elm, all great subjects for bonsai really. very popular with pros, hobbyist and enthusiasts the world over.

 

[BrianBay9]

The trend I see is wanting whatever is rare in your area......S Californians want conifers that need cold. Here people want tropicals (fairly easy) or relatively tender deciduous trees. Always want what you can't (easily) have.

I've found that I now "specialize" in trees that work well for me. Spent alot of time trying everything, and now I do local species, and tropicals that survive the conditions that I can give them.....mostly ficus.

 

[barrosinc]

We had a similar discussion a year or so ago http://www.bonsainut.com/threads/species-one-of-each-specialize-in-one-and-its-cultivars.15832/

 

[GGB]

No way! Just kind of had this same thought a few days ago. I think I'm going to stick close to bald cypress, american larch, scots pine, and (maybe?) dawn redwood. Obviously finding a passion for deciduous conifers but my ultimate goal is to use local trees or at least those from the USA

 

[Wilson]

Maybe I lack refinement, like my trees, but I love trees too much to limit my scope. Maybe in the future I will change, but I enjoy the variety in my garden. Conifers, deciduous, flowering shrubs, tropicals to entertain me in long winters. Ya bonsai nut!

 

[mattspinniken]

i can be sometimes ruthless in my approach

Bobby I always like seeing your work posted, you definitely have your own style.

I have thought about the idea of keeping mostly only a few species before but it was recently brought back to mind after seeing Tony Tickle win the best deciduous at the Noelanders Trophy this year. I am a big fan of Tony and his personal take on Bonsai. He for example seems to specialize in Yew and Hawthorne.

Benefits aside, I think the real reason I am working on keeping mostly 3 species is that those three offer the most exciting options for collected native material in my area. If I could collect awesome Pines I know I would add that to the list .

 

[wireme]

I look for anything at all that has grown some kind of inherent potential. Pre-existing favourable features trumps species generally. I end up having more of certain species cause that's what I find. Lots of other stuff I'd like to find or wish I could though. Hardiness to the zone is the main factor. To some degree I chose according to species, I'll walk right on past a cottonwood that I'd be all over if it was a maple... If it was the right cottonwood though, I'd give it a go. I guess if I was out there shopping with money amongst a wide variety of choice I might seek out something specific, especially if the material was ready for refinement stage. As is I just like to look for anything that I might be able to do something good with.

 

[GGB]

@Wilson I see your point. I'm also torn, limiting species is what the masters do, but I never expected to be a master. I kind of just wanted a miniature arboretum, but how good do I want the arboretum to look..... haha I guess time will tell

 

[namnhi]

1) Japanese Maple
2) Japanese Black pine
3) Azaleas
4) wrightia Religiosa
5) Trident maple
6) Korean hornbeam
7) Willow leaf ficus
That should be enough for one's life time.

 

[MichaelS]

Variety is the spice of life. ......Just a few species?.....borrrring.. The more species you work with, the better you get at it and faster you learn.

 

[MichaelS]

1) Japanese Maple
2) Japanese Black pine
3) Azaleas
4) wrightia Religiosa
5) Trident maple
6) Korean hornbeam
7) Willow leaf ficus
That should be enough for one's life time.

A life time? They get done in the morning, what about the afternoon??

 

[choppychoppy]

As I sit in the yard I see - Red maple, japanese maple, tridents, azalea, junipers (at least 6 types), crepe myrtal, bald cypress, yaupons, zelkova, winged elm, podocarpus, willow leaf and tiger bark ficus, brazilian raintree, campeche, oak, Virginia pine, river birch, hawthorn, sweetgum and loropetalum. Haha maybe too many

 

[Rusty Davis]

I have a mix but I'm seeing what I can keep alive and what I can get through my first winter. Spring will give me direction

 

[mattspinniken]

Variety is the spice of life. ......Just a few species?.....borrrring.. The more species you work with, the better you get at it and faster you learn.

I do have just one of this and one of that around but with just a few species you can really develop a good deep understanding. Variety looks good but so do a few species of really nice extremely vigorous and vibrant trees. Its all for fun at the end of the day though and everyone should do what makes them happy.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Every time I try to limit myself, I go crazy and pick up odd stuff until I'm back where I started. I have multiple cultivars of a few, but most are ones and twos.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I think the pros do specialize, or they keep their ones and twos as a private collection they don't promote.

 

[sorce]

This year's repotting May see Dwarf Alberta dropped off my list.

Hands down learning only a couple or few will get you better faster.

Local all day.

Still, nothing I have purchased has lived through winter and repot.
Short my Mugo. Thanks Vance!

Mugo, Elm, and Amur.

Sorce

 

[zelk]

I would recommend shimpaku juniper as a specie to focus on. It is a forgiving conifer which is very popular for bonsai. Chinese elm or Zelkova is also great if you like deciduous.

 

[petegreg]

Variety is the spice of life. ......Just a few species?.....borrrring.. The more species you work with, the better you get at it and faster you learn.

Agree. The more species the more we have to learn and more notes to make. I've got two paper note books, one of them is for writing where the second one is put... I like the idea of (bonsai) arboretum too.