Craig Cowing wrote in message ...
wsallen wrote:
snip
I hear you there! However if you purchase some hardy type plants that
strike
easily from cuttings you can get several trees for the price of one. In
my
own area (Perth, Western Australia) that would be Ficus sp. and Chinese
Elms.

Join your local club. The are an invaluable source of local knowledge,
cuttings, books (club library) and demonstrations.

I understand Sean's reluctance to buy nursery material, but from my
perspective,
the money I spent on trees that didn't make it was the cost of my initial
education. It's going to cost something either way.

Entirely true. I am making ongoing 'payments' on my bonsai education.
Including a large juniper styled at a workshop by Megumi Bennett (well it
still has some green bits, kinda green, well abit faded actually.......
There are ways you can minimise those payments though.

Cheers,
Heidi Aussie