Seeds are great and everyone should have a go, but you'll need a lot of
patience - you are looking at 5 to 10 years min before you get anything
interesting, and a lot longer for a real bonsai. Chances are you are going
to want to fiddle around long before that.
For a beginner, I'd recommend buying a good basic 'how to' book and get a
few cheap trees in gallon pots from a local nursery. Junipers are ever
popular, pretty indestructable and great for hacking around. Hack and wire
away and you will be amazed at what fun you can have. You may even end up
with something halfway decent in a few years.

Also now is a great time to ask friends and neighbours if they have any
shrubs or trees they want clearing from their yards. Your book should tell
you how to lift them look after them.

For tools I'd wait for six months or so to make sure you are really hooked
before splashing out on anything expensive (ie from a bonsai dealer), all
you really need to get going are a good strong & sharp pair of scissors, a
pair of pliers, a sharp knife and some pruning shears. You will also need to
get a few rolls of aluminum wire of various grades and a pair of wire snips.
Also, don't be in a hurry to get your trees into those pretty little pots,
most training work is much better done in a plastic bucket.

When you have mastered the basics, and are pretty sure you can keep a tree
alive in a pot, then is the time to splash out on a nice little tree or two,
and at that point you can also get a few of the more specialised tools.
Again your book will advise.

Sean. UK.

"Shelly Hurd" wrote in message
...
Hi Eric,

Welcome to the list! Glad you came out of "stealth" mode.

January? - Isn't that still a little chilly?

For tools I recommend Brent's site at:
http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/

"concave" cutters - are a must in your tool bag.
"spherical" or "knob" cutters - You will find necessary as you progress,
but
not necessary at the beginning.

The difference between the two are the type of cuts they make. Concave
make
a more pointed angled cut, "knob" cutters make a circular deeper cut and
are
most often used to cleanup branches you remove leaving a hole that heals
easier.

I've been happy with my Joshua Roth - but buy from the intermediate or
advanced sets and Do not spend the money on "stainless" steel.

Keep reading and studying and find something to start with. Much more fun
then waiting on those little seeds to grow.

--
Denise Hurd Central CA - Sunset Zone 8-USDA Zone 9

"The Bride"

snipped