Jim Lewis wrote:

Bonsai. Nevertheless, I've found myself with the audacity to
draw up a
short list of common Pacific Nortwest trees/shrubs I'd like
to try, some
of which are not "typical" material for Bonsai, to my
extremely limited
knowledge.

Dude, you call that audacity? Apple? Cherry? Get a copy of
"Forest Farm" nursery catalog- the nursery is in Williams, OR-
and check out real native plants of the Pacific Northwest. There
are wonderful things out there crying to be bonsai.


I just ordered a catalog, Nina. It sounds good.


I greatly welcome any thoughts on using or trying these, in
general and/or for the beginner:

2. Apple

You can find wild crabapples and bonsai them, no problem.

I have several wild crabapples, mostly collected in Maine but one came from
Pennsylvania and one from here in NY. The thing about apples and crabapples is
that they don't ramify as such, so the foliage is going to be a bit thinner than
with other trees.


3. Cherry

Depends on the species. Many of the "sand" cherries make good
bonsai, only they lose limbs unpredictably.

I've got a bunch of black cherry I collected last fall. Great trunks and bases.
No new buds yet, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

and finally

5. Rose ?????

Wild roses have been used for bonsai- I'd steer clear of inbred
hybrids.

We've got wild roses all over the place here. Small leaves and really nice trunks
once they get older. If I can get past the thorns there is a really large specimen
I'd like to collect.
snip

Rhus, Amelianchier, Celtis, Quercus, Cerocarpus (BETTER than rose
but same family!) are all "local" (read native) trees that grow
in the west that should work.

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - It is better
to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool, than to open your
mouth and remove all doubt.

My feeling is that native or naturalized species are good to use because they are
already accustomed to living in that environment. Plus, really good specimens can
be found in suburban plantings or in the woods. Remember, though--always, always,
always ask permission to collect if you aren't collecting on your own land.

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37

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