Few photos from the back yard

[Potawatomi13]

A very nice set up you have Brian and the literati is my favorite.

Also Lance great is your set up.

Great it must be to have your own yard to develop.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Brian can I ask how long you've been in the hobby? You're stuff is really quite impressive. Lance you also have some nice trees? Do you guys grow them all out from pre bonsai material or do you buy "finished" trees sometimes?

Thank you. I have been studying/practicing bonsai continuously for 21 years now...half my life!
I look for good nebari and trunks. My trees came from a variety of sources. I'd say it's about like this:
50% pre-bonsai stock, either trunk-finished, or purchased to obtain a cultivar and grown out. From a bonsai nursery.
30% collected by me; neighborhood and wilderness. I try to go collecting each year to add 1-2 good trees to develop.
20% started by me as seedlings, cuttings, or layers.
Box-store nurseries are not part of the mix. They were at first, but the material is limiting and requires time, luck, and will not likely result in a world-class bonsai in my lifetime.

 

[RichKid]

Thanks for responding Brian. When I see a lot you guy's (gal's Judy) I always wonder how long it took to build up to that many impressive trees. This is my second official year and I feel like I don't really have anything to show for it! Lol but seeing the stuff around here always renews my inspiration. Thank you.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

It takes a long time. Start with the best material you can find, or it takes even longer!