The 2025 Yamadori/Collecting Thread

[Cajunrider]

This thread is for sharing information on planning, collecting, care for after collection of trees collected from January 1 through December 31, 2025.
Happy hunting/digging/waiting for buds everyone.

 

[Cajunrider]

I am planning my first 2025 trip to the swamp Thursday next week. I am not likely to collect any but will just take a look around. One never knows however.

 

[Joe Dupre']

Hiking the roadsides near home, I came across this lantana and couldn't resist bringing it home. First pic is the stump with pruners for scale. Yeah, we grow em big in South Louisiana. The second pic is the taproot............just to see if it will sprout.

I kept most of the trunks. When it sprouts and is well established, I'll probably remove some of them.

 

[Cruiser]

New Year Abies.


Healthy buds. Minor fir rust affecting a few needles.


Fine roots were condensed into a small area. Some formed from layering a little above the main root zone. Active growing tips observed in a few places.


Tree comfortably housed in a Sauk Mountain kintsugi pot. Pot buried to provide warmer temperatures for roots to speed their recovery.

 

[Cajunrider]

New Year Abies.
View attachment 579244

Healthy buds. Minor fir rust affecting a few needles.
View attachment 579246View attachment 579248

Fine roots were condensed into a small area. Some formed from layering a little above the main root zone. Active growing tips observed in a few places.
View attachment 579247

Tree comfortably housed in a Sauk Mountain kintsugi pot. Pot buried to provide warmer temperatures for roots to speed their recovery.
View attachment 579245

I like the trunk movement.

 

[baldone]

Went to my other property today looking for things to collect in spring. Found several beech and sweetgum. Found some chopped top Yamamori, courtesy of old beaver damage. I had left my phone in truck so no pictures this time.

 

[Cruiser]

I like the trunk movement.

Thanks. Snow pack and drifts help to create that type of movement. As anyone who’s shoveled snow knows, it gets pretty damn heavy as it compacts and undergoes freeze-thaw cycles. Mountainous trees weighted down by it and encased within are effectively “wired” into place, often for months on end.

The deeper the packs and the longer they last into summers, the more squiggly a fir will become over years. I think @River’s Edge has some nice trees that demonstrate how wavy they can get.

That’s why this fir’s waviness is subtle, it was growing at lowish elevation where the snow doesn’t stick around long (comparatively).

Apologies if you know this already. I figured a southern gentleman such as yourself or other members might benefit from knowing the process; and if waviness is what a collector seeks, they might want to venture a bit higher into the mountains to obtain it.

 

[2MileHighBonsai]

I just found this thread after starting one about my Bristlecone Pine Yamadori endeavor... these trees are in my yard so I have all winter to scheme and plan.

https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/bristlecone-pine-pinus-aristata-yamadori-questions.67513/


I feel like I have been living on a gold mine up here since I have only been thinking about bonsai for the last 6 months and never really noticed most of them before. Happy hunting to all hear and I can't wait to see what you find!

 

[RJG2]

Starting to get some supplies in order. Still at least 2-3 months out for me...

 

[kbonsai8]

I'm beyond excited for spring yamadori hunting. Given my location, my options are pretty limited. I was considering taking trips to either southern illinois, wisconsin or michigan to collect trees. Maybe two if i'm lucky and catch an extra day without family activities or other obligations. Anyone have any recommendations for yamadori hunting for someone in the chicago area?

 

[Barbells and bonsai]

2 I’ve collected and chopped so far this season

 

[ShadyStump]

I just found this thread after starting one about my Bristlecone Pine Yamadori endeavor... these trees are in my yard so I have all winter to scheme and plan.

https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/bristlecone-pine-pinus-aristata-yamadori-questions.67513/


I feel like I have been living on a gold mine up here since I have only been thinking about bonsai for the last 6 months and never really noticed most of them before. Happy hunting to all hear and I can't wait to see what you find!

Nice to finally find someone else from Colorado who isn't from the metro strip!

Take it easy collecting when you're new. I have killed some absolutely amazing trees because I didn't know what I was doing yet, and our geology makes it even more complicated. Stick with bad trees you know you can get until you've figured out collecting.

 

[Cruiser]

Nice to finally find someone else from Colorado who isn't from the metro strip!

Take it easy collecting when you're new. I have killed some absolutely amazing trees because I didn't know what I was doing yet, and our geology makes it even more complicated. Stick with bad trees you know you can get until you've figured out collecting.

What types of tools do you prefer? Small garden/rock picks? I find those to be my go-to.

 

[2MileHighBonsai]

Take it easy collecting when you're new. I have killed some absolutely amazing trees because I didn't know what I was doing yet, and our geology makes it even more complicated. Stick with bad trees you know you can get until you've figured out collecting.

I appreciate that. Besides aborting once I discover the roots aren't very dense or shallow, or if they're already wrapped around a rock, is there any other advice you have far a beginner?

 

[2MileHighBonsai]

Nice to finally find someone else from Colorado who isn't from the metro strip!

Unfortunarely, the metro strip seems to be growing every year!

 

[Notsureaboutplantnames]

Perfect timing for me in our area.

I have my eyes on a few Quercus agrifolia plants, nothing too big or old but just interesting enough to give it a try.

So, I have been told:

You need to remove all of the foliage .... seems totally opposed to normal horticultural recommendations that the leaves are needed for root growth, but what do i know about digging Oaks/ Not much.

Seems the root branching can be very deep (I already looked at a couple), with inverse taper on the trunk underground.
Another recommendation was just cut off the root and it will sprout new ones quickly.

thanks
Peter

 

[BrianBay9]

Perfect timing for me in our area.

I have my eyes on a few Quercus agrifolia plants, nothing too big or old but just interesting enough to give it a try.

So, I have been told:

You need to remove all of the foliage .... seems totally opposed to normal horticultural recommendations that the leaves are needed for root growth, but what do i know about digging Oaks/ Not much.

Seems the root branching can be very deep (I already looked at a couple), with inverse taper on the trunk underground.
Another recommendation was just cut off the root and it will sprout new ones quickly.

thanks
Peter

Yes, and yes. I think you're talking to the right people. That inverse taper in the root end up looking like an onion bulb. Best case you have feeder roots coming out of it. Worst case feeder roots are much farther down. In either case cut at the base of that reverse taper and you usually get new roots there.

 

[ShadyStump]

What types of tools do you prefer? Small garden/rock picks? I find those to be my go-to.

Small collapsible shovel like you might take backpacking is my go-to. Something like the military e-tool, or I have a little thing that comes together to shorter than my forearm that has a spade or pick to chose from. The idea is if you can't get it out of the rocks with something that small, you're just not going to.

I appreciate that. Besides aborting once I discover the roots aren't very dense or shallow, or if they're already wrapped around a rock, is there any other advice you have far a beginner?

I find that a firm but gentle tug on the trunk will tell you allot. If you feel a small pop or two, that's fine surface roots giving. That with a little bit of wiggle is a sign that some reasonable portion of the root ball is near the surface.
Doesn't mean it's all a go, though, with the way trees can send out those long running roots into the rocks, but it's a simple quick way to tell if you should even bother investigating.

 

[2MileHighBonsai]

I find that a firm but gentle tug on the trunk will tell you allot. If you feel a small pop or two, that's fine surface roots giving. That with a little bit of wiggle is a sign that some reasonable portion of the root ball is near the surface.
Doesn't mean it's all a go, though, with the way trees can send out those long running roots into the rocks, but it's a simple quick way to tell if you should even bother investigating.

This is very helpful and specific, thanks.

 

[NoCoastBonsai]

Pulled these two elms from a neighbors yard in December. I was able to get a decent root ball on both so, hoping they take. Keeping them in a sunroom on a seedling mat for when the temp drops. Other than that, I’ve pulled a lot seedlings out of the ground and I have a yamadori trip coming up in Feb!