New Tridents

[TomM]

kdodds;

Yep - zone 4/5. It can be rough. But we live with it and we love our bonsai anyway. Do what you gotta do.

Right now it is 83. Last week, just 2 days before our club show, we had a hard frost here - but not down in the valley.

[kdodds]

On the brighter side, you've got prime conifer conditions.

[TomM]

Oh yeah! And especially my favorite conifer - the local deciduous one - LARCH!
That's the tree that got me interested in bonsai almost 10 years ago.

[manofthetrees]

Ok, so you're up there between the Finger Lakes. Yes, it really gets cold up there, but you should be able to have success with Tridents if you give them protection during the Winter

im near buffalo close to lake erie the wind can whip pretty good here. i tried some in my first year of bonsai and being a noob i killed them like many others along the way. i just haven't got along to get more seeing i have such a free surplus of other maple species

[djlen]

Oh yeah! And especially my favorite conifer - the local deciduous one - LARCH!
That's the tree that got me interested in bonsai almost 10 years ago.

Larch!!!!! Now there's a tree that I truly love for Bonsai and are about as difficult to get down here as Tridents are to get up there. Maybe you can turn me on to a mail order place locally to you where I can get some young ones.

"im near buffalo close to lake erie the wind can whip pretty good here. i tried some in my first year of bonsai and being a noob i killed them like many others along the way. i just haven't got along to get more seeing i have such a free surplus of other maple species"

Can't tell you how many trees I've killed over the years (sad to say). If I've learned anything in this hobby, it's that you grow what will grow for you and leave the ones that are difficult to those that find them easy.

[kdodds]

Are you looking for American or Japanese Larch?

[TomM]

Two sources of collected larch not too far from you are Bill Valavanis at International Bonsai Arboretum in West Henrietta and Hollow Creek Bonsai in Avon. Check both sites. I don't use mail order myself - only buy at their nurseries or through vendors.

[djlen]

Two sources of collected larch not too far from you are Bill Valavanis at International Bonsai Arboretum in West Henrietta and Hollow Creek Bonsai in Avon. Check both sites. I don't use mail order myself - only buy at their nurseries or through vendors.

I have mature trees. I'm always looking for 2 - 3 year old seedlings to make into forest plantings. The seedlings are fun to work with.

[kdodds]

Can't speak to American Larch seedlings, but Meehan's Miniatures has Japanese in various sizes, as does, I believe, Wee Tree Farms.

[TomM]

I get larch seedlings (whips) from our local county Soil & Water Conservation Service. They grow out very well in the garden here. The current 'crop' is to be used for a future forest group workshop in our club. Check with your county service or Cooperative Extension. I believe these programs are throughout NYS. Very cool and inexpensive way to start larches and grow them out quickly.

[djlen]

I get larch seedlings (whips) from our local county Soil & Water Conservation Service. They grow out very well in the garden here. The current 'crop' is to be used for a future forest group workshop in our club. Check with your county service or Cooperative Extension. I believe these programs are throughout NYS. Very cool and inexpensive way to start larches and grow them out quickly.

And THAT is what I'm looking for!!!!! Do you have to be a NYS resident to avail yourself of that service? Is there a web site I can visit to find out some info. on that?

[TomM]

I think you need to be on the tax roles of your particular county.

Here's where I got mine -

As you see there were no larches offered this year. It changes from time to time, and the orders need to be placed very early in the year.

Still you should check with your county agency.

[djlen]

Yeah, the county down here that I used to live in had offerings yearly similar to what your link shows. I don't know whether this county does. I'll have to check for next year.
Thanks.

[manofthetrees]

thats freakin' awsome never though of the DOC for whips....is bonsai considered species conservation tho, i wouldnt want them showing up at my house with hammers and bats LOL

[kdodds]

This is state-wide:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7127.html

The trees are not "loaners". You're encouraged to plant them for yourself, which is kind of funny since many of them are non-natives.

[djlen]

This is state-wide:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7127.html

The trees are not "loaners". You're encouraged to plant them for yourself, which is kind of funny since many of them are non-natives.

Very interesting. I bookmarked the site and will contact them next year to find out if they sell to out of state people.
Did you notice that they have Larch. There are quite a few others that lend themselves to Bonsai culture. Douglas and Balsam Fir, Norways, and a few others.

[kdodds]

Yep, but Japanese Larch... and yeah, they've quite a few trees and shrubs that are bonsai suitable. BUT, are they bonsai ready? Most likely no, not now, not for quite a few years to come. So, you'll have quite a few dozen trees that you'll need to grow out. Hope you have the space. Reselling, BTW, would be highly unethical considering their intended purpose. IF I were to buy some, I might keep one or two for bonsai, but would relocate the rest, for sure.

[djlen]

None of the trees offered there are "Bonsai Ready". They are seedlings and my interest in them would be for making forest plantings at this stage. I have plenty of full sized single, double etc. trees and am looking more for seedlings that I can develop into forests and groves.
Those seedlings are perfect material for that.
I would plant extras in my back yard which is of a size that would accommodate them. Maybe give some to neighbors.
I just gave the Tridents their first feeding. They are looking good!