Yamadori Day, Collecting Wild Trees for Bonsai, May 2018

A fun day of collecting trees, with the Kitchener Waterloo Bonsai Society in the wilderness of Ontario, Canada.
We search for natural trees that would be suitable for bonsai on our annual club collection trip.
A collected tree from nature is called a Yamadori bonsai, in Japan.
Follow the KW bonsai society on Facebook......
/ kwbonsaisociety
Music for this video is by Jo San......
/ @josanproductions8322

[@PinoyBonsai]

You have a nice friendly group of bonsai lovers there, just having fun and helping each other. I wish our local bonsai group will have that kind of bonding someday

[@Lazarus-aap]

I wish I had a bonsai group... 😉

[@urouroniwa]

Find a casual cafe somewhere where you like the atmosphere. Tell the owner, "I'm thinking about starting a bonsai group. Would it be OK if came here every Tuesday (or whatever) and talked to anybody who was interested about bonsai?" After you find a cafe where they say "yes", show up every Tuesday (or whatever) rain or shine. Put a little sign on your table saying, "Whatever bonsai club. Talk to me about tiny trees." Bring a bonsai book to read, or bring your laptop and put together pictures of trees, or whatever you like to keep yourself busy. Eventually I guarantee you will double your group size and from there the sky is the limit. It's important to be regular and to become a fixture. Book off a year at least to get yourself started. Once people expect to see you there, they will eventually recommend someone who is interested in bonsai to come to the cafe. It's super important that you are there when it happens, so try not to miss a day. Or in other terms: first you must plant a seed, but it's also important to remember to water regularly.

[@Lazarus-aap]

You are right, that's one way to do it... Not the most efficient, but it will work eventually. Although, I'd like to join and learn instead of starting and leading

[@lorib1696]

@@urouroniwa I might just try that. I know a bookstore/coffee house that would probably like to help. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@n8tyler]

Always appreciate watching your excursions...Thanks for sharing...

[@toddstropicals]

This is so awesome Nigel, I never get tired of being out in the woods or watching your videos...I've learned quite a bit and still learning. Thanks for sharing your trip with us all.

[@aarondraper1818]

Can’t wait to see what you will do with your finds. Looking forward to that!!

[@astalope]

Very tranquil video with a great group of individuals. Thank you for it !

[@themotivatedgardenergarden7822]

Nice bunch of people and good day out

[@annebrunner3649]

I love the wilderness. Great video.

[@CypherWitch]

Some great finds, very jealous of having such a good spot to collect!

[@jeanniegriffin1692]

What a great crew and they all sought out to find great specimens.

[@deploribusunum3894]

Looks like a fun day!

[@vrindabandishte5166]

Awesome and enviable. The trip, the video and the collection ---- all

[@alreneedge3571]

Thank you for taking us along on your expedition. Beautiful location, wonderful trees, lovely to see the younger generation connecting with the environment. .

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Julian loves going every year, he always finds something interesting to do! The club is getting a lot of younger people involved too!

[@fireguzzi.]

Hey! I live about 15 minutes away from the monastery in Conyers, GA they were talking about! It's a cool place for sure with some awesome Bonsai. Too cool to hear you guys way up in Canada mention us down here.

[@patsfreund9164]

How fortunate of your group of bonsaists to be able to enjoy this activity. You've collected some nice trees. Enjoyed the adventure with you and Julien.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you Pat, they are a great bunch of people in our club!

[@PeppleWick.]

Thanks Nigel for sharing. Its very relaxing.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the club outing!

[@SergioGarcia-vu4tg]

What a beautiful day you have spent, thanks for sharing

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you Sergio!

[@CyrilViXP]

You have a pretty serious club there, Nigel, great! And it is very nice that your son is interested too and helps you. Lovely people, good hobby!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

A good bunch of people to spend the day with!

[@soulessw4rrior565]

Thanks to share this awesome video!! The brown hat guy got the best tree I got lil bit jealous... a very relaxing video thanks again mister Nigel!! :)

[@BrandonTran]

Awesome club! Great finds

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you Brandon!

[@joseosorio7478]

Really great trees. I love all the videos you're making Nigel Thank you and keep them coming.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you Jose, I will!

[@alcurtis93]

Very beautiful trees there :) great place to be I imagine

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I could spend days looking around!

[@Gulbaqawali]

Wonderful video tour. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you Anita!

[@ErickPichler]

As always, amazing video. But boy, AWESOME soundtrack!! The best one so far! It matches really well the location atmo and vibe. Thank you for sharing.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you Erick, Jo San will be pleased to hear your comment!

[@jeffincharlestonsc]

I've never seen so many cedar trees in one place, beautiful!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It's an amazing sight, so much green!

[@chithraarul7029]

That was a awesome trip. I felt like I was with u throughout Ur vlogs. So nicely filmed. The background music was so relaxing. I love u lake view especially the one bit u filmed very slowly. Waiting forward to c Ur hunt. Thanks u so much for sharing this wonderful journey Sir. God bless....

[@BonsaiJCan]

Looks like a great place for collecting, especially cedar.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, there are always lots of Cedar trees and always new ones growing in!

[@bobbymalta73]

Very nice ambient!

[@PV2Raven]

I really enjoyed the music in this video!

[@nordicyamadori7290]

Looks like you had a great time!

[@ramanathann4937]

Love from india, tamilnadu. Realy very jealous on you. Good friends, good bonsai, you have a good passion. God bless you and your friends.with their bonsai. Love you so much.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Ramanathan!

[@Lazarus-aap]

I like how you bring Julian with you. I hope he likes it too

[@shaneking60]

Monastery of the Holy Spirit! Glad to hear it's known up there!

[@damascendekia8522]

Love the long takes and soundtrack, feel like Herzog's film.

[@SamDoeckeAussiebonsaibloke]

Nice one mate. I love outdoor excursions 😁

[@JohnSmith-bj2lq]

love the vids keep them coming

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you John!

[@jerryanctil8118]

Good turn out for the Yamodori expedition with nice discoveries!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Jerry, it was a wonderful day!

[@bonniehyden962]

Please tell everyone in the group we thank them for sharing their day out with us!

[@bonsaihunters]

Look at all the bonsai hunters!!! Go bonsai!!!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks James, go bonsai!

[@wothebonsaiharvester3595]

Great video thanks for sharing

[@jaicreation5237]

your location and the plants are super your group has some young members this is some good vidio

[@yeseniaromero3186]

Great video!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you, it was nice hanging out with the club on such a fine day!

[@seiyuokamihimura5082]

Awwwww such a cute little snake!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes indeed, Julian loves finding them!

[@jaicreation5237]

your location and plants are super and that is sutable for bonsai in this vidio your group has some youngster

[@emilyb4583]

Are conifers easier to collect as yamadori than deciduous trees? Or is there a different time of year that is better to harvest deciduous? Or are you just far enough north to have limited selection outside of the conifers? I'm lucky to have woods on my property and am considering chopping some back this year and attempting to harvest next year or in a couple years maybe.

[@yann5524]

Awesome I wish I was living near by !

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I look forward to the adventure every year!

[@peterw2845]

thats a great idea for a club , cool video too nigel , not sure about australian natives as bonsai , but def an idea for our club for the spring

[@jamesaust3272]

Really cool experience, wish I had the opportunity to do this.

[@MRMIKEYGB]

Nice outing and garter snake Julian found

[@katyb2793]

I'm assuming it's not poisonous? 😅😅 that was so hard to watch as an Aussie

[@BonsaiTalk]

A very cool gang of tree enthusiasts and bonsai people.. check out our Yamadori vid aswell Nigel!

[@artistformerlyknownasbob1824]

Beautiful

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It looks like we'll be back out collecting this spring! Thanks!

[@LShropper]

Hi Nigel, I am very new to Bonsai and so far my exclusive method has been yamadori, but I have had a very hard time with transplant shock. How do you negate/treat this with your yamadoris?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It is very hard for a tree to be removed from the ground and placed into a pot. Many don't survive. Most of the success comes from picking a tree with a compact fibrous root base. Good aftercare and a vigorous tree can also help.

[@PJMehaffey]

I'd love to see a follow up of how you transition a find into a pot and first steps to training it. Loving your videos!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Hello Patrick, I do have a video playlist with a collected Cedar. I will be starting a series with this collected tree also! kzbin.info/aero/PLQouTWwmTQowe391pWC7vr4h1-aL895up

[@muhammadjunaidill]

Amazing

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you Muhammad!

[@shivamsharma9399]

Nigel i want to ask that can root pruning done in night

[@meuxtag]

Hi Nigel! I was wondering if sometimes in those trips you spot a tree, cut a few branches and then just flag it in order to return to it in the years to come and only after a few years of "bonsai care" you dig it out? It would be a bit like treating the forest like a pre-bonsai garden!?

[@JohnJames.]

Maxime Saulnier i do this

[@wilsonsoto9831]

Que buena labor

[@fredgrau9931]

What soil mix are you putting these collected trees into? I realize its species dependent but are there a few good standard mixes that you use for yamadori?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I bare root the trees and then put them in bonsai soil, most of them grow well after a period of adjustment! It usually takes a year or sometimes two, before the tree gets strong enough to work on it. I think any bonsai soil works well for collected trees, I think keeping the tree in ideal conditions is more of a factor for survival. It is best to keep the trees out of the wind and direct sun until you see new growth appear. Watering and misting is a big factor also.

[@fredgrau9931]

Thanks Nigel!

[@christianmedina26]

What kind of snake, it was very friendly That seems like a lot of fun wish I could do something like that, theres just not a place like that near me that I know of. At work today i ended up bringing home 2 tiny pine seedlings I don't what kind of pine though

[@bonsainepalbonsaitrees9592]

very nice

[@amandamilne7479]

Any chance we could see what these trees look like now?

[@kenthest4849]

Nice video and thanks for sharing! It looks like fun. But I have one question: Isn't the best time to dig up yamadori plants when the buds are just about to burst? I've read that the risk of the plant dying is significantly higher after the buds have burst.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Correct, that is the best time for most trees. We are right on time with this years dig, as many of the trees are just about to open their leaves. One week earlier would have been even better, but we still should have a good survival rate!

[@patrickparmer1648]

18:00 "it's almost like hunting". yamadori my friend lol. the tree is the trophy.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Hopefully it's not a kill, time will tell!

[@IndianBonsaiZone]

Hi Nigel there is a problem with my boganvellia plant it is dying slowly what to do?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

They like heat, humidity and light. You could try putting a clear plastic bag with some ventilation holes, over the tree to keep the humidity high. Misting the tree a couple of times a day also helps.

[@BeastyBite]

looks like a lot of fun! why is everybody mainly collecting larches? is there something special about them?

[@dubsydabster]

Yamadori!!!!!!

[@addy9515]

I think I remember you saying you will start a haworthia bonsai in your aloe video, how is that going

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

Are these mostly Thuja Occidentalis? Our property in eastern Ontario has an abundance of them and this video is a great inspiration.

[@erikzellers2925]

This is off-topic, but I'm not sure where else to ask: Would you please do a video about watering - i.e. - how the water requirements for a bonsai'd tree is different (if it is) compared to an ordinary specimen of the same tree. I live in the California desert, with summer temps in the triple digits. Your videos have inspired me, and I was planning on trying desert appropriate plants for bonsai, like palo verde, desert willow and indigo bush. I know their water needs when they're "au natural" - but have no clue for how often they'd need to be watered as bonsai. Is there a rule of thumb - x times more often? Of course, it may be just too impractical, if they'll need watering multiple times a day (we're in a drought here still, too).

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Hello Erik, I really like the idea of dry landscape bonsai trees! I have a Yucca forest that sounds similar to what you have described, kzbin.info/www/bejne/onmsoa2Iirqagrc&index=4&list=PLQouTWwmTQoxlVXX_aEQHAXI-sMyoKKem Here is a video playlist..... kzbin.info/aero/PLQouTWwmTQoxlVXX_aEQHAXI-sMyoKKem Watering is a tricky thing, this video might help.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYmseqOuitarmrs

[@herveydoerr-rolley9241]

super jealous!! in Australia the only really decent tree to collect are English elms or Hawthorns, wish we had wild Conifers growing every where XD thanks for the video, also I found 2 mame style English elms growing in a brick wall, what is the safest way to remove them, (I have consent from the person owning the wall) also i'm still waiting for Autumn to finish for collection, thanks

[@harkarajrai6377]

ur smile!!!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Always happy!

[@leahmcginley4057]

So what are the kinds of pines that were out there?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

They are native red and white pines, Pinus stobus and Pinus resinosa

[@lanarin]

Hi Nigel. Is there any way to straighten a trunk? My mother in law gave me a rubber tree and i desided to cut it back and try my hand at bonsai thanks to your videos. So i choped it down to just a trunk and a few brances. But the trunk is crocked. it is almosed formed like a halfmoon. I was wondering if there is anything i can do it fix it.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

They do tend to straighten out with time and as the tree grows thicker, bends become less noticeable You can also prune them back and grow new branches to try and straighten the tree. Some people will wrap wire around the trunk and bend them straight. As the tree grows the trunk will stay in this wired position. It will leave wire marks, but they will slowly disappear with time.

[@lanarin]

Thank you for the answer. I will do the waiting game. The trunk has many lumps and bumps so cutting it shorter hurts my heart and i want to do this the Nigel way :D

[@danfernando8092]

Almost all of pines are upright because the soil is soft, next time try to go to rocky forest or rocky mountain where they can fine much better yamadori.

[@phansclan5785]

I live in Dayton , Ohio and does anybody knows where can I go do collect plants like this for bonsai?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Just be sure to get permission from the land owner!! I hope you find a nice tree!

[@MrSandun9]

Coool👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Very.

[@ecojoe2214]

Does anybody know what the name of the song with the steel drum sounding instrument is? And it isn't a steel drum, I think it might be something even cooler.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I've linked the music in the description, it's by Jo San

[@empret7704]

MayI I ask what is a "gin" ? At 14:01 the one guy is talking about that something to do with the trunk I think ... Lol ... :)

[@LinLin-ep5wu]

Hello Mr. Saunders. I really love bonsai and I want to start it. I just bought a small Bloodgood maple at Home Depot US a week ago. Its trunk is still small and the branches are babies. I wonder when can I make a cutting and grow it from there? I tried a few small cutting but it looks like they're too little they can't live on themselves yet. Thank you

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I haven't tried many hardwood cuttings, but I should! Here is a good video on this.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGWxcmeHir2Efq8

[@LinLin-ep5wu]

Thank you for offering me the link. I just finished watching it. I think I did not have the liquid that encourage roots that's why it failed. I will come back to home depot and get one of that bottle and try again. Thank you so much for you videos :) I also would love to watch you try a hardwood cuttings. Hopefully you'll post more of Japanese Bloodgood so I can learn too :)

[@kaiooiak6206]

Yamadori Brasil 🇧🇷 👍

[@TheGONZ181]

Hi Nigel: I'm in Australia, can I substitute vermiculate for turface

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Vermiculite holds water a little more than a good quality turface and it tends to break down. Here is a good video on soil ingredients.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6XCkmqda6hlgtU kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHvYg6Cro6qrqs0

[@JohnSmith-bj2lq]

im itching to see how your redwood style juniper is doing

[@TheBonsaiZone]

So far it is doing well, I've got to grow the roots to get rid of that bad area at the base of the tree. Hopefully it will make some progress this year!

[@celynyao3565]

is it possible to make a small Christmas tree guide so we can all follow along. we will all start with a 1 year old seedling from any garden centre

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I do have a small Spruce tree that I started from seed. It will be featured in an upcoming video, stay tuned!

[@celynyao3565]

thnx looking forward to it.

[@Mohdat82]

Hello Sir , i took a nice wild tree and i want to show you it , how could i do that sir :) i wanna know what is your opinion , am learning from you

[@TheBonsaiZone]

You can send me an email to.... [e-mail] Thanks!

[@Mohdat82]

Thanks a lot sir it is my pleasure that i am one of your student :) it is a big honor to be that

[@xMrJanuaryx]

Can any tree be a Bonsai tree?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, but it may not look like the bonsai tree that most people have in their minds. It will be a miniature version of the larger tree found in nature. Some trees with very large leaves can be miniaturized, but they will always have larger leaves than a small leaved tree.

[@xMrJanuaryx]

Okay well I ordered: 5 Japanese Red Maple seeds, 5 Japanese Katsura seeds, 5 California Palm Tree seeds, and 5 Washington Palm Tree seeds under the assumption that these can all be Bonsai tree's. Was I under the correct assumption? I sure hope so.

[@deploribusunum3894]

Robert Did any of your seeds sprout? I had no luck with any that I've ordered. I go to the stores who sell shrubs like Walmart and get some really good deals to practice on in July when they are trying to get rid of them.

[@BonsaiTricksAndaLotMore_ayan]

I am first

[@chithraarul7029]

Bonsai Tricks And a Lot More. hi bhai so u made it first 👏👏👏

[@markmondrinos7721]

*foist

[@ps2421]

@ 14:00 what ginn he is talking about? Didn't get d meaning!

[@MrJcalvino]

AM2PM *jin = dead wood

[@ps2421]

MrJcalvino thanks a lot!

[@mandrei99]

Is that clay @22:11 ?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, a very pure clay, we made some pots from it!

[@Ziggyzoo-wl8ug]

Do u possibly have a Facebook or an email I can Contact u through. I have a few questions and pics to show and would love some tips on some things.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

You can email me at... [e-mail]

[@dinggao8845]

too shaky in then end, Nice trip tho

[@MrNosajwhitey]

Shame no non coniferous trees seem to be found

[@TheBonsaiZone]

We have gotten some nice Hornbeam, Oaks and Beech in the past. I think it all depends on how far you want to haul your trees back. Most of the deciduous are on the far side of the property, almost an hour's hike!

[@MikeyDunn]

He's obviously one of the rare landowners that understands that Bonsai folk can help to manage an area of forest by removing a small amount of trees, leaving room for perhaps more marketable trees to grow, and helping to keep access roads, fire lanes and powerline cuts clear.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It's hard work keeping the bush accessible, we just had a wind storm and there were a lot of trees down on the trails.

[@adam03753]

The music is kind of distracting, I'd rather it to just be the sound of nature and nothingness

[@ronjakoistinen8203]

Not a lot of women in your club, are there? :)

[@TheBonsaiZone]

We do have more women in the club, but the turnout was mostly guys this time.

[@TTime685]

Cedar land

[@jimrodgers9227]

Leave the snake alone.

[@MrJcalvino]

WTF Julian O__O

[@MEROM7600]

Nigel, I followed you for a while but I’m totally disagree about yamadori. I know it’s a part of bonsai. But like a influencer that you are I believe we need to conserve our nature. Not removing trees from the woods instead of planting more trees. Fortunately we have a lots of ways to create beautiful trees. Thank you.

[@JosueCTheMLGNoScoperxddd]

I've been watching your videos for a year now and I love each video of yours and have made an effort to watch your older videos, but I'm gonna be real with you, you need a better haircut and some fresh clothes, you look goofy. Love you man.

[@albertorm5741]

Bonsai it’s make more nature not still nature. In this case it’s legally because this land it’s private and you have permission but in other circumstances it’s illegal. Sorry but I think it's amoral and also recording it can help more people to do it. At least you should talk about legality in case someone follows your steps.Make nature, don’t still nature. You have shops, seeds ect.

[@albertorm5741]

Edwin Brown I work in the forest and live in a little town, so take care easy men. In spain you have a really problems to take nature like this and in other countries in Europe ( if in USA are a wildmens it’s not my problem) and you have more problems it’s the spice it’s in the red book ( the book o spicies of proteccion ) only 3000€ for one three. And yeah you are right I make my garden whit seeds, whit pinus sylvesteis, ficus carica, cupressus leylandii and more species.If you have more questions I studied forestry so go ahead!!! Aaaa I think this channel it’s in Uk I don’t know and in Europe we have rules in the woods yeah.

[@albertorm5741]

Edwin Brown I was rude too so sorry. It’s just I don’t know why people make ideas of others lifes when the countrys are deferents. I don’t know why people are so rabid in social networks ( minds every people, me too) I think we lost the respect because it is easy to throw the stone and hide the hand in internet. The moral of internet must be change. I repeat sorry for annoying you and the channel.

[@KerenWang]

Do you mean steal?

[@jaicreation5237]

your location and the plants are super your group has some young members this is some good vidio