I must confess that I am an avid digger of potential bonsai. I dig trees from the wilds, from my own garden and the garden of others. But why is it that trees dug from the wild hold a special feeling with and for you when you can eventually take the tree through the survival stages and up to potting them into bonsai pots? To see them thrive and to be beautiful is a very rewarding experience when the process is extended over many years.

Even when I walk around my own collection I get a special “something” from a tree that was dug, and in many cases these trees are saved, and has continued to not only survive but to prosper. There is no doubt that Mother Nature has given these trees some guidance and special characters that I simply cannot manufacture from nursery stock. I read an article by Michael Hagedorn recently that also mused about this very topic and I recommend that you look up his blog if you are interested. However the idea of having a tree in your collection that had many years battling the environment, was removed and potted so it may continue to live has a feeling of nobility about – that’s nobility for the tree.

The following bonsai of mine have all been dug, some from gardens and some from the bush and they all hold a special place in my collection.

Alder

This Alder was dug from a property on the road between Goulburn and Crookwell.

Privett – in flower

The Alder and the Privett are two very big bonsai and sit side by side in my yard. This Privett was dug from a garden in Goulburn.

Bottlebrush

Although this tree is not yet potted, it was dug from a garden in Goulburn.

Cedar – deodar

This Cedar, and two more that were very similar, were dug from the Canberra region many years ago.

Cotoneaster

This Cotoneaster was growing in a garden bed at my residence before it was cut down and the stump dug up.

English Elm

The Goulburn Bonsai Society arranges a numbers of digs for suitable bonsai material and many years ago arrangements were made to dig English Elm from a cow paddock that was going to be re-developed. This one was saved from the bulldozer, as were many others.

Plum – triple trunk

This Plum was dug from near the Hume Highway quite a few years ago. It faced certain death if it had remained where it was.

Of the seven bonsai here, three originated from a garden and four were dug in the bush. Are there any differences about these? Probably very little but I think there is a difference between these and trees that were grown in pots all their life.

What do you think?