Joey and Larry,
THANK YOU!

I will keep this info in mind when (and if) the time comes for the move. As you have read the decision on the move is not in my hands and not yet decided. Being up here in Northern Vermont waiting for the skiing to become worthwhile I decided to research this issue. It sounds like I have a chance with some of my trees and will need to find new homes for others. The resources you mentioned will be of great help when the move occurs.

I found when I moved to Vermont 6 years ago that Bonsai people are on the whole... Wonderful and helpful. I'm sure if we come down to Texas I'll get the chance to meet you and have a cup of coffee (or Beer) over Bonsai Discussion.

Thank you and everyone who has interjected into this thread.

Jay

Not a bud on mine yet. Hope I didnt kill em.

    
Joe, you Tridents aren't changing color? I only wish! Look at the forecast for  for later this week here in Northern Vermont!

Tuesday-Snow Showers 32° F | 18° F
   
Wednesday-Chance of Snow 23° F | 5° F
   
Thursday-Mostly Cloudy 14° F | 2° F

Welcome to my world!

Jay

Joe, every place on earth has its upside (and down). Without weather like this skiing and winter sports would be difficult. Also, Larches Spruces White Cedar etc would not be possible..... Oh Well

Jay

Jay, that's great and too bad...

I just got back from visiting my parents in East Texas. Every time I go down there, I am simply amazed at the trees. They are among the most picturesque I've seen in the US and I've lived in just about ever portion of the country at one time or another.

Texas oak savannah, swamps, prairie and other environments produce some pretty scenery and tough trees. Additionally, collectible species are very common --from Bald cypress (4 inch diameter already containerized specimens are available at roadside nurseries for $30  ), to live oak and cedar elm (which, along with hackberry, self-seeds in just about any viable patch of dirt available, step out into your yard in the spring, pull up a cedar elm seedling...), bonsai material is easy to come by.

too bad... texas ebony is an amazing species. As well as all those tropicals

How do you identify a cedar elm in the wild? Any special considerations with digging them?

If you're digging in the wild in Central Tx, and you've found an elm, you can be almost certain it's a Cedar Elm (Ulmus crassifolia).  Many people say we have Winged Elm (Ulmus alata) here, but the Cedar Elm also displays wings (these closely related trees probably have cross polinated quite a bit).  There is a wide variety of differences from tree to tree such as flat plate-like bark to fully corky bark (like the corticosa), "winged" branches and those without wings, larger leaves & smaller leaves, trees that only turn golden colors in fall & those that will turn a deep red.  If you question type, the best way to tell is to feel the leaf.  If the elm leaf is rough like sandpaper, it's a crassifolia.  Of course we also have a tree called Anaqua (also called the Sandpaper Tree) which is similar but a different species.

Easy to collect.  Only dig while they're dormant, no leaves.  Try to collect a good root system, but don't sweat it if you are not able to get much because they're remarkably tough and can spring back from being root pruned hard.  Cut any tap root and keep as much of the side roots as you can.  Plant in well drained soil, fertilize well once it's established and leafed out well and odds are you'll have it growing like crazy in no time.