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.