Bryan Lorentzen, a member of the Milwaukee Bonsai Society, is hosting a Yamadori dig on April 1st, 2023, and has invited our club to attend.

He was walking in the woods near the Boerner Botanical garden three years ago. The Milwaukee Public Schools own the woods. He came across a large group of burning bushes. In many places, they are considered an invasive species. When I contacted and met the caretaker of these woods, he permitted me to dig up as many of these trees as I would like.

We have been there for two springs and are not making a dent. We dug maybe 50 last spring. They make great bonsai. Some were 4″ in diameter. You can dig up trees for an upright, slant style or other. My plan for next spring is to make forests. The trees flower in the spring, get red berries, bud back, and ramify easily, and of course, the leaves turn red in fall. This last fall, when the leaves were changing color, we were there. They stood out in the woods, and there were more than a thousand of them. I will make some oval pots that you can buy for the forest at a reasonable price, and I have some other pots for sale.

You will need branch cutters, shovels, bags, a saw if you choose a large tree, and maybe a cart because the woods are a couple of hundred yards from the parking lot. Be prepared with soil and pots for when you get home.

The event starts after their Saturday meeting on April 1st, 2023. The meeting goes from 9-12 noon at the Boerner Botanical Visitor building on the lower level. Come to the meeting if you want. Or you can wait in the parking lot for us to come out. There will likely be a good spring educational program.

https://county.milwaukee.gov/EN/Parks/Explore/Boerner-Botanical-Gardens

Here is a story that he wrote a few years ago about Yamadori.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRHD5WvDjZr4Y5AsJVDkBuGExlFLEKRLnq4x1wXpOKopQv7MsFvhrHDbzvfxx9F-A/pub