Homegrown in Chico: Too Many Trees, Too Little Bench Space!

Nate Daly
Jun 7
2 min read

Welcome to the very first installment of what we hope will become a new blog series dedicated to highlighting Chico Bonsai Society members who propagate at home and have extra material available for sale. To kick things off, I’ll be sharing a bit about my own backyard nursery—and how my propagation addiction can help you build your bonsai collection.

My Propagation Problem ...and Your Opportunity

There is something incredibly rewarding about starting a tree from scratch. Whether it’s germinating seeds, striking cuttings, or setting air layers, the process of creating new life is one of my favorite parts of the bonsai journey.

However, this enthusiasm comes with a downside: I constantly run out of bench space.

Because I simply have too many plants to properly care for, I'm offering my extra starter material to fellow club members. This is a win-win situation. You get healthy, locally grown trees at prices significantly better than what you’ll find online or at local nurseries, and I can reclaim some of my backyard. Plus, buying local means you get to see and handle the exact plant you're buying in person, rather than relying on a photo.

Grown With Bonsai in Mind

Unlike standard nursery stock that is grown to be as tall and straight as possible for landscaping, this pre-bonsai material has been cultivated specifically for our art form. From day one, these trees have been trained with an eye on the essential foundations of what could become a great bonsai:

Nebari: Roots have been worked to encourage radial, spreading bases.
Low Movement: Trunks have been wired early to introduce dynamic movement close to the soil line.
Branch Placement: Pruning has been done to ensure branches are emerging where you need them for future design.

Available Pre-Bonsai Material

Every species currently on the sales bench has been specifically chosen because it thrives in our hot, dry Central Valley climate. If you live in Chico, these trees will grow vigorously for you.

Here is a quick look at what is currently available:

Species	Category	Why It Thrives Here
Trident Maple	Deciduous	Vigorous growers that absolutely love the summer heat and build incredible root flares.
Chinese Elm	Deciduous	Incredibly resilient with a forgiving nature, pushing massive amounts of growth during our long growing season.
Japanese Black Pine	Conifer	A classic species that thrives in full sun and handles our high temperatures with ease.
Itoigawa Juniper	Conifer	Offers stunning, soft foliage and responds beautifully to the Central Valley climate.
Kishu Juniper	Conifer	Known for its tight, compact foliage and drought tolerance once established.

Ready to Add to Your Collection?

If you are looking to practice your wiring, styling, or repotting skills, starting with purpose-grown material makes all the difference. Keep an eye out at the next Chico Bonsai Society meeting where I’ll be bringing a selection of these trees, or feel free to reach out directly to set up a time to drop by and browse the benches.

Contact me via email: natedaly@gmail.com

Stay tuned for our next feature highlighting another local member's homegrown material!

Chinese Elm: Ulmus parvifolia 'Seiju'