Collecting has been a thing for years in North America. And like many places, we do have eye-candy in wild areas that supports our bonsai desires. Wherever you live, if you go out seeking trees, please educate yourself in how to do it. Or buy trees from those who do know.
Dan’s words about this subject are so good they deserve repetition. I’ve been wanting to write something about this topic for a long time, and yet it was done with such care and heart here on the Backcountry blog that I’d prefer just to share it:
Wolf's Birding and Bonsai Blog 