Hi, maybe I should start by saying that there is no such thing as a "bonsai" tree. There are only regular trees that are trained to be what are called bonsai. In other words, you can have a maple tree bonsai, which in N. America needs (like any other maple tree) to live outdoors for life, or you could have a tree native to the tropics, grown as a bonsai, that needs to live indoors here except in summer. So where do you live? N. America has been divided up into zones according to the coldest conditions a plant or tree can tolerate for any length of time, and trees in pots would usually be considered for whatever zone is one division warmer than yours as pots don't provide as much winter protection as the ground would. You can Google USDA Zones to see what number you're in, and you'll see that the lowest numbers are the coldest areas, the highest numbers the warmest. Do you have access to 'outdoor' growing (e.g. a garden) or only indoors? If you can grow things outside, a local nursery is a good place to choose plants from as they'd stock things for your zone. If not, then a (tropical) house plant even from a supermarket can be turned into a bonsai, though of course not all would be suitable any nore than every single outdoor tree, shrub or bush would be if it grows naturally outside in your area. There are basic criteria for choosing suitable trees (or potential trees, as many shrubby plants can be used), and learning about each one's preferred growing habits, the horticultural needs of the plant or tree, is part of doing bonsai, as understanding about how much light each one needs, what kind of soil mix, when to repot or prune during the year and when not to, etc. etc.

wao Larke i am so grateful. you are the first person on the board who gave me an information so deep.
thanks a million.