Woodies

I am curious if anyone has some good advice on shrubs or small trees native to Central Asia and some good nurseries that grow or specialize these species. Any good books on woodies from this region too? thanks

I don't see any mention of dwarf conifers anywhere? Does no one like them? 

Can someone suggest some good sources for ordering/obtaining dwarf/miniature woodies?  My wife and I are going to construct a new "bonsai" themed rock garden this coming year.  I have a couple of sources for conifers but am finding it very difficult to find sources for deciduous shrubs like Salix, Ulmus, Betula etc.  

Any help will be appreciated.

Larry

Although the winter was tough it seems that most rhododendrons survived although the leaves are somewhat burnt.

Here are some flowering now:

A cross I got as a small seedling, I don't know the parency though.

Carpenteria californica always garners attention from visitors to the garden at this time of year. I've had to prune it quite strongly to allow space to underplant with cyclamen and bulbs, and actually quite like that peeling bark which I hadn't noticed before. I would love to try growing other shrubs such as Arctostaphylos, but these are hardly known in cultivation here. I wonder what other 'woodies' might be recommended?

A young Kalmiopsis plant:

It was grown from a small plant purchased from Leach Botanic Garden in Portland, Oregon, two years ago. Growing in full sun on a raised bed of sandy loam soil. Occasional summer watering. Doesn't seem difficult.

Even rock gardeners plant trees, either for shade or for ornamental purposes in their gardens. I'm starting this topic to explore favorite ornamental trees and shrubs that we might consider adding to our gardens.

I start with Magnolia tripetala, a southeastern USA species. The USDA Plant Profile link shows its native distribution as including New England and Massachusetts, whereas the Flora of North America does not, it shows a more limited southerly range. Regardless, this "giant leaf" magnolia is perfectly hardy here.

A very common dwarf shrub in the alpine zone locally, as well as across the northern prairies (where it takes on larger stature), here is Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda:

Corylopsis pauciflora is always an early bloomer in my garden. This year it is even earlier than usually. Some of the bigger Rhododendrons are flowering too. Here is one truss.

When the sun broke the clouds today I could at last picture the rhodo flowers!
An unknown from Glendoick and R moupinenense are fully opened, and R sutchuenense shows the colour!