A friend of mine brought a really stunning bonsai to a bonsai club meeting. It was some kind of azalea, she said.

I don't know anything at all about azaleas, and thought this would be a good place to ask. I'm going to try to read up on them and maybe at the next meeting talk with her about it more. Eventually I'm thinking of getting one myself - it was very impressive in full bloom (she said it was the second time it's done that already this early in the year.)

Are there different kinds of azaleas that lend themselves better to bonsai? I'm sure they could point me in the right direct at the bonsai nursery, but I'm also curious if a recommended species of azalea for bonsai would be available at a place like Home Depot or something. I think I've seen seeds for azaleas at Wal-Mart...?

Anyway, any info would be great, even general bare essential newbie stuff I probably should have already tried to study before posting here ;)

Thanks!