I think I am definitely being a lot more selective when I do buy. This Juniper was something for the future and I wanted good material to start with. Definitely smashed my budget though!
I’ve really enjoyed your last few videos visiting other bonsai artists; shows a different view or prospective of you and those artists, while adding Fantastic nuggets of care ! Thank you
He is very happy to chat and happily shares his experience if you ask. I imagine bonsai in Sweden would be pretty challenging with the shorter growing seasons? What have you got in your collection?
Thanks - i love the large variety of material they have...some times it is worth paying a little more money knowing you will get something that will keep you smiling for many years. Tha Juniper is sitting right outside my backdoor where I can sit wiht a coffee and stare at it :)
Great video Xavier. It looks like a fantastic project, I cant wait to see how it looks in a year or two. I look forward to the update videos. I went to Greenwood for the first time this year and am looking forward to my next vist.
Great video 👍 and Greenwood is a fantastic place to visit. I've been twice before, only brought young trees but they are some of my favourite ones in my collection.
Amazing Stuff Xavier, my most expensive tree I saw about 2 years before I bought it. When I first saw it, I didn't think I would be able to manage it. Fast forward a few years, and I had the confidence to buy it. Still haven't done much work on it yet, Next year is the year!
It's great to see how happy you are with your tree! It's a ripper and will only get better with you looking after it. Your advice about following other people's ideas is very good too. What works for someone might not work for you. Great video! 😊
Fantastic video Xavier. That juniper is going to be so much fun to follow - CONGRATS!!! I really appreciated the advice you gave. Although my climate is fairly close to yours, those extra 5 degrees colder makes autumn repots riskier for me. I know I can't provide the right aftercare that a conifer would need to ensure its survival. Well said!
I chatted with Corin about this aspect for about hald an hour. It is ok if you know your climate and you have loads of experience and/or trees to do this with. The trouble today is that lots of people skim these videos and don't always hear the 'caution' I give about repotting away from Spring. I'd really hate it if somebody lost their first tree because they chose to do a repot because of seeing me do one...
Corin is an absolute legend, probably one of the best UK professionals out there, if you ever have the opportunity to watch him work and hear his stories you will be happy and amazed. I go to Greenwood’s often, mostly on a Sunday which is your not disturb day due to faith so I hit the kfc at the end of your road and go home.
Your enthusiasm and excitement for your juniper is so familiar to anyone who has bonsai trees. There are so many ways you could style it. The best bit is you can take as long as you want. I so have to go to Greenwood bonsai. Maybe next year
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat re. Signed copies, I really need to put a serious plan in place. I'm amazed and humbled to be honest, but enough people have asked for a signed copy, that I'm going to have to set something up. My wife thinks Waterstones might hold a signing event, but I'll still need to send signed copies to several European countries, S.Africa, and Australia. Curious how not so many in US have asked - maybe they assume it's just not feasible... but it would be easier than sending to SA and Oz. Anyway, I'm sure you'll get your copy signed sooner or later!
Hi Xavier 😘 Feeling your passion and enthusiasm from beginning till the end 🥰 This tree is worth every pound, indeed with this price it would be a bargain even too in Austria 😂👍 Can’t wait to see more 🙏 Love your approach ❤️ Thank you Xavier, what a pleasure ❤️😘 Keep that spirit 😘 Cheers 🙋♀️ Martina
Did you see that multi trunk Scots Pine as well? To be fair...I thought leaving it for 2 weeks was going to be bad news for me...but thankfully nobody bought it :)
I knew you couldn't resist it! Happy for you! Hope to cross the pond some day, and visit Greenwood, Herons, and would be awesome to shake your hand too. Maybe a bucket list thing to do; given my wife would be there also, I'll be lucky if I get to choose a whole day to set the agenda! Anyway, looking forward to seeing you develop the juniper. 👍
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat My wife’s always wanted to visit the UK, now this give me incentive to make it happen! That would truly be a bucket list trip! Thanks so much for your kind offer!
Truthfully - it just needs to get healthier and have time to enjoy life in the retreat. In about a year I will start with some sketches because that top thrid is definitely leaning heavily toward the front. I might also have Jelle return to 'hold my hand' :)
It grabbed me as soon as i saw it in the corner - hiding! A lot of money for me to invest but I think it will really drive me onto better understanding of Juniper and bonsai techniques too :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Smart move to repot it. I have similarly sized shimpaku and left it to the twice daily sprinklers in the summer and it declined. They definitely like it dryer
Awesome tree! Soo happy for u and what a great rock for a ror. Looks like xmas came a lil early😂. That tree is gonna be amazing and great that u have a good variety.
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat i picked up a hinoki cypress over here in the US from a nursery called little john it says named from robin hood and this thing is like made for bonsai. Not sure how its gonna do after all the carnage it just went through but guess ill find out🤣. Not sure i ever saw u have a hinoki cypress before but u should def try one out. The foliage has some tight pads that it forms on its own.
@@Chris-oq6kn I have one medium size Hinoki and every year I keep reminding myself to feature it. I had the same discussion with someone who visited just 2 days ago :)
Still desperately need to visit Greenwood Bonsai (in person) - I have not been down since the shop refit. It looks great. And very gracious of Corin to let you chat with him and film. 👍
It definitely has a strong forward lean that will need to be resolved - but first let's make sure it is happy and healthy for 12 months. Then out comes the sketch book :)
As you know, I love smaller trees - I definitely see potential in that tree for two or three trees - with a lower tree with a deadwood spike rising up through the foliage like John Naka’s Goshin composition. I’m looking forward to seeing what you do with this. Be sure to sit it in the sunniest part of the garden - they grow frustratingly slow in my garden.
It is a good point Jason. I actually need to do a big rethink and shuffle in my garden to try and get some of my better trees more sunlight. My big oak has actually suffered because of the position I located it in.
fantastic tree loads of movement and taper on the trunk and lots of foliage lots of potential. love the nursery visits i dont get the chance to get out much hopeing to get to herons next couple of months hav waited 20 years should be good
At least on my Junipers I don't get much back budding until I take the tips off the branches. I think you'll mainly get tip growth and lengthening until you shorten those branches. Of course this late in the season you may not get much of any kind of growth until Spring unless your Winters are much warmer than ours here.
Totally agree - this actually needs to sit untouched for a year to regain a lot of lost vigour. Then I will start the process of pruning and encouraging growth closer to the trunk. This is a long term but worthwhile project :)
Jealous jealous jealous. Xav I can’t believe what you got that for Corin has done you proud there my friend will make a cracking tree in somebody else’s hands ( joking ) get Jelle over next year to help with styling, it wouldn’t do it any harm to leave it alone for the whole of next year with you just studying the tree, but I know you won’t be able to keep your hands off it in the spring. Weather looks really poor next week with low temps and maybe some frost around, I need to clean out the green house to get ready to bring some trees in. See you soon Xav.
I did exactly the same a few weeks ago when I bought a large discounted kokonoe white pine from Greenwoods, I’ve just repotted it like you but I was advised to keep it in a polytunnel or greenhouse over winter as any new roots will be delicate and won’t want to be frost damaged.
There were a few project trees on that bench i could have taken away with me...if the bank had let me! I shall watch the temperature and if it is going to slip below freezing for any sustained period I will move it to my cold frame too. I'd love to see a picture of the bonsai you purchased :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat I think that sounds like the advice I got, hopefully both our trees gets through the repotting well! As for mine, I posted it on the Bonsai UK group on facebook if you’re on there? I don’t know if I can attach a photo to a UA-cam comment unfortunately.
@@mattwall3267 I stopped doing any social media many years ago - it just got too mcuh for me. Normally people send photos via: expressionsbonsai@gmail.com I do love seeing other trees - it keeps me very humble :)
Mate, that tree will be amazing in 5 years. I'll just let it recover for 1 or maybe 2 years, then restyle it. There is no rush. The tree will let you know when it is ready
You’ve been getting a lot of great trees recently Xav! Your next kids wedding will be the envy of every Club’s bonsai show!
I think I am definitely being a lot more selective when I do buy. This Juniper was something for the future and I wanted good material to start with. Definitely smashed my budget though!
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat I was including the free ones you got from that last one too, you probably balanced your budget there!
I’ve really enjoyed your last few videos visiting other bonsai artists; shows a different view or prospective of you and those artists, while adding Fantastic nuggets of care ! Thank you
Sometimes I am lucky enough to get these opportunities - thank you for taking the time to watch and enjoy.
Impossible to not love Corin and his trees. I wish I could go there but its quite the trip from Sweden. :(
He is very happy to chat and happily shares his experience if you ask. I imagine bonsai in Sweden would be pretty challenging with the shorter growing seasons? What have you got in your collection?
I dearly wish I could visit England one day to see this special place. Corin is a true bonsai master.
If you ever do mange this then make sure to look me up and we can visit together :)
A fantastic tree and video about the options to buy from Greenwood. Thank you for sharing. Enjoy your tree.
Thanks - i love the large variety of material they have...some times it is worth paying a little more money knowing you will get something that will keep you smiling for many years. Tha Juniper is sitting right outside my backdoor where I can sit wiht a coffee and stare at it :)
Great video Xavier. It looks like a fantastic project, I cant wait to see how it looks in a year or two. I look forward to the update videos. I went to Greenwood for the first time this year and am looking forward to my next vist.
Well make sure to contact me when you do - you would be more than welcome to drop in at my little bonsai garden for a coffee and chat :)
Great video 👍 and Greenwood is a fantastic place to visit. I've been twice before, only brought young trees but they are some of my favourite ones in my collection.
It is so well laid out as well and nestles in amongst the Nottinghamshire trees :)
Fun project!
Now I just have to wait 12 months before touching it again :)
That sir is a real juniper! So happy you found the tree of your dreams and can't wait to see what you do with it. 😊
It does feel like that. Ever since I did that Itoigawa with Jelle my love of Chinese Juniper has expanded massively.
Amazing Stuff Xavier, my most expensive tree I saw about 2 years before I bought it. When I first saw it, I didn't think I would be able to manage it. Fast forward a few years, and I had the confidence to buy it. Still haven't done much work on it yet, Next year is the year!
It's all part of that 'bonsai journey' :)
It's great to see how happy you are with your tree! It's a ripper and will only get better with you looking after it. Your advice about following other people's ideas is very good too. What works for someone might not work for you. Great video! 😊
It was something that Corin and I talked about in quite a bit of detail. UA-cam videos can be a little misleading sometimes :)
Great find Xavier. If I had a place like Greenwood nursery near where I live I think I would never leave.
I think that's what happened with josh who works there :)
So glad someone brought it that we can actually see what happens to it in the future ❤️👍you just had to
It is the longest I have thought about something - I can normally be quite impulsive.
Fantastic video Xavier. That juniper is going to be so much fun to follow - CONGRATS!!! I really appreciated the advice you gave. Although my climate is fairly close to yours, those extra 5 degrees colder makes autumn repots riskier for me. I know I can't provide the right aftercare that a conifer would need to ensure its survival. Well said!
I chatted with Corin about this aspect for about hald an hour. It is ok if you know your climate and you have loads of experience and/or trees to do this with. The trouble today is that lots of people skim these videos and don't always hear the 'caution' I give about repotting away from Spring. I'd really hate it if somebody lost their first tree because they chose to do a repot because of seeing me do one...
Corin is an absolute legend, probably one of the best UK professionals out there, if you ever have the opportunity to watch him work and hear his stories you will be happy and amazed. I go to Greenwood’s often, mostly on a Sunday which is your not disturb day due to faith so I hit the kfc at the end of your road and go home.
That tree is a beautiful edition to the retreat mate, congratulations
Let me know next time - we are usually home by 2pm...even if it is just to pop in and say Hi :)
I am over the moon. the sale of my van paid for this :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat will do, cheers dude
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat the bonsai mobile has gone? 😱
What an amazing project tree! This video is worth watching just to see the big smile on your face. I hope the tree brings you endless joy.
I am sitting staring at it with my coffee in hand :)
That is an awesome tree, and a great price. I look forward to seeing the first stying! ❤
But are you willing to wait that long :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat sure am!
I’m loving your joy of owning this tree Xavier 😊fair play to you, I’d love something like that on my bench👍🏻
It was definitely my most expensive purchase! But I love looking at it right now.
Your enthusiasm and excitement for your juniper is so familiar to anyone who has bonsai trees. There are so many ways you could style it. The best bit is you can take as long as you want. I so have to go to Greenwood bonsai. Maybe next year
Let me know when and amybe we can meet there and perhaps even pop back to my retreat too :)
Great purchase, super video Xav!
Thanks dave - still looking forward to trying to meet up and get a signed copy of your book :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat re. Signed copies, I really need to put a serious plan in place. I'm amazed and humbled to be honest, but enough people have asked for a signed copy, that I'm going to have to set something up. My wife thinks Waterstones might hold a signing event, but I'll still need to send signed copies to several European countries, S.Africa, and Australia. Curious how not so many in US have asked - maybe they assume it's just not feasible... but it would be easier than sending to SA and Oz. Anyway, I'm sure you'll get your copy signed sooner or later!
Hi “x”, What a great investment. I look forward to seeing the progress on this big tree.
I ams till on cloud nine with this project. I am happy to wait and fertilise it and perhaps touch it intimately in another 12 months :)
Hi Xavier 😘 Feeling your passion and enthusiasm from beginning till the end 🥰 This tree is worth every pound, indeed with this price it would be a bargain even too in Austria 😂👍 Can’t wait to see more 🙏 Love your approach ❤️ Thank you Xavier, what a pleasure ❤️😘 Keep that spirit 😘 Cheers 🙋♀️ Martina
How can i not enjoiy UA-cam with suppor tlike that :)
Xavier is getting all in on Juniper?! Now that's a really exciting project. I bet being Jelled at had something to do with it.
He was the first one to spot it hiding amongst the rest. He wanted to take it back with him in his bag :)
Ooh I saw your juniper when I was at greenwood last, that’s gonna be amazing. 😎
Did you see that multi trunk Scots Pine as well? To be fair...I thought leaving it for 2 weeks was going to be bad news for me...but thankfully nobody bought it :)
It has the makings of a really special tree. You are a braver man than i am Gunga Din.
I won't pretend it was a nervy decision. A massive investment for me...especially as the van had to be sold a few days ago :(
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat By the time you have worked some magic it will be worth the price of a new van.
Wow that scots pine would have been my preference
I know what you mean - I was so close to taking it - as well...
I knew you couldn't resist it! Happy for you! Hope to cross the pond some day, and visit Greenwood, Herons, and would be awesome to shake your hand too. Maybe a bucket list thing to do; given my wife would be there also, I'll be lucky if I get to choose a whole day to set the agenda! Anyway, looking forward to seeing you develop the juniper. 👍
You and your wife would be treated like honoured guests if you found the opportuntiy to come over. I would happily take you to Greenwood's.
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat My wife’s always wanted to visit the UK, now this give me incentive to make it happen! That would truly be a bucket list trip! Thanks so much for your kind offer!
That is a lot of tree for £450!
Cant wait to see what you do with it... honestly, I wouldn't know where to begin.
Truthfully - it just needs to get healthier and have time to enjoy life in the retreat. In about a year I will start with some sketches because that top thrid is definitely leaning heavily toward the front. I might also have Jelle return to 'hold my hand' :)
Looks fantastic! I must get there!
It is definitely a fantastic nursery to walk around and everybody is so friendly
Lovely video , great project , can’t wait to see what you will do next with it 😊. What tree Corin was working on ?
I think it was an atlantic cedar
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreatthank you Xavier, I thought it was too ,as I have seen one of his video when he got them , but I wasn’t 100% sure .
Great tree
It grabbed me as soon as i saw it in the corner - hiding! A lot of money for me to invest but I think it will really drive me onto better understanding of Juniper and bonsai techniques too :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Smart move to repot it. I have similarly sized shimpaku and left it to the twice daily sprinklers in the summer and it declined. They definitely like it dryer
Lovely job lads, great video
Thanks Raymond
Awesome tree! Soo happy for u and what a great rock for a ror. Looks like xmas came a lil early😂. That tree is gonna be amazing and great that u have a good variety.
I have finally taken onboard the lesson about variety. It does mean I have to save a little more - but so worth it in the longer term :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat i picked up a hinoki cypress over here in the US from a nursery called little john it says named from robin hood and this thing is like made for bonsai. Not sure how its gonna do after all the carnage it just went through but guess ill find out🤣. Not sure i ever saw u have a hinoki cypress before but u should def try one out. The foliage has some tight pads that it forms on its own.
@@Chris-oq6kn I have one medium size Hinoki and every year I keep reminding myself to feature it. I had the same discussion with someone who visited just 2 days ago :)
Still desperately need to visit Greenwood Bonsai (in person) - I have not been down since the shop refit. It looks great. And very gracious of Corin to let you chat with him and film. 👍
maybe we should combine that with a visit to me - or meet there?
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreatsounds like a great idea.
Very Awesome Tree you found a Gem. Will You bend the Top so it is not so tall ? Keep Us info
It definitely has a strong forward lean that will need to be resolved - but first let's make sure it is happy and healthy for 12 months. Then out comes the sketch book :)
As you know, I love smaller trees - I definitely see potential in that tree for two or three trees - with a lower tree with a deadwood spike rising up through the foliage like John Naka’s Goshin composition. I’m looking forward to seeing what you do with this. Be sure to sit it in the sunniest part of the garden - they grow frustratingly slow in my garden.
It is a good point Jason. I actually need to do a big rethink and shuffle in my garden to try and get some of my better trees more sunlight. My big oak has actually suffered because of the position I located it in.
Loves this video
Corin and Paul and Josh were absolutely brilliant hosts
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat yeah I'm good friends with them all.! Used to work there for a bit
@@darren112200 So I bet you have some great trees then - if you are near me feel free to pop in and spill the truth about them :)
There is a excitement in your voice.......................
Oh definitely - I keep going outside my backdoor to stare at it :)
Looks great Xav!
Thanks Kennet
fantastic tree loads of movement and taper on the trunk and lots of foliage lots of potential. love the nursery visits i dont get the chance to get out much hopeing to get to herons next couple of months hav waited 20 years should be good
I have got another 'best kept secret' bonsai nursery to tak about on Tuesday or Wednesday :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat i shall look out for that . are local one closed 10 years ago it was realy good i think the guy retired
At least on my Junipers I don't get much back budding until I take the tips off the branches. I think you'll mainly get tip growth and lengthening until you shorten those branches. Of course this late in the season you may not get much of any kind of growth until Spring unless your Winters are much warmer than ours here.
Totally agree - this actually needs to sit untouched for a year to regain a lot of lost vigour. Then I will start the process of pruning and encouraging growth closer to the trunk. This is a long term but worthwhile project :)
Jealous jealous jealous. Xav I can’t believe what you got that for Corin has done you proud there my friend will make a cracking tree in somebody else’s hands ( joking ) get Jelle over next year to help with styling, it wouldn’t do it any harm to leave it alone for the whole of next year with you just studying the tree, but I know you won’t be able to keep your hands off it in the spring. Weather looks really poor next week with low temps and maybe some frost around, I need to clean out the green house to get ready to bring some trees in. See you soon Xav.
Trust me Joe - I won't be touching this for a year. I am quietly hoping we can find a way to get Jelle back for this tree.
I did exactly the same a few weeks ago when I bought a large discounted kokonoe white pine from Greenwoods, I’ve just repotted it like you but I was advised to keep it in a polytunnel or greenhouse over winter as any new roots will be delicate and won’t want to be frost damaged.
There were a few project trees on that bench i could have taken away with me...if the bank had let me! I shall watch the temperature and if it is going to slip below freezing for any sustained period I will move it to my cold frame too. I'd love to see a picture of the bonsai you purchased :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat I think that sounds like the advice I got, hopefully both our trees gets through the repotting well! As for mine, I posted it on the Bonsai UK group on facebook if you’re on there? I don’t know if I can attach a photo to a UA-cam comment unfortunately.
@@mattwall3267 I stopped doing any social media many years ago - it just got too mcuh for me. Normally people send photos via: expressionsbonsai@gmail.com
I do love seeing other trees - it keeps me very humble :)
I reckon Scott might have eyed that off in his Video, luckily he was overwhelmed by the experience and left it behind
I chatted to Scott about that as well - we had 5 hours together in a car...going to a bonsai show on the wrong day :)
Just to mention: YT found back to a reasonable video/advertisement balance, perfect to write comments during the ads 😅👍
😘🙋♀️
Thanks for letting me know - great to see you as always martina
love your confidence I love the tree . By the way was that a face on the side of that rock?
I shall have to go back and look :)
You should've called me! 😂
I called you for today...
🙏
Thanks for watching and God Bless
That’s a beauty for not too much money, it will look fabulous
after some TLC.
That's exactly what Jelle and Corin both said to me.
👍👌🙂
Thanks Bruce
Congrats on biting the bullet. I knew you were sold when you went back to take a fourth look at it :). Well worth every pound paid.
Thanks Jelle - getting rid of the van was the final decision maker. I now don't have the ability to collect trees that size :(
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat sorry to hear the van had to go!
@@GrowingBonsai Just didn't make economical sense anymore.
Brilliant Xav, watching this in bed tonight 💪🏼😊💚
Eek, let’s hope you have your pyjamas on 🤣🤣
@@MeadowViewBonsai I don’t make promises I can’t keep my friend… 😏
@@BonsaiCornwall😂😂I hope you wash your hands afterwards then mate 😁
Not sure waht to reply to that Jonas :)
Red Card!!
❤🎉🎉😍🙏👍👍
Thanks for watching
Mate, that tree will be amazing in 5 years. I'll just let it recover for 1 or maybe 2 years, then restyle it. There is no rush. The tree will let you know when it is ready
That i exactly where my head is too. I'm just loving sitting outside the back door and looking at it :)
Very cool Video and nice tree i think . It’s a Bit to big for you 😂 no i am joking😂 cu and cheers 🍻
I just stared at it again - it is big but sooo much movement and structure already in the tree :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat oh yes a very nice tree i love it 🫶