You make a lovely couple. 😂 Laurel and Hardy, Statler and Waldorf, Hinge and Bracket and now Xavier and Jelle 😂 Spot on observation: not all species of juniper are made equal. If you can afford to get Chinese junipers - it might be an initial hit, but you can grow lots of new trees from any cuttings as they root quite readily (though may take a couple of years to grow) 👍
Exactly right Jason. looking back I might have been less eager to spend £40 for the big monster juniper - although it has allowed us both to have a little fun on camera :)
So bonsaiing is a social activity. What if someone lives as a hermit, does not plan to exhibit or even to show trees to the random visitor? There was an old man in the mountains of north Georgia who created a collection of oaks, most of them of shohin size or a little larger. I stumbled upon him while on a business trip. I didn't know about bonsai then. Since then, bonsai has been a major interest.
Bonsai is whatever you want it to be. In my case I have been relatively alone until UA-cam. I enjoy having a laugh whilst still trying to improve my skills and meeting new people since my wife died is just an added bonus. I am extremely humbled by the amount of people who are creating incredible bonsai - most of which we never see or hear about. God Bless
You play off each other well. A most enjoyable series of vids with Jelle. To be fair though, Jelle should offer to let you critique some of his trees. I applaud you for taking such scrutiny in a forum like UA-cam. Jelle did a wonderful job in a constructive and instructive manner. Well done! We all suffer from "Tunnel Vision" more often than we would ever admit. Thank you!
I think Jelle has spent more time telling me to stop being so dismissive of my own skills and trees. I think that is often the risk when you have done a hobby in isolation and suddenly find yourself amongst hundreds of others. I realise I have actually developed some really good bonsai over 22 years :)
My trees have suffered a long long time from my not having access to a bonsai club or group. As a trained artist, I appreciate the value of getting feedback, advice and opinions from many people.
It can be hard not being able to share along with other peers. I really miss not being able to enter competitions and find out where I stand. I'm just not able to commute 90 minutes away - especially now I have had to sell the car :)
Love it xav thanks for the shout out. That was very interesting guys. Jelle picking up that pot and turning it like that has given me an idea for a pot xav I’ll take a screenshot and do a design I’ll send it over to you mate. So cool 👌
I'm looking forward to seeing what you can produce to make this one really stand out. Something very moutaoinous looking with perhaps a place for an accent tree or two???
It was good fun bouncing of him. he has a good sense of humour but it was also great being able to share so much of our bonsai knowledge when we chatted privately. He keeps telling me to stop telling everyone 'I dont know much' :)
Xavier, you and others Bonsai enthusiasts have been most helpful for me the last week and a half. At ground zero where Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm Helene) hit in the western NC mountains. Trying to keep my bonsai alive with no running water is proving hard. Having to get stream water, most of which goes for flushing toilets, but some I've used for trees. At least we have power, and given what others in my County have lost, can't really complain. Anyway, your videos are most welcome, really great to see you and Jelle collaborating. Take care!
Good to see you both talking about trees 🥰 - and although I absolutely enjoyed, I wonder if this is not yet the content you mentioned earlier, Xavier. 😘 Thanks for sharing 🙏👍 Enjoy your day 😊❤️ Cheers 🙋♀️ Martina
To be fair Jelle did quite a detailed thing about Juniper Species so I was limited in how I could approach that topic so soon after himself. The video material we took didn't really lend itself to much more. I do have three other segments that relate to projects on the go for 2025 that have Jelle. This Saturday is Jelle free :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat yeah he thinks it is a joke. Last video I saw he was growing some "rain tree" or something. What about the pines? Won't someone think of the pines? 🙂
@@rollmop99 I think it is great seeing lots of different species. I know Jelle has done a lot on pines over the last few years, as have I. In fact I have some fun bending one with wire in the next week or so. This is such a great hobby to share :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat what would be lovely is "collected pine"- not someone who bought a ready-made JBP and worked out how to trim some candles. Many of all our deciduous trees can be got from rooted stumps, branches or not. However, I have 4 or 5 collected pines (mugo, uncianta, silvestrys) and they are _difficult_ to get going - although some are doing excellently! I'd love to see some of you experts show some of your skills in this area!
@@rollmop99 You almost sound a little upset? I certainly don't claim to be an expert, just sharing my joy of bonsai. I am not lucky enough to be able to find collected Pine easily but I have dug up quite a few of my home grown pine material. they may not be fully fledged 'Yamadori' but the challenge is still fun. I would be really interested to see some of these trees and let me know some of the problems you face. Cheers
Thanks for giving me a grin. The break was fantastic and I have found a new enthusiasm tot ake us through the rest of the year. I may do less content / week but it should hopefully be interesting. :)
I really appreciate you saying that Steve. I am slowing down uploads so i can try to improve the production quality. As an 'older' man to this, I am still working my way through the complexities of Davinci Resolve editing! You don't realise how much your comment helps me to keep pushing in this video direction. Obviously having Jelle involved makes the content so much easier to produce :)
What Jelle says makes perfect sense. We all need constructive criticism and advice. Unfortunately I don't know anyone locally to me that is in to bonsai so I have to rely on UA-cam channels. I learn a lot from your channel and of course others. You two work well together.
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreatshe is loving life and set loads of buds ready for next year. I’ve heard you are traveling down to the Heathrow show, if so I’ve a couple of trees on our club table so I’ll introduce you to Arthur and Nikki 🌳🤘🏻
Great video. When u said find a bonsai club or person near u i laughed cause i dont have either near me😂. Maybe one day if i start teaching it will bring alot of possibilities but who wants a dead garden😂. Those junipers are like a procumbens nana i used to have. Takes about 3 yrs or so to get that mature growth so i started collecting nothing but shimpakus. Best juniper hands down. My tunnel vision started when everything was triangles and now i cant stand perfect triangles😂. I make it a purpose not to make triangles anymore. Great video and insight. And daves new book is great im loving it.
Nice video I enjoy watching as I have no bonsai skills. Love the trees, though-but, I live in a one bedroom apt with a patio that I use to put the plants on outside. I live in Frankfort, KY.
Great couple of videos. Since you don't have a bonsai club in your area, why not try and start one yourself? Or after watching Peter Chan, was there a local club that folded?
Easy to suggest and I have definitely considered it over the past couple of years. Unfortunately, all the local requirements and insurance and health and safety stuff can make it an absolute minefield. In earlier years I have been heavily involved in other clubs and it just drains your time because you rarely get the 'additional' support when you really need it. Everyone else has busy lives...
A good video. There's no sense in making things hard for yourself if you don't have to. By the way, congratulations on getting John Cleese to do the voiceover!😅
Hi Xav, a shame Jelle lives so far away as you get on together, I am with Jelle on the different types of Juniper, I am working on a large isJuniper cascade which is challenging to create viable pads, not sure what the foliage is. I like that maple, the days of picking cheap material up from garden centres as long gone unfortunately. See you soon my friend.
I will watch this one over and over, but may I offer the beginner's view of belonging to a club with many friendly, advanced people? You start with a Nana juniper you despise (I'm a Japanese maple addict), get coached into making the cookie cutter tree, become mortified to bring any beloved starter trees, get handed or pushed into buying other members' cast offs because you don't bring trees to meetings... Rinse and repeat... I love my club, but mostly think we have different goals for our bonsai. And that is why I love channels like this and others where bonsai is fun and interesting and filled with interesting projects. ❤❤❤❤
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat my club members are extremely nice and helpful, but they were beginners at least 20 or 30 years ago. They have forgotten the frustration of that awful first juniper. 😅
this vid deserves way more views!
If you do one without me...that may happen :)
Im so happy Jelle finally moved in with Xavier, it was about time !
😂😂😂
Nooooooo!!!!
His feet hung over the single bed I let him use :)
There is always a towel (and breakfast) for you here my friend :)
You make a lovely couple. 😂
Laurel and Hardy, Statler and Waldorf, Hinge and Bracket and now Xavier and Jelle 😂
Spot on observation: not all species of juniper are made equal. If you can afford to get Chinese junipers - it might be an initial hit, but you can grow lots of new trees from any cuttings as they root quite readily (though may take a couple of years to grow) 👍
Exactly right Jason. looking back I might have been less eager to spend £40 for the big monster juniper - although it has allowed us both to have a little fun on camera :)
So bonsaiing is a social activity. What if someone lives as a hermit, does not plan to exhibit or even to show trees to the random visitor? There was an old man in the mountains of north Georgia who created a collection of oaks, most of them of shohin size or a little larger. I stumbled upon him while on a business trip. I didn't know about bonsai then. Since then, bonsai has been a major interest.
Bonsai is whatever you want it to be. In my case I have been relatively alone until UA-cam. I enjoy having a laugh whilst still trying to improve my skills and meeting new people since my wife died is just an added bonus. I am extremely humbled by the amount of people who are creating incredible bonsai - most of which we never see or hear about. God Bless
You play off each other well. A most enjoyable series of vids with Jelle. To be fair though, Jelle should offer to let you critique some of his trees. I applaud you for taking such scrutiny in a forum like UA-cam. Jelle did a wonderful job in a constructive and instructive manner. Well done! We all suffer from "Tunnel Vision" more often than we would ever admit. Thank you!
I think Jelle has spent more time telling me to stop being so dismissive of my own skills and trees. I think that is often the risk when you have done a hobby in isolation and suddenly find yourself amongst hundreds of others. I realise I have actually developed some really good bonsai over 22 years :)
My trees have suffered a long long time from my not having access to a bonsai club or group. As a trained artist, I appreciate the value of getting feedback, advice and opinions from many people.
It can be hard not being able to share along with other peers. I really miss not being able to enter competitions and find out where I stand. I'm just not able to commute 90 minutes away - especially now I have had to sell the car :)
Love it xav thanks for the shout out.
That was very interesting guys.
Jelle picking up that pot and turning it like that has given me an idea for a pot xav
I’ll take a screenshot and do a design I’ll send it over to you mate.
So cool 👌
I'm looking forward to seeing what you can produce to make this one really stand out. Something very moutaoinous looking with perhaps a place for an accent tree or two???
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat yep sent you a design.
Good for you 2 dudes giving taking criticism it's much fun and brings ideas for new thoughts about our beloved tiny trees
It was definitely a positive experience listening to Jelle s he walked around and talked about several of my bonsai developments
You guys put a big smile on my face!
Life is serious enough - hobbies should be fun as well :)
Love your quips Xavier xD also love Jelle's advice!
It was good fun bouncing of him. he has a good sense of humour but it was also great being able to share so much of our bonsai knowledge when we chatted privately. He keeps telling me to stop telling everyone 'I dont know much' :)
Xavier, you and others Bonsai enthusiasts have been most helpful for me the last week and a half. At ground zero where Hurricane Helene (Tropical Storm Helene) hit in the western NC mountains. Trying to keep my bonsai alive with no running water is proving hard. Having to get stream water, most of which goes for flushing toilets, but some I've used for trees. At least we have power, and given what others in my County have lost, can't really complain. Anyway, your videos are most welcome, really great to see you and Jelle collaborating. Take care!
I hear the news and fear for what is yet to come in Florida. I wish I could say more but I will definitely be praying for everyone affected.
Good to see you both talking about trees 🥰 - and although I absolutely enjoyed, I wonder if this is not yet the content you mentioned earlier, Xavier. 😘 Thanks for sharing 🙏👍 Enjoy your day 😊❤️ Cheers 🙋♀️ Martina
To be fair Jelle did quite a detailed thing about Juniper Species so I was limited in how I could approach that topic so soon after himself. The video material we took didn't really lend itself to much more. I do have three other segments that relate to projects on the go for 2025 that have Jelle. This Saturday is Jelle free :)
Thank you gentlemen for some wonderful insights. Cheers
Thank you for taking the time to watch - doing bonsai should not mean we can't also have a laugh.
Nicely done and some great insight! I'm certainly going to miss the in-person collaborations - at least til Xavier heads to Germany...
Spoilers - we did do some little film clips for a couple of my spring projects...including a massive larch forest build :)
Lovely job lads, great team yis make
Cheers Raymond
Thanks jelle and xav
Thanks to you for taking the time to watch and comment :)
this straight man/funny man stuff should be its own channel 🤣
I keep telling Jelle he has to be more serious with this hobby :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat yeah he thinks it is a joke. Last video I saw he was growing some "rain tree" or something. What about the pines? Won't someone think of the pines? 🙂
@@rollmop99 I think it is great seeing lots of different species. I know Jelle has done a lot on pines over the last few years, as have I. In fact I have some fun bending one with wire in the next week or so. This is such a great hobby to share :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat what would be lovely is "collected pine"- not someone who bought a ready-made JBP and worked out how to trim some candles.
Many of all our deciduous trees can be got from rooted stumps, branches or not. However, I have 4 or 5 collected pines (mugo, uncianta, silvestrys) and they are _difficult_ to get going - although some are doing excellently!
I'd love to see some of you experts show some of your skills in this area!
@@rollmop99 You almost sound a little upset? I certainly don't claim to be an expert, just sharing my joy of bonsai. I am not lucky enough to be able to find collected Pine easily but I have dug up quite a few of my home grown pine material. they may not be fully fledged 'Yamadori' but the challenge is still fun. I would be really interested to see some of these trees and let me know some of the problems you face. Cheers
He’s back yesssssssss great content again
Thanks for giving me a grin. The break was fantastic and I have found a new enthusiasm tot ake us through the rest of the year. I may do less content / week but it should hopefully be interesting. :)
wow, stepping up the production value. Great work, Xav. Great content, great concepts, and great production.
Laughed out loud when you put that big bell over Jelle's (aka. Belle) head!
I really appreciate you saying that Steve. I am slowing down uploads so i can try to improve the production quality. As an 'older' man to this, I am still working my way through the complexities of Davinci Resolve editing! You don't realise how much your comment helps me to keep pushing in this video direction. Obviously having Jelle involved makes the content so much easier to produce :)
I couldn't help myself - you are the first to notice :)
Great advice and fun video.
Glad you enjoyed it - some people find the humour puts them off. Bonsai should also be fun as well as informative :)
You guys are hilarious together!! And your editing is not to shabby eIther
Thanks - editing and production is what i really enjoy :)
Very helpful video guys, cheers and thx
Feels strange editing a video for the first time in 3 weeks :)
Nice timing 👍🫶
It was a busy three days for sure
Nice work on this video...great info for sure!
Thanks - we had loads of fun talking trees and so much more :)
What Jelle says makes perfect sense. We all need constructive criticism and advice. Unfortunately I don't know anyone locally to me that is in to bonsai so I have to rely on UA-cam channels. I learn a lot from your channel and of course others. You two work well together.
I agree totally but if the opportunity arises make sure to take advantage of it. I think the key is to remember you do this for enjoyment :)
Excellent video both. I will certainly ask more people's opinions on my tress from now on.
Does that mean you are doing some pruning :)
This is a great video, very insightful, thank you gents
Cheers Darren - how is the Duchess :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreatshe is loving life and set loads of buds ready for next year. I’ve heard you are traveling down to the Heathrow show, if so I’ve a couple of trees on our club table so I’ll introduce you to Arthur and Nikki 🌳🤘🏻
@@MeadowViewBonsai Will they be happy to chat to me on camera. i am thinking of doing little interview clips of people at the show?
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat I’m sure they would be delighted to have a go, be good to see you interviewing trees lol
Great video. When u said find a bonsai club or person near u i laughed cause i dont have either near me😂. Maybe one day if i start teaching it will bring alot of possibilities but who wants a dead garden😂. Those junipers are like a procumbens nana i used to have. Takes about 3 yrs or so to get that mature growth so i started collecting nothing but shimpakus. Best juniper hands down. My tunnel vision started when everything was triangles and now i cant stand perfect triangles😂. I make it a purpose not to make triangles anymore. Great video and insight. And daves new book is great im loving it.
I still have to work hard to ignore the drive to prodcue perfect triangles...as jelle said. Most of my better bonsai are very unique in their look :)
Nice video I enjoy watching as I have no bonsai skills. Love the trees, though-but, I live in a one bedroom apt with a patio that I use to put the plants on outside. I live in Frankfort, KY.
That must be very frustrating for you. I bet you do have skills you just underestimate what you can achieve. What have you got for your patio?
👍👌🙂
Thanks bruce
Great video :)
Thanks Scott
Great couple of videos. Since you don't have a bonsai club in your area, why not try and start one yourself? Or after watching Peter Chan, was there a local club that folded?
Easy to suggest and I have definitely considered it over the past couple of years. Unfortunately, all the local requirements and insurance and health and safety stuff can make it an absolute minefield. In earlier years I have been heavily involved in other clubs and it just drains your time because you rarely get the 'additional' support when you really need it. Everyone else has busy lives...
A good video. There's no sense in making things hard for yourself if you don't have to.
By the way, congratulations on getting John Cleese to do the voiceover!😅
He was going to do the lumberjack song for me too :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat I hope you had the buttered scones for his tea! 😂
Hi Xav, a shame Jelle lives so far away as you get on together, I am with Jelle on the different types of Juniper, I am working on a large isJuniper cascade which is challenging to create viable pads, not sure what the foliage is. I like that maple, the days of picking cheap material up from garden centres as long gone unfortunately. See you soon my friend.
Looking forward to visiting and Saturday you will see what I picked up from Greenwoods...he still had it in the corner :)
I will watch this one over and over, but may I offer the beginner's view of belonging to a club with many friendly, advanced people? You start with a Nana juniper you despise (I'm a Japanese maple addict), get coached into making the cookie cutter tree, become mortified to bring any beloved starter trees, get handed or pushed into buying other members' cast offs because you don't bring trees to meetings... Rinse and repeat... I love my club, but mostly think we have different goals for our bonsai. And that is why I love channels like this and others where bonsai is fun and interesting and filled with interesting projects. ❤❤❤❤
That is an excellent point - I am sure many people would agree with this. Clubs, like schools, can often be unintentional cliques(sp)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat my club members are extremely nice and helpful, but they were beginners at least 20 or 30 years ago. They have forgotten the frustration of that awful first juniper. 😅
@@malsrfun2956 Spoilers for Saturday...I may have purchased a 3ft juniper project tree from Greenwoods...
So, you have stolen one of the KINGS rocks....................
It is only a matter of time Mary - the cuffs are coming out :)