Cotoneaster Yamadori

Hello,

Friday the 12th of this month I was putting up a sign somewhere in Enfield, North London. I have a bad habit of looking into peoples driveways while walking, driving or working outdoors. I know it is not right but I just can't seem to stop myself from doing it.
While working in Enfield, I saw this beautiful and very old Cotoneaster in a drive way. By the time I was done with the job, it was too late. I packed up and came back home but I couldn't take the tree off my mind. So I decided to go back to the place on Sunday the 14th. The place is about 25 miles from my home. I went to the house and knocked at the door. After about 10 minutes, a very old lady answered the door. I told her the whole story. Then had to explain to her what a bonsai is and what I'm going to do with that tree. And finally, all the explanation and hard work paid and she said I could have the tree.

I spent around 2 hours digging the tree and another hour washing and planting it. By the way, this is my FIRST collected tree and that too, all by myself.

Here are a few pictures of the tree. Hope you like the tree. Any comments / Styling ideas / virtual would be highly appreciated.

Regards,

Faisal

Hi Faisal.
You have got it bad mate.Who else on this site would walk around peering into peoples gardens ? ( meeee ).Well done..Try to resist the urge to work on it to soon..Maybe you could show us more pics in a couple of years. I've just spent twenty minutes of my lunch time standing in a skip discussing dug up privet stumps..Hope i can get back before the skip is emptied.Good luck with this one !

Hey Bob, How you doing?

Trust me, last night I was parked outside a house for an hour and a half waiting for the owners to come home. And finally when the old couple did come home and I told them why I've been waiting for outside their home, they were both laughing like anything. They've invited me for tea during the day time and they said they will think about the Juniper I want to have.

So, It's always worth knocking at peoples door with an innocent face. you never know.

By the way, if you ever come to London, I've got some beautiful and very old Privet. All you need to do is dig 'em out. You're most welcome to have a one. or maybe 2.:-))

Thanks for liking my Cotoneaster. I'm not touching it for another 2 years. and then it will go to Sir Tony.

Regards,

Faisal

Hi Faisal,

Join the club, I'm sure I'll get into trouble one day for lurking near my neighbours' front gardens! However, there is good stuff to be found in them there gardens and as I have discovered last year sometimes people are only too happy for you to come and do the work and remove an unwanted shrub/tree from their garden!

For some reason though, I still feel real cheeky asking but I guess you don't know if you don't try...

I look forward to catching up with you and seeing this cotoneaster of yours for real sometime soon!

Take care, my friend

Matt

Hi Faisal... great material.

I have NEVER been unsuccessful in securing old stumps from front Gardens. Most owners simply think you are mad.

As Bob says leave well alone for a couple of years.

Tony

Ooh, ooh! Can I tell them about that Fuschia (?) I showed you last week Tony?

hello tony,

but when you are on my doorstep, i not sure what to think

Hi Matt,

I've only had a few experiences but none were too bad. Most people talk to you in a nice way and some even let you have what you're after. The thing is, if you don't ask, you don't get.

I never care what they think of me. As long as they let me have the stump. Tomorrow I'm going to another house where I'm invited for tea. If they let me have the lil juniper I'm after, it will be one of the best junipers shown on IBC.

Hope to see you next month @ JOB.

Regds,

Faisal

Hi Tony,

I'm glad you like it. I'm not touching it for another year or so and then hope we can turn it into a stunner.

See you soon.

Regds,

Faisal

Harleyrider wrote:Ooh, ooh! Can I tell them about that Fuschia (?) I showed you last week Tony?

Know what Steve, the old couple said to me the juniper I'm after is like their child and they will really miss it IF they decide to let me have it. N I said to her well, I'm like your child as well. If you don't let me have it, I'm sure you will feel bad when I'm gone. And she hugged me and invited me for tea.

The old Fuschia lady, don't give up on her. Keep trying. I'm sure one day you will be the proud owner of the tree :-))

Cheers,

Faisal

You got it bad mate . OCD is the one for me. Well done and good collect.

Tony no wonder you have Pinnochios nose. just one word.



Escallonia

will baddeley wrote:You got it bad mate . OCD is the one for me. Well done and good collect.

Thanks Again Will. Glad you like it.

Nice one. Good luck with it. I got paid today to dig up three berberis

Wow Smithy, Both money and trees? what a luck.

Thanks for your comments.

Congratulations on Your achievement!
Some of my best trees come from good people´s gardens.
We say "lazy gab, the true unhappiness".
Yes, all of them thought I must be mad.
E.g.:
"Ok, then take it. I like and understand these wacks."
(woman, cca 45 years, beautiful cork bark elm )