Thank you William Valavanis!

[Brian Van Fleet]

I have been an off-and-on subscriber of International BONSAI, and regularly go back to the issues I have. Last week, I ordered plants from William Valavanis for the first time and I was pleasantly surprised by what arrived today. I ordered Stewartia described as 6”-15” bare-root seedlings; to stick in the ground and forget about for a few years. The trees that I received were much bigger than expected, and I wanted to say thanks Bill! I’m very much looking forward to growing these on and sharing photos along the way.

 

[milehigh_7]

I have been an off-and-on subscriber of International BONSAI, and regularly go back to the issues I have. Last week, I ordered plants from William Valavanis for the first time and I was pleasantly surprised by what arrived today. I ordered Stewartia described as 6”-15” bare-root seedlings; to stick in the ground and forget about for a few years. The trees that I received were much bigger than expected, and I wanted to say thanks Bill! I’m very much looking forward to growing these on and sharing photos along the way.

I would like to pile on and express my thanks for the quality of plants that I got from Bill and also the privilege of speaking with Diane Valavanis on the phone and over email. What a pleasure to do business with these fine people.

I ordered 10 prunus mume from them and they are very nice. I will post pictures tomorrow.

 

[milehigh_7]

As Promised here are some pics. Not the best quality as they were taken with my phone.

The first set is like the excitement of Christmas morning!!!

5 prunus Mume 'Bonita' and 5 prunus Mume 'Hokkai Bungo', are those buds? I think so!!!

 

[milehigh_7]

p. mume all settled in

Here there are in there new homes and looks like I may have a few ume flowers this year! Those little guys in the background are my helpers Jack and Caleb.

 

[Bill S]

Bills rep is great for the seedlings he sells, the stewartias are pretty cool trees for bonsai.

He is usually at MABS with a good selection of stock, and more advanced trees as well, those magazines too.

 

[namnhi]

I also very happy with the plants I received from Bill last week. Emails are responded very quickly.
NamNhi

 

[jquast]

Flowering Cherry

Here are some photos of the Prunus Serrulata "Kwanzan" cuttings that I received from Bill about two weeks ago.

 

[bonsaiTOM]

Did anyone get any of Bill's Japanese Red Pine yet? I ordered mine for late March delivery. But now I'm getting so anxious - I can't stand it !!!

 

[Alex DeRuiter]

Could someone give me some contact info? I'd like to buy some as well

 

[xghostx]

http://www.internationalbonsai.com/seedling list

 

[Alex DeRuiter]

Many thanks

 

[bonsaiTOM]

Trevor, Are your trees getting thru this wild upstate winter OK? Snowbound? or happy, but frozen, in the garage?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

"You're welcome"
"Glad you like the plants"
"Thanks for supporting"
"Appreciate the shout-out"

Just a few potential responses...?

 

[Mark]

Bill left for Japan and the Kokufu-ten earlier this week and was very busy with the magazine and also arranging teaching trips including one to South Africa and another to Australia. I know he appreciates his friends and customers and I am sure you will hear from him when he returns.

Mark

 

[William N. Valavanis]

Hi Brian,

Thanks for ordering the plants and am so pleased you liked them, and potted them correctly too. It was kind to show others what kind of plants we offer, many are sold out now too.

It was kind of difficult for me to respond to your post since I was "somewhere in the Friendly Skys of United" over the US and Pacific. My small bonsai tour and I just landed in Tokyo where we will attend the opening ceremony for the 85th Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition (National Bonsai Exhibition) on Sunday morning.

Good luck with your new bonsai starter plants, keep up the good work!

Bill

 

[yenling83]

Hi Brian,

My small bonsai tour and I just landed in Tokyo where we will attend the opening ceremony for the 85th Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition (National Bonsai Exhibition) on Sunday morning.



Bill

AHHHHHH!!!!!!! Wish I was there so badly. Next year I'm there. Have fun Bill! I got some ume cuttings from you and they were great as well. thanks

 

[Bill S]

Ok where is the drooling icon hiding?

One of these days Alice, one of these days, I going on one of those tours.

 

[timhanson81]

"You're welcome"
"Glad you like the plants"
"Thanks for supporting"
"Appreciate the shout-out"

Just a few potential responses...?

Wow.......that's a really weird post. Kind of rude I would say.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Bill, thanks for saying something, good customer service means a lot to me. You've done more for the bonsai community than I'll ever hope to, and I respect that as well. Maybe one day, I'll be sending one of those Stewartia back to Rochester for a Bonsai National Exhibition!

Have a great time at Kokufu.

Regards,
Brian

 

[Mojosan]

Has anyone received any pre-bonsai pines from Bill this year? I ordered one in January, and thought it would have shipped by now. I did not know that Bill left the country ( explains lack of email response).