Bonsai Northwest Newsletter

Azaleas

Azaleas can be wonderful Bonsai. In this class we will work with Japanese Satsuki Azaleas that have had some preliminary work done. We will work on refining the branches , styling and will be potting these in a ceramic bonsai pot. All materials provided. Cost $65.00

Beginning Bonsai Classes

In this 4 session series, the student will create two complete bonsai, a single trunk upright and a forest planting. The upright tree will be provided with the class along with the free use of tools, wire,screen and soil. The container will have to be purchased and the trees and container for the forest class will have to be purchased. Cost: $85.00 7:00to9:00pm Wed March 5,12,19,26

Beginning Bonsai Workshop

Learn the basics of bonsai. This workshop will teach you the informal upright style of shaping as well as wiring, re-potting, proper pot placement, use of proper tools, winter care and pest prevention techniques. This workshop costs $65.00 and includes all items needed.

Crabapple

Using a field grown crabapple we will design wire and pot. these trees will bloom and produce small fruit. All materials provided. Cost $95.00

Foliage reduction

This is a new class we have addid in response to questions about getting smaller foliage. It is a hands on class. Bring two trees one evergreen one decidious. we well demonstrate techniques to increase bud development on pines and smaller leaves and internodes on maples. Cost $35.00

Indoor bonsai

Most bonsai are outdoors, but in this class we will work with trees that can live indoors. We will work with a ficus. Wireing, potting , and pruning will be covered. Indoor trees have their own special requirements , we will cover them all. All materials provided . Cost $95.00

Larch forest class

Usint Japanese Larch ov various sized students will create a multi aged forest. Larches are decidious and will be bare at the time of class but will quickly burst out with foliage in early spring. The trees will bu pruned, styled and planted in a shallow bonsai pot. All materials provided . cost $85.00

Maple Forest

Using an assortment of Japanese Maples we will create a small unique forest. We will cover pruning styling of maples and will plant them in a shallow bonsai pot. Cost $85.00.

Re-Style Workshop- conifers

Bring in one of your conifer Bonsai that has gotten a little wild and wooly. We will focus on Japanese Black and White pines. We will teach you how to get it back into shape and keep it that way. Wiring and pruning of branches and trunk. Tree must be smaller than 36". This workshop is only $35.00. Bring your own tools if you have them, wire will not be provided. There will be no repotting during this class.

Rock planting

Here is a fun chass where we use a rock as our pot. We will take a soft Tufa stone or pumice rock and carve it into a mountainous crag with holes to plant small conifers in. There is no pot required for this planting. All materials provided. Cost $75.00

Root over Rock

Root over rock can be the most dramatic style of bonsai. We will take trident maples and Japanese black pine and attach the roots carefully to a rock. These are planted in nursery tubs for 1 to 2 years at which time the soil will be removed to expose our work. All materials provided. cost 35.00

Saikai Miniature Landscape

One of our most creative classes, in Saikai a truly miniature landscape is created using several varieties on plants and grasses arranged in a shallow pot. All materials provided. Cost $85.00

Slab planting

In this class students will create a natural miniature landscape on stone/slab. Multiple plants are used and the technigue of creating a clay muck wall are taught. All materials are provided, trees, ground cover, rocks, muck and moss. Cost: $75.00 1:30 to 4:00 pm Limited to 8 students.

Contact us for questions 206-242-8244

Recommended Reading

There are many good bonsai books out there (and a few not so good ones). This quarter we would like to make sure you are all familiar with a book written by David De Groot. David is the curator of the Weyerhaeuser Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection and has been teaching bonsai for over 25 years. David's book, Basic Bonsai Design, is easy to read and very informative.

David discusses the most important aspects of bonsai. From choosing suitable plant material to artistic principles of design for a tree in training. He covers things to look for in selecting an appropriate pot to visual design elements of a mature tree. Between the use of beautiful photos and excellent drawings, David is able to convey the various and many concepts clearly and thoroughly.

If you are a beginner and would like to learn the concept of design we highly recommend this book. It is available at the shop along with many other good books.

If you are looking for a good bonsai book that will help you with basic care, we recommend Harry Tomlinson's RD Home Handbook: Bonsai. This is a small paperback version of his book and is a concise way to get the basics of general maintenance and care. The center portion of the book lists out the most common trees used and their general conditions needed for health.

Calendar of Events

WORKSHOPS are on Saturdays from 1:30 to 3:30. They are a one day intensive geared to the beginner covering a specific topic. They are a great introduction to bonsai for those with little or no experience.

CLASSES are on either Tuesday or Thursday evening from 7 to 9 once a week for five weeks. Classes are geared towards the beginner who knows they really want to learn the ins and outs of bonsai. Students will receive 10 hours of hands on training covering three different styles of bonsai.

• Saturday February 9th, 2008 Larch forest class
• Sunday February 10th, 2008 Root over Rock
• Saturday March 1st, 2008 Beginning Bonsai Workshop
• Wednesday March 5th, 2008 Beginning Bonsai Classes
• Wednesday March 5th, 2008 Beginning Bonsai Classes
• Saturday March 22nd, 2008 Maple Forest
• Saturday March 29th, 2008 Azaleas
• Saturday April 5th, 2008 Beginning Bonsai Workshop
• Saturday April 12th, 2008 Saikai Miniature Landscape
• Saturday April 26th, 2008 Rock planting
• Saturday May 3rd, 2008 Beginning Bonsai Workshop
• Saturday May 10th, 2008 Crabapple
• Saturday May 24th, 2008 Re-Style Workshop- conifers
• Saturday May 31st, 2008 Slab planting
• Saturday June 7th, 2008 Indoor bonsai
• Saturday June 14th, 2008 Foliage reduction

You may wish to look at the calendar to review all of the planned activities at Bonsai Northwest.

Bonsai Northwest, 5021 S. 144th Street, Tukwila WA, 98168 Phone: 206-242-8244 Open Wed.-Sat. 10:00-5:00, Sunday 11:00-4:00 (Closed Mon. & Tues.)