2008 BONSAI CLASS SCHEDULE
We are excited about a new way of structuring our classes this year at Garland Nursery: Open Classes, FREE of Charge! (An exception is the "Beginning Bonsai Skills" series taught by Anne Spencer.) Each class will be task-specific, and you now have a four-hour window (11:00 am - 3:00 pm) in which you can receive instruction from one of our bonsai artists. We want to make this as easy as possible for you to keep your own bonsai healthy! Open Classes also give you the freedom to receive instruction without the restriction of a rigid start time, or if you only have a limited time to spend at Garland you are still welcome to come and learn. These free classes include instruction and guidance only; you will need to provide or purchase your own supplies such as plants, pots, soil, wire, and tools. Or, you can just observe if you want to.
CHOOSING GOOD BONSAI MATERIAL ($40 or $175 for all five classes)
Sunday, February 17, with Anne Spencer at Garland Nursery, 1pm - 4pm. Call Wee Tree Farm at 929-9520 to register and pay. This is the first of the series of five classes geared towards the beginner. Discuss bonsai styles, take a tour of the nursery to learn what is, and isn't, good bonsai material, and so much more. You may also bring plants from home for critique. Dress for the weather!
SOIL MIXING: MORE THAN JUST DIRT (Free, Open class)
Saturday, February 23, with Steve Wilcox at Garland Nursery, 11am - 3pm. Learn the formulas used in different soil mixes, including the ever-popular "Boon's Mix." Make your own soil combination that will promote a first-rate root structure. Be prepared to get dirty!
DEMO: THREAD GRAFT (Free)
Saturday, March 1, with Dick Gierok at Garland Nursery, starting at 1:00pm. Dick will show you how to thread an existing limb into a bare area of your tree to create the branch denseness you desire. This is a very interesting demo!
BEGINNER CONIFER (Free, Open class)
Saturday, March 8, with Alan Taft at Garland Nursery, 11am - 3pm. Want to start your own bonsai using a conifer? Then come to this free class. Learn what makes for a good conifer bonsai, how to style, repot, and ongoing care.
ROOT PRUNING & REPOTTING ($40)
Sunday, March 9, with Anne Spencer at Garland Nursery, 1 - 4pm. Call Wee Tree Farm, 929-9520 to register and pay. Learn how to develop great root systems on young bonsai and how to work with older root systems. Bring 2-3 young plants to work on, or purchase some during the class. Please note, indoor bonsai should be repotted in June, July, or August.
DEMO: AIR LAYERING (Free)
Saturday, March 15, with Dick Gierok at Garland Nursery, starting at 1:00pm. If you have a tree with a great canopy and great nebari, but nothing going on "in between," you must see this demo. Learn how to turn one tree into two...or even three! Also works for branches.
TOP PRUNING FOR RESULTS ($40)
Sunday, March 16, with Anne Spencer at Garland Nursery, 1 - 4pm. Call Wee Tree Farm, 929-9520 to register and pay. Learn the different stages of development in growing bonsai and how to prune correctly in each stage for the best results. Includes tool discussion and how to make proper pruning cuts. Bring 2-3 young plants to work on, or you can purchase some during the class.
REPOTTING WORKSHOP (Free, Open class)
Saturday, March 22, with Steve Wilcox at Garland Nursery, 11am - 3pm. Steve will cover bare rooting, root pruning, and the procedure for repotting. Depending on the weather, deciduous trees may be "leafed out" too much for heavy root pruning, so your conifers may be the best trees to bring in. Regardless, you will learn something about the repotting process to help you with your trees in the future. Please note, indoor bonsai should be repotted in June, July, or August.
DEMO: CLUMP STYLE (Free)
Saturday, April 5, with Dick Gierok at Garland Nursery, starting at 1:00pm. Different from a forest, this is a type of multi-trunk bonsai where the individual trunks develop around a common point, with a growth pattern that has little open space between branching.
FOREST BASICS (Free, Open class)
Saturday, April 12, with Steve Wilcox at Garland Nursery, 11am - 3pm. The forest, or grove style is one of the classical bonsai styles. The forest is made up of multiple trees planted together in a single bonsai container.
BRING YOUR OWN with David DeGroot at Wee Tree Philomath ($90)
Sunday, April 13. (Please call regarding this date, it may have to change) This is an all day workshop and is limited to 8 people. You must pre-register, so call soon to secure your spot!
ROOT OVER ROCK (Free, Open class)
Sunday, April 13, with Alan Taft at Garland Nursery, 11am - 3pm. Very appealing look for bonsai! This is when the roots of a plant are made to 'cling' to and grasp a rock - spilling over it and eventually disappearing into the soil.
BONSAI ARTISTS ROUND 'ROBIN DEMOS (Free) GARLAND NURSERY SPRING OPEN HOUSE
Sunday, April 20, at Garland Nursery, 11am - 3pm. With Anne Spencer, Bud Weiser, Steve Wilcox, and Lee Cheatle. Come and watch our artists present a variety of demos on various themes. Sure to be a very interesting and informative day!
PRACTICE WIRING SKILLS THAT WORK ($40)
Saturday, April 26, with Anne Spencer at Garland Nursery, 1 - 4pm. Call Wee Tree Farm, 929-9520 to register. Anne will teach you how to use wire correctly to style your
bonsai. Bring lots of young material to work on.
PINE CANDLEING/PRUNING (Free, Open class)
Sunday, April 27, with Bud Weiser at Garland Nursery, 11am - 3pm. Learn how to get the very best shape out of your pine tree. If you love pines, this is the one for you.
BRING YOUR OWN with Michael Hagedorn at Wee Tree Philomath ($75)
Sunday, April 27, 9am to 4pm with a limit of 8 people (there will be another class on May 11). This is an intermediate to advanced class. You must pre-register at 929-9520 or 800-638-1098.
PRUNING & WIRING: NO FEAR (Free, Open class)
Saturday, May 3, with Alan Taft at Garland Nursery, 11am - 3pm. Let Alan help you overcome the fear of these two very important skills in the art of bonsai.
BRING YOUR OWN with Peter Adams at Wee Tree Philomath ($75)
Saturday, May 3, Saturday, May 3. This will be from 9am to 4pm and is limited to 8 people. You must pre-register, so call soon!
YEAR 'ROUND BONSAI CARE ($40 call Wee Tree to pre-register)
Sunday, May 4, with Anne Spencer at Garland Nursery, 1 - 4pm. Tips for keeping your bonsai growing well and looking good in the years to come. Bring your questions about watering, location, light, seasonal care, fertilizing, disease & pest control, and others.
BRING YOUR OWN (Free, Open class)
Saturday, May 10, with Steve Wilcox at Garland Nursery, 11am - 3pm. Let Steve help you with any questions you might have regarding your bonsai.
MAPLE LEAF AND BRAND PRUNING (Free, Open class)
Sunday, May 11, with Bud Weiser at Garland Nursery, 11am - 3pm.
BRING YOUR OWN with Michael Hagedorn at Wee Tree Philomath ($75)
Sunday, May 11, 9am to 4pm with a limit of 8 people. This is an intermediate to advanced class. You must pre-register at 929-9520 or 800-638-1098.
WORKING WITH BOXWOODS (Free, Open class)
Sunday, May 25, with Anne Spencer at Garland Nursery, 11am - 3pm. Boxwoods can be transformed into a stunning bonsai, and they are one of Anne's favorites.
JAPANESE BLACK PINE TRAINING (Free, Open class)
Saturday, May 31, with Alan Taft at Garland Nursery, 11am - 3pm. Japanese black pines are one of the favorites for many bonsai enthusiasts. Use Alan's expertise to help you with this wonderful pine.
Important Information:
Please call or email Wee Tree Farm to register for the classes that are not free. No registration is necessary for “open” classes. Call us at 541-929-9520, 800-638-1098, or email us. Payment must be made when you sign up. We take credit cards, checks, and cash. We also have gift certificates. No refunds will be made one week prior to class date.
Garland Nursery is our retail store and is located on Highway 20 halfway between Albany and Corvallis. Most workshops are held in a greenhouse or metal building. Please dress for the weather.
Beginning Bonsai Skills Series Taught by Anne Spencer
Anne Spencer has been growing bonsai as a hobby for over 35 years. For the past 20 years she has shared her skills and passion for this ancient art with the public, giving lectures and classes all over the Northwest. Her extensive knowledge covers most all favored bonsai species, but she has a special interest in deciduous, boxwood, and spruce.
During the series of five Beginning Bonsai Skills, you will learn, in depth, different skills for creating successful bonsai. It would be most beneficial to take all the sessions, but it is not absolutely necessary; you can sign up for all or only one. We have structured it so all aspects of basic bonsai will be taught if you take all sessions (it is impossible to cover everything in one class). We suggest you use plants in gallon or smaller sizes, with the understanding that the skill you develop can be applied to any size plant you have or may choose in the future.
These classes only are limited to eight; you must pre-register by calling Wee Tree Farm at 929-9520. Cost is $40 each class, or all five classes for $175:
Sunday, Feb. 17 | Choosing Good Bonsai Material |
Sunday, March 9 | Root Pruning & Repotting |
Sunday, March 16 | Top Pruning for Results |
Sunday, April 26 | Practice Wiring that Works |
Sunday, May 4 | Year 'Round bonsai Care |
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