TYPICAL YEAR 1 SYLLABUS
Class 1 (Spring):
Repotting. The backbone to a healthy and refined tree is your soil. What soil to use, why to use that soil, and why not to use other soil. Finding the front of your tree and then matching that tree to the correct pot are often overlooked skills, even by veteran bonsai enthusiasts. All of this is covered extensively.
Class 2 (Late Spring/Early Summer):
Styling. What am I trying to achieve and what are the steps I’ll need to take to get it there. This is where we conceptualize our tree and begin the work to achieve it.
Class 3 (Summer):
Wiring. There’s only one way to get better at wiring. It is a skill that we use to set the branches for a future masterpieces. But, it can just as easily lead to an ugly or dead tree when applied incorrectly. Even professionals need to sharpen this skill routinely. We focus on this skill for the entire class.
Class 4 (Fall):
Preparing for winter. In fall our trees have the strength from a full growing season and they begin to slow down and prepare for dormancy. As bonsai practitioners we will take full advantage of this season to do much of the straining work that is required for our trees. Pruning, heavy bends, and big cuts are all on the schedule for this class. We will also cover proper winter storage. The need for winter dormancy and the best ways to keep your trees happy in our New England climate.
2023 CLASS SCHEDULE (Dates are subject to change)
Shohin Group
Class #1 – April 22nd (10 am – 3pm)
Class #2 – June 3rd (10 am – 3pm)
Class #3 – July 15th (10 am – 3 pm)
Class #4 – October 7th (10 am – 3 pm)
Mame Group
Class #1 – April 29th (10 am – 3 pm)
Class #2 – June 10th (10 am – 3 pm)
Class #3 – July 22nd (10 am – 3 pm)
Class #4 – October 14th (10 am – 3 pm)
