Ted Matson - Shohin
Beginner or intermediate participants will learn pinching and shaping on Morris boxwoods. These delicate, tiny trees are ideal for mame bonsai. Their small size will showcase the aged looking bark and petite foliage.

Marty Schmalenberg - Olive
Olives are the material for this workshop. They are in 5 gallon nursery cans, the diameter of the trunks will be about 2" - 3", and the base size is about 4" to 5". The substantial bases enhance the masculine nature of these trees. Olives are an excellent choice for future carving and intensive styling.

Steve Valentine - Foemina Juniper
Workshop participants will be working on Foemina junipers which are 2 ½ ” or greater trunk size, and 6 feet tall. They have lots of lower branches, so the design can be anywhere from 12” to 36”tall. Naturally adapted to upright or slanting style, they can also be used as the number one tree in a future forest.

Basic Class / Scott Chadd- Boxwood
The Basics Workshop Class is for first time or new to Bonsai enthusiast. The student will receive a tree, pot, shears, soil, wire and some other miscellaneous utensils.

The student will hear a brief history of Bonsai and then be told about the care and maintenance of the tree they are about to create.

They will learn how to prepare the pot then transplant and secure the tree in the pot. They will learn how and why wiring may be applied to the tree. They will learn about branch and root trimming.

When the session is over, the student will have created his or her own living work of art.

Students will bring in their own tree (1 only). All of the trees will be discussed in open session. Each tree will be photographed. A working b/w sketch will be provided for the future design and the first part of the work program will be started. 

The student will hear a brief history of Bonsai and then be told about the care and maintenance of the tree they are about to create.

They will learn how to prepare the pot then transplant and secure the tree in the pot. They will learn how and why wiring may be applied to the tree. They will learn about branch and root trimming.

When the session is over, the student will have created his or her own living work of art.

John Thompson - Oak
Workshop will offer a variety of native oaks, including Interior Live oak (Q. wislizenii), Coast Live oak (Q. agrifolia), and Valley oak (Q. lobata).  Bases are 1 1/2" to 3" and they range from 12" to 24" in height.  They have nice early movement and branching and will provide an interesting workshop experience in oak design.

Johnny Uchida - Black Pine
Workshop material consists of Japanese Black pine. The trees were field grown in Nipomo by George Muranaka, and are about ten years old. With 1” to 1 ½” diameter trunks, and about 18” tall, the trees will lend themselves to chokkan (formal upright) or moyogi (informal upright) styles.

Basic Class / Steve Vallentine - Boxwood
The Basics Workshop Class is for first time or new to Bonsai enthusiast. The student will receive a tree, pot, shears, soil, wire and some other miscellaneous utensils.

The student will hear a brief history of Bonsai and then be told about the care and maintenance of the tree they are about to create.

They will learn how to prepare the pot then transplant and secure the tree in the pot. They will learn how and why wiring may be applied to the tree. They will learn about branch and root trimming.

When the session is over, the student will have created his or her own living work of art.

Students will bring back the same tree and continue working the plan. During the session, Peter will discuss the current progress and outline suggestions for future development.
NOTE: About 4 to 6 weeks after the class, Peter will mail a package to the student which includes a full color drawing of the future tree design, b/w 'how-to' diagrams and data, plus cultural data species specific.  

Scott Chadd - Japanese Maple
The trees are green Japanese Maples that Scott has grown from seed. They are 8 years old and were wired when small so there is good trunk movement (unusual for this species). They spent 4 years at Scott’s nursery with normal care, and then 30 months growing in deep sand next to the Feather River. The trunks vary from 3/4 to over 1" in diameter.  They are 12" to 24" tall and the most probable style is what Scott calls "Oak Tree" because this is their normal habit. Scott has been gathering seeds from the parent tree since 1971 when his teacher, Mr. George Yamasaki, took him to it. Leaf reduction can go to the size of a thumbnail with dramatic ramification and spectacular fall color if given 200 hours at or below 40 degrees. This material is quite unique and, if you take the workshop, you will be one of only a handful of people in California with a bonsai like this. There will be some large cut scaring which will grow over in about 4 years. The bark is bright green shifting to cracked and grey as the tree ages.

Basic Class / Al Keppler - Juniper
The Basics Workshop Class is for first time or new to Bonsai enthusiast. The student will receive a tree, pot, shears, soil, wire and some other miscellaneous utensils.

The student will hear a brief history of Bonsai and then be told about the care and maintenance of the tree they are about to create.

They will learn how to prepare the pot then transplant and secure the tree in the pot. They will learn how and why wiring may be applied to the tree. They will learn about branch and root trimming.

When the session is over, the student will have created his or her own living work of art.

Cary Sullivan Vallentine - Suminagashi/Floating Ink
This is the Japanese technique of floating ink - marbling on paper. The decorative patterns created by this ancient art form are unique and extraordinarily beautiful. No two are alike. Participants will learn two different ways to do this, the ancient form & a modern way. All kits will have enough material to work on in the class and extra material to take home and do more floating. Workshop attendees should bring an apron.

Sam Adina - Shimpaku Juniper
Workshop material is Shimpaku juniper. Participants will be working on intermediate level trees, with nice delicate foliage and trunks in a variety of styles. Trees are 5 years old, in nursery pots. Sam invites you to come and enjoy working on these trees.

Boon Manakitivipart - Black Pine
Workshop participants will be working on Japanese Black pine, field raised.  The trees have good nebari and taper.  They are about 10 years old, and the branches are long.  Boon will teach participants how to do approach grafting on those trees, as well as how to refine them. They will end up around 10-12" tall.

Basic Class / Al Nelson - Boxwood
The Basics Workshop Class is for first time or new to Bonsai enthusiast. The student will receive a tree, pot, shears, soil, wire and some other miscellaneous utensils.

The student will hear a brief history of Bonsai and then be told about the care and maintenance of the tree they are about to create.

They will learn how to prepare the pot then transplant and secure the tree in the pot. They will learn how and why wiring may be applied to the tree. They will learn about branch and root trimming.

When the session is over, the student will have created his or her own living work of art.

Bob Shimon - Redwood
The trees are well established redwoods collected from Mendocino County, where Bob lives. The bottoms have been flat cut, planted in a sandy mix, and they have developed a fine root system.  The trees are his favorite type, mostly driftwood style, lots of natural dead wood.  Formal uprights can also be provided upon request.  Bonsai tools and basic wiring skills needed. A turntable would be helpful.  A care sheet will be provided as part of the workshop.

Basic Class / Richard McKinstry - Juniper
The Basics Workshop Class is for first time or new to Bonsai enthusiast. The student will receive a tree, pot, shears, soil, wire and some other miscellaneous utensils.

The student will hear a brief history of Bonsai and then be told about the care and maintenance of the tree they are about to create.

They will learn how to prepare the pot then transplant and secure the tree in the pot. They will learn how and why wiring may be applied to the tree. They will learn about branch and root trimming.

When the session is over, the student will have created his or her own living work of art.