The School of Bonsai class Syllabus 2015
February
Wiring and Refinement-
The winter season is the ideal time to wire trees and to work towards refinement. Deciduous trees are bare, conifers are in a tolerant state, and tropicals aren’t growing so quickly, meaning that all three are ready for working, and as visible as they ever will be. In this class we will be wiring and pruning trees to enhance their fine details, and refine their structure.
March
Spring Pruning-
With Spring in force it is time to keep that vigor going in the right direction, and to prune with the growing season in mind. This class will focus on how to make the most of this most explosive season, without letting your trees get away from you.
April
Repotting, roots, and the hidden tree-
It is all too easy to fixate on the trunk branches and foliage of a tree, and forget that that’s just half the story. Below the soil lives the most crucial part of most trees, the roots. This session will be aimed at deciphering the mystery of roots, pots, soils, and just what goes on down there.
May
Tricks, tips, and growing trees-
The art of Bonsai is a fascinating and compelling one, but the art is only half the story. Once a tree has been made beautiful, then comes the art of keeping a tree healthy and happy. With thousands of trees, hundreds of species, and decades of experience, we have learned a few things about growing trees, and we want to impart that knowledge unto you. This class will provide a hands and eyes on experience of what we are looking for, looking out for, and really hoping to accomplish when it comes to growing trees in small containers.
June
Design and redesign (pruning?)-
With the growing season well under way, we reach the season of major decisions. The summer season will let us really rethink and redesign trees, and to either show off the natural beauty that has been hidden, or cure major aesthetic issues that have plagued the tree in the past. Time for big ideas, and possibly big cuts!
July
Wiring, unwiring, and rethinking-
After months of growth, many trees will now be in a state of discord, and it’s a great time to start wiring and shaping all that new growth. Trees wired earlier in the year may very well be ready to unwire (an art in of itself).Some projects will be showing all new potential,and may begin to be seen a different way all together. This session will revolve around working new growth, maintaining previous work, and reworking trees that changed dramatically over the season.
August
Fall Pruning-
While August may not feel like fall, in the world of bonsai the season is coming to a close, and we are left with just enough time for one last major pruning. Trees of all types will likely be covered in new growth, and we want to get it all sorted out before the temperatures start to drop. This class is going to focus on using the season’s growth to its fullest potential, and getting the tree ready for another season.
September
Repotting and maximizing the third growing season-
In New England we are lucky to have a prolonged and warm fall season, that allows cold-hardy species to perform an entire extra flush of growth after the savage heat of summer but before the shutdown of Winter. Using this growing season to its maximum will allow trees to hit winter with both feet on the ground. This season can also be used for repotting, either cold hardy, or tropical trees in need.
October
Winter preparedness-
The long hard winter comes quickly, both trees and their owners need to be prepared. Winter habitats for both cold hardy and tropical trees, winter watering techniques, potential pitfalls, and winter opportunities need to be central in the mind of a bonsaist. This class will center around a discussion session with a tour and explanation of our facilities here at Bonsai West. Students are welcome to bring trees to work on and put their finishing touches on a season well done.