2008 Class & Workshop Schedule

Note: Space available in each class is indicated below in yellow type and were current  as of August 5, 2008

Beginner Basics -Bonsai 101 

Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fee: $135 

This is a one day learning experience designed to equip you with a basic understanding of the art of bonsai and with the skills necessary to get you started. The price of the course includes instruction, a full-color textbook, a container and a bonsai, which you will create during the class. The morning session will consist of lecture/demonstration. After lunch students will be given trees, pots, tools, wire and soil and will create their own bonsai under the guidance of the instructor. At the end of the day you will not only go home with a bonsai which you have created on your own, but more importantly, with enough information and "hands-on" experience to serve as a solid foundation for learning more. It is a Saturday class which begins promptly at 10 a.m. and will continue until about 5 p.m. It is offered five times during the year.

         May 31 - FULL         September 20 - FULL         November 15 - 4 openings         January 10 (2009) - 8 openings

Bonsai Intensives

You say you want to learn more? Here is your chance. This is a two day event. These classes are only open to students who have taken our beginner basics program or can demonstrate a basic understanding of the art. Each class is an all day, intensive learning experience divided into two sessions (Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. & Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) Each class will build on the one before it. Personalized instruction will be emphasized. Each class is limited to 6 students only. This event is a two day immersion in the art of bonsai which is focused on improving both your mechanical skills AND your artistic eye. Individualized instruction will be emphasized. Participants must be equipped with proper bonsai tools, wire and plant material for every class. Sessions consist of hands on work (sometimes on your trees... sometimes on ours) plus demonstration and lecture. A buffet luncheon and dinner will be provided.

Rodney Clemmons, one of the southeast’s most outstanding bonsai artists, will be the guest speaker for this years open house. Mr. Clemmons studied with the late E. Felton Jones in the early 1970’s. In addition to being an active member and twice past president of the Atlanta Bonsai Society, he has presented programs for clubs throughout the US, as well as for the Federation of British Bonsai Societies, The American Bonsai Society, Bonsai Clubs International and at the International Bonsai Symposium in New York. His involvement in the art spans more than a quarter century. His mild-mannered, quiet and respectful approach to the art of bonsai has helped earn him a reputation as one of America’s most popular instructors. Although his knowledge and understanding of bonsai encompasses all varieties, he has established a reputation for his work with boxwoods, particularly the ‘Kingsville’ variety. In addition a busy teaching schedule, Rodney also operates a nursery and landscaping business in the Atlanta area. We are fortunate to have Mr. Clemmons with us for our open house. He will conduct two demonstrations, one on Saturday and another on Sunday. These demonstrations are free and open to the public. In addition, Rodney will lead a very special all day workshop on Friday (see below).

This is an all day workshop. We have obtained a number of exceptional pre-trained Dwarf Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis Obtusa nana) for this special workshop with Mr. Clemmons. These are well branched specimens in five gallon growing containers. All have good trunk movement, excellent nebari and trunk diameters. Hinoki’s offer soft, brilliant green, fan like foliage and are one of the most popular Japanese varieties for use in bonsai. This is an opportunity to get an excellent specimen for yourself and learn from one of America’s best teachers at the same time. We are very pleased to be able to offer them for this event. Morning and early afternoon will be spent working on the Hinokis. During the remainder of the day you may bring material of your choosing. Bring tools & wire. A buffet luncheon will be provided. Registration is limited. Early registration is advised. Sorry, no observers.

Open workshops are BYO tree events. It’s an excellent way to work out styling problems... or to just spend a pleasant afternoon with friends. You bring the plants and we will supply the technical advice and the soft drinks. Students who have taken our forest, tanuki, black pine, crabapple and other classes will find these sessions very helpful in refining the appearance of an already styled bonsai. Students at all levels are welcome. These workshops are offered three times during the year and may be repeated as often as you wish.

         September 27 - 4 SPACES

Cascade Style Bonsai 

Saturday, May 3 , 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fee: $125 

The gentle movement of a flowing waterfall is reflected in the graceful lines of a cascade bonsai. This style turns the traditional triangle shape of a bonsai upside down. The result is often quite dramatic. We will be using some excellent 3 gallon junipers for this workshop which we have hand selected for their particular suitability and potential as cascade style trees. Both the juniper and a ceramic cascade style container are included in the price of this workshop.

Saikei Workshop 

Saturday, August 16 , 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fee: $185 - 2 SPACES AVAILABLE

This is an all day event. Saikei means "living landscapes" in Japanese. This is a class which encourages a lot of creativity and individual expression in completeing the finished composition. We will have a variety of plant materials available for your use, along with some very interesting stone, moss, grasses and other accent plants. All can be combined in a ceramic tray to create a composition which reflects your personal vision, whether it be a rugged mountain vista or a trip to the seashore. Five plants, ceramic tray, stones and soil are all included in the price of this workshop. Students may purchase additional plants if they wish or may bring plants and rocks from home.

Detail & Refinement Technique 

Saturday, September 6 , Noon to 4 p.m. Fee: $155 - 2 Spaces Available

Students continue to tell us this is one of the best classes they have ever taken at the BLC. So we’re doing it again. Taking care of the details can turn even an ordinary bonsai into a prize winning showpiece. Unfortunately, most students never take the time to bring out the best their tree has to offer. This class is about "taking care of business". We can’t think of a single serious student of the art who would not benefit. Students will work with Shimpaku junipers which are already partially trained and in a finished pots. The focus in the class will not be on overall styling, but on refining the branch structure, trunks and nebari on these partially styled trees to look their optimal best. The tree you go home with will look like a prize winner. We will work on all the details and nobody goes home until the job is done.

Raft Planting 

Saturday, August 23 , Noon to 4 p.m. Fee: $95 - 1 SPACE AVAILABLE

A raft bonsai is one in which a single tree has been laid on it side and the individual branches have been trained up to become separate trees. When the trunk begins to develop roots the main root ball is removed and this instant "forest" planting can be immediately moved into a much shallower container. We have obtained some excellent two and three gallon Shimpaku junipers which are well branched and very suitable for making this style of planting. The tree, a mica container, soil and rooting stimulant are included in the cost.

Driftwood Carving 

Saturday, October 18 , Noon to 4 p.m., Fee: $65 - 4 SPACES AVAILABLE

The creation of areas of dead wood is not something that is right for every bonsai, but in situations where jin, nebari and sabamiki are appropriate, they can do much to enhance the illusion of great age in your bonsai. This class will teach you how to go about creating deadwood on your bonsai and carving it to the best effect. The objective, to create the effect of harsh weather and numerous years is not easily acheived. The class will begin with a demonstration on how various carving techniques, tools, and wood preservatives should be utilized. In the second half of the session you will have an opportunity to carve deadwood on a bonsai that you bring with you. Note: This class involves the use of power tools. Eye protection will be provided.

Japanese Black Pine

Saturday, June 28, Noon to 4 p.mn.  Fee: $265 

We offered these exceptional "mikawa" variety black pines at last year’s workshop with Jim Doyle. Randy couldn’t stand not being able to work on them himself, so he picked up ten more for his own workshop this year. They really are exceptional specimens... some of the best we have seen in many years. Each has excellent informal upright trunk movement and almost classical branch placement. Mikawas trunk up quickly, bud back well and respond quickly to needle reduction techniques. You’ll learn all about them in this workshop and discover why the Japanese black pine is known as the "king of bonsai." Each tree stands about a foot high with a trunk diameter the size of a quarter or better and is already planted in a ceramic bonsai container.

Cork Bark Japanese Maple 

Saturday, August 2 , Noon to 4 p.m. Fee: $250 - 

We’re always looking for good Japanese maple stock, but frankly, have a hard time finding it. Not this year, however. These Japanese Cork Bark Maple (Acer palmatum ‘Arakawa’) are not just good... They’re GREAT! These are specimen quality trees and are planted into 5 gallon growing containers. All have trunk diameters the size of a quarter or better, excellent nebari, good trunk movement and branching. Plus... they are already showing the one attribute that makes them most sought after by bonsai enthusiasts... corking bark. They develop smallish, deeply serrated, light green leaves in the springtime which turn a lovely red in the fall. We were lucky to find them and know they will make an exceptional addition to your collection.

Crape Myrtle Bonsai 

Saturday, July 26 , Noon to 4 p.m. Fee: $120 

If crape myrtles are not native to Carolina they are certainly plentiful. For that reason alone they should be considered more often as bonsai subjects. They are completely hardy, well adapted to the growing conditions in our area and offer beautiful flowers in mid-summer. We have nicely branched three gallon specimens of a dwarf variety called "raspberry dazzle" which boasts small leaves and strikingly brilliant flowers. These are larger specimens which have nicely developed trunks and are very well branched. They will make excellent bonsai.

Satsuki Azalea 

Saturday, April 26 , Noon to 4 p.m., Fee: $135 

In our climate, azalea is one of the easiest of all bonsai to grow and also one of the most popular. These are excellent, hand picked, two gallon specimens with good root buttresses and thumb sized or larger trunks. We found them accidentally while nursery hunting last fall. It’s hard to find single trunk specimens which have good potential for bonsai, but these fit the bill, so we brought them home with us. They are not big, but they are very well formed and will make colorful bonsai. Plant and ceramic container are included in the price of the workshop.

HOW TO REGISTER FOR A CLASS

An advance deposit is required for each class you select. Balance is due on the day of the class. Checks should be made payable to: Bonsai Learning Center. You may also charge fees to your VISA or MasterCard. PLEASE NOTE: The selection of trees for any given workshop is based on a "first registered, first choice" system. We reserve the right to cancel classes with fewer than 5 students. It is therefore to your advantage to make your registration as early as possible.  Please note our booking and cancellation policy printed printed below.

BOOKING & CANCELLATION POLICY:  We endeavor to limit class sizes to 8 persons but some classes may contain more. We also reserve the right to cancel classes with fewer than five participants and to refund or credit your deposit. We will NOT refund deposits from participants for cancellations which are received less than two weeks prior to the scheduled class date.

List of Classes & advance deposit amounts required for each class

Bonsai Beginner Basics  Course ( March     May     September     November     January09.)     $50 deposit required

Bonsai INTENSIVES  (Spring   Summer   Fall)  $60 deposit required

Dwarf Hinoki Cypress - SPECIAL Workshop with Rodney Clemmons  (Friday, June 20) $60 deposit required

Open Workshops  ( March 22      April 5       September 27 )  $20 deposit required

Cascade Style Bonsai Workshop ( May 3 )  $40 deposit required

Saikei Workshop     ( August 16 )   $40 deposit required

Detail & Refinement Techniques  (September 6 )  $40 deposit required

Raft Planting Workshop ( August 23 )  $40 deposit required

Mikawa Japanese Black Pine Bonsai   ( June 28 )   $60 deposit required

Japanese Cork Bark Maple Bonsai     ( August 2 )   $60 deposit required

Crape Myrtle Bonsai    ( July 26 )   $30 deposit required

Satsuki Azalea Workshop   (April 26 )  $40 deposit required

You may E-mail us and give us a list of  the classes you wish by clicking on the link below or you may register by regular surface mail or by telephone. Please make sure we have your correct name, mailing address and telephone number.  We would also appreciate knowing your e-mail address.  Our address is: 4416 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, NC 28216.  Our phone number is: 704-392-9244.  Checks should be made payable to: The Bonsai Learning Center.  You may also charge your fees to your VISA or MasterCard.  Please provide Name on card; card number, expiration date and VIN number from the signature area in the back of the card.  DO NOT send credit card information in an e-mail.  We will call you for that data.  

Please Note: We check our e-mail on a daily basis.  You may make a  "tentative" reservation for a class by E-mail or by telephone (704-392-9244.......... however, if after seven days, payment is not received, the reservation will be dropped.