Forest Style Bonsai Workshop - February 8th & 9th

Date: 2 days - Saturday & Sunday - February 8th & 9th

Time: 12pm to 4pm (each day)

Class Overview:

Overview
This 8-hour, 2 day immersive workshop is designed for bonsai enthusiasts ready to tackle the intricacies of Forest Style, where five to seven trees of varying heights and thicknesses are brought together in a single container to create the impression of a mature forest. This style emphasizes depth, harmony, and the art of natural asymmetry.

Workshop Structure

1. Selecting and Preparing Trees

○     Tree Selection: Learn how to choose trees of varying sizes that complement each other. You’ll receive five to seven pre-selected trees of the same species, each with unique characteristics to form a cohesive forest.

○     Root Preparation: Practice root pruning and management to ensure stability and health within a shared container environment. You’ll be guided on techniques to prepare roots for multi-tree planting safely.

2. Design Principles for Forest Style

○     Creating Depth and Perspective: Gain an understanding of forest composition principles. Instructors will guide you in placing larger trees in the foreground and progressively smaller trees in the background, establishing a sense of depth and natural growth.

○     Asymmetry and Balance: Discover how to avoid symmetry and create a visually engaging layout. You’ll learn to position trees at different elevations and angles to achieve a naturally “unplanned” look while ensuring structural balance.

3. Container and Soil Techniques

○     Container Selection and Positioning: Understand the importance of a shallow, wide container for creative placement. You’ll arrange your forest in a specially provided container, adjusting placement based on focal points and soil contours.

○     Soil Layering for Forest Bonsai: Learn how to create subtle soil elevations that mimic a natural landscape, providing stability for each tree. You’ll be shown techniques to contour soil, enhancing the overall aesthetic.

4. Adding Elements for a Natural Forest Look

○     Rock Placement and Texturing: Discover how to place rocks that add visual interest without distracting from the trees. You’ll experiment with placing small rocks around your forest to simulate stones in a natural environment.

○     Final Touches for Cohesion: Incorporate moss or small, low-growing plants to provide ground cover and unify the forest composition.

5. Maintenance and Care Tips

○     Ongoing Care for Forest Bonsai: Before concluding, instructors will cover specific care techniques to help your forest bonsai thrive, including watering practices for multi-tree plantings, root management, and trimming tips.

Materials Provided
Each participant will receive five to seven bonsai trees, a shallow container suited for forest planting, appropriate rocks and moss, and a bonsai care booklet focused on forest maintenance.

Prerequisites
Completion of the Wiring and Introduction to Bonsai class is required to ensure participants have basic bonsai skills.