A Bonsai Learning Experience
American Bonsai Society
Learning Seminars 2006

ABS is getting back to its roots to conduct a weekend of bonsai knowledge and fun from some of the most experienced bonsai teachers in North American at their premier seminar of the new ABS format.

This is a weekend long bonsai educational experience for all. Come and learn from Bonsai Teaching Masters in a great new classroom format designed to instruct and inspire you.

32 bonsai learning classes will be offered. Each registrant will attend 4 classes, two classes will be offered each day.

Great Vendor Area
North American Bonsai Masterpiece Display
Exhibition Book
Joshua Roth New Talent Contest
Raffles and Auctions
Changes to Win Lessons with Many Bonsai Masters
Children's Bonsai Workshop
Bonsai Blues Band

Featured are These Exceptional Bonsai Instructors:
David DeGroot - Jim Doyle - David Easterbrook - Christine Hayward
Harold Johnson - Cheryl Manning - Jerry Meislik - Frank Mihalic
Pauline Muth - Martin Schmalenberg - Kathy Shaner

The following are a sample of the 32 bonsai learning classes:

DeGroot - Design and Development of Deciduous Materials - This course will focus on natural deciduous forms (influenced by both genetics and the environment), and the specific techniques required to develop and properly maintain deciduous species as bonsai.

Doyle - Collecting Trees for Bonsai and Their After care - This course will fully equip you to successfully collect North American species and keep them alive. The class will be heavily illustrated with slides from Jim's many collecting trips.

Easterbrook - Weeping Style (Shidare) Session II - To take this session you must take the morning session that matches This second three hours workshop is limited to fifteen participants. Workshop material will consist of a three-year old cultivar of Japanese weeping willow (Salix babylonica 'Rokkakuds'). Their trunks measure approximately 1" to 1 1/2" in diameter and have been previously wired into artistic shapes. Participants are requested to supply their own tools and wire. Repotting your finished bonsai is also an option. If you wish to do so, please provide a cascade or semi-cascade glazed bonsai pot approximately 8" to 10" in diameter. An additional fee of $30 is needed to cover the cost of the tree.

Manning - It's Showtime - The class will look at the techniques needed to get your tree "show ready." Once a tree is groomed, the right stand and accent complete the picture. Cheryl will teach you a few tricks she learned while preparing trees to show in Japan . In the second half of the class, they will examine the show trees from this convention and discuss what's been done right - and what could be improved using slides of the show.

Meislik - Advanced Techniques of Indoor Bonsai - If you have been growing bonsai indoors and would like to learn more about this branch of the art of bonsai, this is the class for you. Defoliation, reduction, grafting, propagation and other techniques will be discussed. Unusual materials for indoor bonsai will be discussed. Jerry grows tropicals indoors in Montana and is the author of Ficus The Exotic Bonsai. He has been growing bonsai indoors for 27 years and will teach you the fine points.

Schmalenberg - Advanced Techniques to Create DRAMA - (ADVANCED) The participants will experiment with various advanced procedures to instill dramatic movement into bonsai compositions that capture the feeling and essence of the "wild" in nature. Special wiring techniques and the use of power tools will be offered. There will be ongoing discussions on how to let the imagination be free to take "chances" with design, and break from the orthodox view of styling.

Shaner - Shaner Exploring the Master's Exhibit (Note that this course meets from 8am to 10am) Accompany Kathy to our exhibit to advance your bonsai eye to the next level by examining in detail the bonsai from throughout North America.

Johnson & Muth - Bonsai Novice Sessions I: - Basics of Bonsai Learn the ins and outs of the basics that make bonsai work from horticultural care to creation of basic designs. This is the first session of a four part series designed to teach and practice the art of bonsai. Students are encouraged to take all four sessions in this series to gain maximum benefit.

Manning - Pining for You - (INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED LEVEL) In Japan, black pine is considered the king of bonsai, and June is an important time to work on them. Cheryl will take you through a year in the life of a pine (using slides from her apprenticeship in Japan ) - what you do, when you do it, and why - and then demonstrate candle cutting on a black pine. She will also touch on the care of cork bark and five-needle pine.

For more information visit http://www.absbonsai.org/

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August Program: 15 minutes of Fame

What do you have? What have you done? What experiences (mistakes )have you had? What have tried?-- that you would like to share with the rest of us. I have a great Bruce Baker/Canton Raccoon story and last summer I built a green house for winter tree storage, I can talk about my first winter.  Don't be shy or think that we have nothing to learn from you.  Jack will tell you anyone or everyone can be a teacher

So Call 734-455-7922 or email hdanville@comcast.net  Hugh to get on the agenda. 

We will update the AABS Web site as people get on the agenda.

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