Description: Dave will guide students in the potting and styling of cascading Azalea bonsai trees. This workshop targets beginner students, and will provide pots, trees, and other materials necessary!

Limit: 10 students
Price: $50
Location: Linneaus Room
Skill Level: Beginner
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Description: 6" Tiger Bark Ficus bonsai workshop - this workshop will start with a brief discussion on basic bonsai principles, proper care, and essential techniques. Then, students will style the tree while receiving guided instruction on pruning, and wiring. Students should bring appropriate tools and supplies, including wire, as well as soil and pots if students intend to repot trees.

Price: $70
Location: Plant Science Lab
Limit: 10 students
Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate
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Description: Join Andy Smith for a workshop on wiring and pruning of collected western conifers (mainly ponderosa pine, but other pines, junipers and spruces available as well). Cost is for registration only, students must also purchase one of the collected trees from Andy separately (prices starting at $100 and up). Please bring bonsai tools, copper or aluminum wire.

Limit: 10 students
Price: $60 + separate purchase (directly to instructor) for suitable tree, prices $100 and up.
Location: Design Studio
Skill Level: This workshop is primarily targeted at intermediate and advanced students
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Description: David of DaSu Bonsai Studio will lead students through styling of Premna Japonica (musk maple) trees that were long-ago started from air layers. After styling, students should plan on repotting the trees next spring.

Limit: 7 students
Price: $99
Location: Plant Science Lab
Skill Level: Beginner to Advanced
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Description: Join Linda Camp for a workshop focused on learning how to style, wire and care for Korean Hornbeam. These trees are about five years old and ready for initial work. Students should bring tools, though wire will be provided. Select tools will be available to borrow.

Limit: 7 students
Price: $125
Location: Design Studio
Skill Level: Beginner and intermediate students
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Description: Work with our guest master Boon Manakitivipart in this bring your own tree workshop - bring a tree that needs help with inspiration, a tree you're looking to move to the next level, or a tree simply needing help kick-starting a refresh. Students should bring appropriate materials (trees, wire, pots), depending on the type of work they are looking to undertake on the tree.

Price: $85
Location: Linnaeus Room
Limit: 8 students
Skill Level: Intermediate
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Description: Join Mark to wire and begin styling on Japanese Silverberry. Participants will wire, style and prepare the trees for repotting in spring of 2027. These trees are 12-18" tall, and have 1/2" trunks. Participants should bring tools and wire (preferably copper).

Price: $80
Location: Linnaeus Room
Limit: 10 students
Skill Level: Intermediate
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Description: Join Linda Camp and learn the styling and care for the ever-popular Trident Maple. These trees with roughly 1" trunks are ready for their initial styling. Students will style and learn to care for these trees.

Limit: 8 students
Price: $60
Location: Plant Science Lab
Skill Level: Beginner
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Description: Work with Robert on Japanese Black Pine, learning the techniques of a great species for bonsai. Participants should bring standard tools and wire for this workshop.

Price: $170
Location: Design Studio
Limit: 10 students
Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate
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Description: Join guest master Boon Manakitivipart for a demonstration of styling, at Boon’s choice, either a Dawn Redwood or a Juniper. This event is free and open to all.

Price: Free
Location: Alsdorf Auditorium
Limit: None
Skill Level: All
No registration required!

Description: Go over the basics of growing and styling Tiger Bark ficus with Kurtis. These trees have 1 to 1 1/2" trunks and are already potted in plastic training bonsai pots. Participants should bring tools, including wire cutters, pruners and scissors.

Price: $70
Location: Design Studio
Limit: 10 students
Skill Level: Beginner
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Description: Work with our guest master Boon Manakitivipart in this bring your own tree workshop - bring a tree that needs help with inspiration, a tree you're looking to move to the next level, or a tree simply needing help kick-starting a refresh. Students should bring appropriate materials (trees, wire, pots), depending on the type of work they are looking to undertake on the tree.

Price: $85
Location: Linnaeus Room
Limit: 8 students
Skill Level: Intermediate
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Description: Tour the Chicago Botanic Garden’s bonsai collection with Chris Baker, curator, as he leads a walking tour around the two display courtyards and shares insights for the trees on display.

Cost: Free
Limit: 12 students
Location: Regenstein Center Courtyards
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Description: Join the ever-popular exhbit critique and review, with this year's guest master Boon Manakitivipart. The exhibit is closed to the general public during this session, offering a unique opportunity to hear Boon's thoughts about the trees and displays of the show, including those that won awards.

Price: $30
Location: Nichols Hall
Skill Level: All
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Description: Join Dave to perform styling on these beautifully-prepared exposed root Satsuki Azalea bonsai. Students should bring 1.5 mm and 2 mm wire to support the styling of these trees.

Limit: 10 students
Price: $220
Location: Design Studio
Skill Level: Intermediate
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Description: Style a Shohin Shimpaku Juniper. Wire will be provided. Students are encouraged to bring tools if they already have them.
Registration and Materials Fee: $81.88
Skill Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Location: Regenstein Center, Design Studio
Limit: 8 students
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Description: Join BC Bonsai to perform styling of Chinese Sweet Plum trees. These cold-hardy trees (protect in your garage over winter), feature small leaves, yellow flowers, and small sweet plum fruits.
Registration and Materials Fee: $81.88
Skill Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Location: Regenstein Center, Design Studio
Limit: 8 students
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Description: This workshop will include the initial styling of a Willow Leaf Ficus. Basic bonsai tools will be required, including tools to repot, such as root hook and root pruning scissors.
Registration and Materials Fee: $97.88
Skill Level: Intermediate
Location: Regenstein Center, Plant Science Lab
Limit: 8 students
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Description: Bald Cypress in 8” pot. First styling of this tree, you’ll receive help selecting the branches and style.
Registration and Materials Fee: $81.88
Skill Level: Beginner-Intermediate
Location: Regenstein Center, Design Studio
Limit: 8 students
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Description: Bring your Own Tree Workshop with Victor Zurczak. Victor has been studying bonsai since 1999, having since taken over 40 workshops with national and international bonsai artists. Come learn new and useful techniques from Victor, whose trees have won many awards, including Best in Show at the 2025 Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition.
Registration and Materials Fee: $60.54
Skill Level: Any
Location: Regenstein Center, Plant Science Lab
Limit: 8 students
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