Description: Come and work with Kawa No Oka Bonsai on an amazing smelling Vietnamese Blue Bell. During the workshop you will repot the tree and do a beginning styling. These are tropical trees that get a purple flower that smells just like grape soda! The tree, pot and soil are included. Please bring bonsai tools as well as 1-3 mm wire (if not available, wire will be available for purchase)
Registration and Materials Fee: $85
Skill Level: Intermediate
Location: Regenstein Center, Design Studio
Limit: 8 students
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Description: Portulacaria Afra, five-tree forest planting class. Included - 5 Portulacaria trees, 7” ceramic pot, soil and wire. Please bring your own tools (pruners and/or cutters)
Registration and Materials Fee: $85
Skill Level: Beginner
Location: Plant Science Lab
Limit: 8 students
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Description: Work to style a Procumbens Nana Juniper in this workshop! These winter hardy trees are easy to care for and a good starter tree. The tree and wire will be provided, as well as the use of shared tools (bring your own tools if possible)
Registration and Materials Fee: $80
Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate
Location: Regenstein Center, Plant Science Lab
Limit: 8 students
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Description: Style a Green Gem Ficus! These easy to care for trees are a good beginner tree. These trees need to come indoors in the fall before cold temperatures. The tree and wire will be provided, as well as the use of shared tools (bring your own tools if possible)
Registration and Materials Fee: $80
Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate
Location: Regenstein Center, Plant Science Lab
Limit: 8 students
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Description: Come and work with Kawa No Oka Bonsai on a Shohin sized Chinese elm. These make amazing small bonsai. During the workshop you will repot the tree and do initial styling. The tree, pot and soil are included. Please bring bonsai tools as well as 1-3 mm wire (if not available, wire will be available for purchase)
Registration and Materials Fee: $95
Skill Level: Intermediate
Location: Regenstein Center, Design Studio
Limit: 8 students
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Description: Style a dwarf Mugo Pine! These cold-hardy trees are easy to care for, and are already potted in a ceramic container. The tree and wire will be provided, as well as the use of shared tools (bring your own tools if possible)
Registration and Materials Fee: $90
Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate
Location: Regenstein Center, Design Studio
Limit: 8 students
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Please note the change of date due to the Labor Day holiday. Additionally, the meeting will be held at the Garden’s Learning Campus, instead of our normal space. Please see the attached map if you are unfamiliar with the Learning Campus.

Location: Learning Campus, Classroom #2
7:00 PM - Bonsai 101
7:30 PM - Main program, Guest Artist Elle Nieto-Brodnick

Elle Nieto-Brodnick discovered her passion for bonsai appreciation and cultivation during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic while working in the healthcare industry.

She started educating herself via online videos and literature.  Her voracious quest for learning led her to attend workshops and classes with Todd Schlafer, Andy Smith, Owen Reich, Will Baddeley, and Julian Tsai. Within her four years of practice, and under the tutelage of Bjorn Bjorholm and Mauro Stemberger, she remains a motivated student who reveals an exceptional perception of bonsai creativity. She goes to great lengths to further her study, improve her skills, and develop the character traits reflective of a disciplined and committed bonsai practitioner.

Teaching basic to intermediate bonsai at The Hidden Gardens and working with private clients has pivoted her from being a serious student into an upcoming bonsai professional/artist.  She has recently demonstrated and conducted workshops for the Springfield Bonsai Society and the Ann Arbor Bonsai Society, and has additional upcoming events scheduled.

Description: Premna Japonica (Musk Maple) in 6” bulb pan. Movement has already been established in the trunks, the workshop will focus on branch placement and cut-back to continue styling the materials. Participants should bring tools and wire.
Registration Fee: $40
Materials Cost: $95, payable directly to the instructor at the beginning of the workshop.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Maximum Participants: 6
Location: Regenstein Center, Linnaeus Room
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Description: Raft dwarf Arborvite workshop - wire a tree into forest form from a single tree for you to plant next spring. Plant in your pot or rockscape - appropriate pot and rockscape options are available for purchase by contacting 515-769-2446 ahead of the workshop. Students should bring wire cutters, basic concave cutters, or powerful scissors, as well as 2.5 mm, 3 mm and 3.5 mm aluminum wire.
Registration Fee: $40
Materials Cost: $38, payable directly to the instructor at the beginning of the workshop. Pot and rockscape options available separately for purchase by calling 515-769-2446 ahead of time.
Skill Level: All
Maximum Participants: 8
Location: Regenstein Center, Linnaeus Room
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Description: Narrow leaf Buttonwood produces lovey very narrow foliage, great wood for carving, and is a hardy Florida native. Tropical favorite! Buttonwood likes full sun, and moderate water and fertilizer. Tropical tree, keep away from freezing temperatures. Tools and wire will be provided.
Registration Fee: $40
Materials Cost: $30, payable directly to the instructor at the beginning of the workshop.
Skill Level: All
Maximum Participants: 8
Location: Regenstein Center, Plant Science Lab
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Description: A hands-on workshop designed for intermediate bonsai enthusiasts where we will focus on the Tiger Bark Ficus, a species renowned for its striking, well-developed trunk and resilient nature. Learn intermediate pruning, wiring, and styling methods tailored specifically to the Tiger Bark Ficus. Explore techniques to further develop and refine the impressive trunk structure of your Ficus. Gain information into the care routines required to maintain a healthy and thriving Ficus. From watering schedules to pest management. This workshop is ideal for intermediate participants who have basic bonsai experience. We will not be repotting, so you will receive one tree ready for styling. Participants will need to bring their own basic tools and wire of chice from 1mm/18 gauge through 4mm/10 gauge. Aluminum wire will be available for purchase.
Registration Fee: $40
Materials Cost: $60, payable to instructor at the beginning of the workshop.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Maximum Participants: 8
Location: Regenstein Center, Design Studio
Register securely via EventBrite!