Bonsai Club conducts monthly workshops for 2019

Date/Time
Date(s) - 02/02/2019
9:00 am - 12:00 pm

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Get the dirt on bonsai

Mother Lode Bonsai Club’s board of directors agreed that experience is the best teacher when it comes to raising and styling miniature trees, according to Richard McKinstry, club president. As such, each monthly meeting will feature hands-on learning workshops through 2019. During the year, a number of free public demonstrations on specific bonsai topics by guest speakers will also be included.
The club’s Saturday, February 2 meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m. in the conference room of the San Andreas Central Library, 1299 Gold Hunter Road (off Mountain Ranch Road) in San Andreas. A monthly workshop will immediately follow the meeting but no demonstration.
“Workshops will be conducted by experienced club mentors, who will instruct others on bonsai techniques by working directly with their trees,” said McKinstry. “Participants will learn to apply methods of soil preparation, transplanting, root trimming, branch wiring, pot selection and more – all the important and practical basics of this ancient living art form. In addition, a number of member trees will be displayed in their winter “silhouette” form, a method of showing and studying the branching of deciduous trees without the distraction of any foliage.”
“We are also looking at field trips to local and Bay Area bonsai nurseries to purchase plants and essential materials. Plus, there are plans for group attendance at other bonsai club shows and exhibits in the near future to learn more,” he said.
While there is no charge for workshops, participants must provide their own bonsai trees, soil, pots, tools and a table covering. For more information, contact Richard McKinstry at  (209) 288-2330 or visit the club website at www.motherlodebonsai.org.