MABA/Milwaukee 202Two

Workshops

New workshops have been added. These are listed at the bottom.
Artist Workshops have been carefully selected and coordinated to provide the most instruction time possible while also providing the following quality material to take home. Most material has been hand selected by the artist.
Review the nineteen workshops planned for your enjoyment below. Thirteen of these have material provided including two where you can pre-select your material from the artist/vendor.

Click on any picture to see a larger image.

Workshop 1 - François Jeker - Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’ (Juniper)

Bonsai most often seen by people are the juniper procumbens nana. This juniper, when prepared and taken care of properly, can make an excellent bonsai tree. In nature it grows as a low ground cover shrub so it is often trained into a cascade style. It also works as many other styles.
These field grown junipers from Plant City are over 30 years old. These pre-bonsai juniper are a mainstay as material for the New Talent Competition. It was selected as an affordable option to receive carving instruction and design from our headliner Francois Jeker.

Workshop 2 - Ted Matson - Eleagnus pungens (Silverberry)

The silverberry is a very vibrant evergreen tree that features unique texture on its foliage. Silverberry's can be trained very easily with the clip and grow method. Large cuts will result in back budding on the tree. They also respond well to defoliation during the late summer. The foliage is very hardy and can withstand many climates making it a great tree for beginners looking for a taller and larger species of tree.
Ted Matson is thrilled to work with you on these 30” – 36” evergreen trees that David VanBuskirk of D&L Nursery made available after preparing them for bonsai for over three years. Trees in bonsai pots are example trees.

Workshop 3 - Byron Myrick - Make Your Own Pot for accent, kusamono or shohin

Handmade accent, kusamono, or shohin pot using clay (stoneware) with your choice of glazed or unglazed finish. Learn the fundamentals of creating slab pots. No wheels or pinch pots here
Byron Myrick will teach you the techniques necessary to create these types of pots and there are several different templates with varying side-wall counts.

Workshop 4 - Steve Carini - Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglasfir) Experience with Collected Material

Douglasfir, not a true fir, is a hardy species showing vigorous growth habits that with proper horticultural care and sensible restraint, will set buds easily on older wood, creating a finely ramified pattern of development. This material is Rocky Mountain native, collected by Randy Knight prior to 2018, hand selected from Hidden Gardens Nursery and cared for by Steve since April of 2019. Height, and trunk size vary by tree. These are old trees with mature bark and great bonsai potential.
The goal of this workshop is for each attendee to learn the proper care and training technique for development of a fine bonsai from collected material, in 3-8 years. Provided trees are in the original collected containers, will need repotting in spring of 2021, and design styling in late summer of 2021 or early 2022, depending on the strength of each tree, post repot.
Workshop will consist of: detailed horticultural info for Douglasfir, in-depth repotting specifics for collected trees, thorough design and styling discussions - tree by tree, together as a group. Future group workshops for repotting and styling will be offered, at additional fee, at above specified times. More on this at the workshop.
Workshop attendees will need to bring a notebook or recorder, an open mind, patience and a desire to develop a great tree in a few years. No tools or wire necessary as no work will be done in this workshop.

Workshop 5 - François Jeker - Bring Your Own Tree or Purchase onsite.

François Jeker is the author and illustrator of six books regarding bonsai aesthetics and techniques which have been translated into several languages, including a two-part practical guide on bonsai aesthetics, and a book about the dead wood in bonsai. His expertise in carving deadwood led to the creation of the “JEKER DEADWOOD AWARD” which he awards during the large international bonsai events.

Workshop 6 - Todd Schlafer - Pinus (Pines)

These collected pines will be available for purchase at his First Branch website under MABA Pines . Once purchased he will bring them to the workshop in Milwaukee without the additional shipping cost. A good selection of workshop Trees are available for MABA 2020. If there is not anything in your budget email Todd at: Todd.Schlafer@gmail.com and he’ll see if he has something to fit your budget.
When confirmed into the workshop, you will receive an email with purchase instructions and the link. At the convention, Mr. Schlafer will help you develop the structure and teach you the care needed for collected pines.

Workshop 7 - Mark Fields - Ficus burtt-davyi (Fig)

This cultivar develops a silvery gray bark and has glossy green leaves, develops good ramification quickly and in many cases good nebari and trunk taper. One of the great attributes of this fig is that it will form figs nearly every year about the time that the new foliage is getting ready to sprout.
These trees are being prepared for a Root over Rock workshop by Mark Fields. He will provide rock, pot and tree so you can count on leaving with a great start for you bonsai.

Workshop 8 - François Jeker - Bring Your Own Tree or Purchase onsite.

Workshop 9 - Ted Matson - Pinus thunbergii (Japanese Black Pine)

The Japanese black pine is a native of Japan and is arguably one of the most classic of bonsai pine species often called the King of Bonsai.
These Japanese black pines have been developed as shohin by Ted Matson. Grown in pond baskets with low sprouts for initial branch selection, suitable for setting initial structural yet planning for added development. He is making them available for our 2020 Workshop.

Workshop 10 - Jennifer Price - Pinus contorta 'Spaan's Dwarf’ (Dwarf Shore Pine)

The slow-growing Dwarf Shore Pine develops a sturdy, open, upright branch structure and dramatic character with age. Slow growth and a wider-than-tall form make it a natural for bonsai. A unique form and interestingly-textured dwarf conifer. They are at least 18 to 20 inches tall with 2 to 3 inch calipers.
Jennifer Price has found these trees at Brussel’s Bonsai and is very excited to offer these at MABA/Milwaukee.

Workshop 11 - Ron Fortmann - Myrciaria Cauliflora (Jaboticaba) - Experience with Pre-bonsai Material

An excellent semi-tropical material that has a very interesting thin, reddish and flaky bark. Occasionally patches peel off, leaving an attractive variation in color. This tree branches profusely and two or three together make nice groupings. The leaves are soft and almost pink when new. They develop into a somewhat glossy dark green as they age.
These trees have been obtained from Brussel’s by Ron Fortmann. Ron has repotted and developed these trees for his workshop, which will cover how to manage pre-bonsai material. Ron will discuss what he has done in repotting in preparation for this workshop. He will then will help you style your tree.

Workshop 12 - Ted Matson - Bring Your Own Tree or Purchase onsite.

Ted Matson is the Administrative Curator of the Huntington Bonsai Collection in greater Los Angeles and has been teaching bonsai since 1988. Honored and recognized for his great service to the art of bonsai; he will help you style and refine your tree.

Workshop 13 - Todd Schlafer - Picea (Spruce)

The spruce is an evergreen coniferous tree genus which is widespread in the northern hemisphere. The genus as a whole has some excellent qualities and very often, it is just a question of learning how to work with Spruce and its foibles so that the best can be made of the tree. Todd Schlafer is making his collected spruces available at his First Branch website. These collected pines will be available for purchase at his First Branch website under MABA Spruces . Once purchased he will bring them to the workshop in Milwaukee without the additional shipping cost. A good selection of workshop Trees are available for MABA 2020. If there is not anything in your budget email Todd at: Todd.Schlafer@gmail.com and he’ll see if he has something to fit your budget.
When confirmed into the workshop, you will receive an email with purchase instructions and the link. At the convention, Mr. Schlafer will help you develop the structure and teach you the care needed for collected pines.

Workshop 14 - Mark Fields - Juniperus chinensis ‘Itoigawa’ (Itoigawa Shimpaku)

Shimpaku junipers are one of the most popular species for bonsai and Itoigawa is the highly prized cultivar of Shimpaku from Japan. It grows tighter and fuller and is the most compact of all the Shimpaku Junipers.
These trees were selected and prepared by Mark Fields from Brussel’s Nursery

Workshop 15 - Ted Matson - Taxus x media ‘Everlow’ (Yew) - Experience with Nursery Material

Taxus x media ‘Everlow’ is a hybrid designation for a large number of shrubby, often wide-spreading crosses of English yew (Taxus baccata) and Japanese yew (Taxus cuspidata). These hybrids are noted for combining the ornamental excellence of English yew with the winter hardiness of Japanese yew. Although primarily resembling T. cuspitata in appearance; with beautiful deep green needles, maintains its habit into old age, ideal for small-scale articulation and takes pruning exceptionally well. One of the few evergreens that loves shades, tolerates sun but will not tolerate standing water making it ideal for our bonsai soils.
These single trunk trees were selected from Minor’s Nursery; 5-10 gallon pots and prepared for the workshop by Kris Ziemann and members of MBS.

Workshop 16 - Jennifer Price - Ulmus parvifolia 'Seiju' (Seiju Elm)

An excellent species for pruning as it will back bud readily in all areas including the trunk. This cultivar is a great small or medium sized bonsai, large enough to allow the bark to fully develop, but also can be grown to six inch caliper in a reasonable amount of time. At least 18 to 20 inches tall with 3-inch calipers.
These deciduous trees have been selected by Jennifer Price at Brussel’s Bonsai.

Workshop N1 - Andy Smith - Bring Your Own Tree or Purchase onsite.

Andrew Smith is a contract forester in South Dakota's Black Hills. He became fascinated in bonsai in about 1994 while collecting core specimens from very ancient pines to use in past climate studies. He has presented numerous workshops at events across the United States. He will help you style and refine your own tree. You can purchase one ahead of the workshop at his site http://www.goldenarrowbonsai.com/