ABS is getting back to its roots to conduct a weekend of bonsai knowledge and fun. Come and
join your bonsai friends and learn from some of the most experienced bonsai teachers in North American at this our premier seminar of the new ABS format.

  * Use this catalogue to select your 4 classes for the learning seminar weekend. Admission to these classes is by pre-registrations only.

  * Your registration covers the cost of these four classes unless an extra supply fee is noted for a few of the courses.

  * Classes take place Friday and Saturday in the morning and the afternoon. A break will be given in the middle of each three-hour class. Note that some of the critique sessions have unique times. Also some the sessions are given in two parts.

  * Please indicate 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choices for each time period on the registration form by putting your choice in the block indicated for each numbered class.

  * Classes will be filled in the order the registrations are received.

  * The number listed before each course title is used on the registrations form. When a specific level of student is needed, it is listed in all capital letters after the course title. Those with no designated level are open to all students.

  * Many of the classes will supply you with handouts of the subjects being taught.

  * The "Bonsai Novice Sessions" #9, 18, 27 & 36 are designed as a set to learn the basics of bonsai but others may elect to take one of the sessions separately to update a needed skill. Those who elect to complete all four sessions, will receive a certificate of completion from ABS.

1.  Peter Adams - Designing Maples
Student level: intermediate and advanced
Learn all about designing maples or work with Peter Adams, well known master of bonsai design on one of your well established maples. A discussion on design and shaping of maples will be followed by a hands-on session with the students' trees. Each student will be provided with a black and white sketch of the future maple bonsai done by Peter. Students MAY bring a maple, tools and wire to the session.

2.  David DeGroot - Principles of Bonsai Design - lecture
Student level: All levels

3.  Larry Jackel - Pines of the Rocky Mountains as Bonsai
Student level: All levels
The class will look at and discuss the 5 major pines of the Rocky Mountains: .Ponderosa, Limber, Lodgepole, Pinon and Bristlecone pines. Examples as bonsai will be provided. If you have one of these, bring it along and we will add it to the discussion.

4.  Rob Kempinski - Willow Leaf Ficus Shohin
Student level: beginner
This course will introduce students to the joy of working with the Willow Leaf Ficus.
Each student after learning about the particulars of this tree will then work on and create shohin Willow Leaf Ficus. Fee $25 for tree. Bring Basic bonsai tools but especially pruning scissors, concave cutter, wire cutter and root rake.

5.  Jerry Meislik - The Secrets to Success With Indoor Bonsai
Student level: All levels
Growing bonsai indoors is not difficult. As long as the right cultural techniques and concepts are followed anyone can succeed with indoor bonsai. We will discuss the critical elements for success.

6.  John Muth - Phoenix Graft - The illusion of age
Student Level: intermediate and advanced
Sometimes the Illusion is more important than the reality. We can't all have trees that are hundreds of years old but our trees can look that way. In Creating a phoenix graft or Tanuki style tree, we will take a very old juniper snag and attach a shimpaku juniper whip to it in a way to make it look like a live vein on ancient tree with lots of dead wood.. In the process we will discuss carving and the use of dead wood in bonsai style. Material cost- trees, dead wood, pot and supplies $150.

7.  Pauline Muth - Mame too small? Techniques to achieve mame and shohin bonsai
Class level: All levels
Small bonsai is a wonderful world. It has its own techniques to achieve perfection in miniature. Smallness has its own perils in keeping them healthy and alive. Come to this class and learn the details of creating and keeping mame and shohin bonsai.

8.  Kathy Shaner - The Selection and Care of Deciduous Trees for Bonsai
Class level: All Levels
In this class students will learn the fine points of selecting the best specimens of deciduous trees to use to produce masterpiece bonsai. Learn solutions to the unique problems that working with these trees pose. Learn to create the best illusions of age with them. Student may bring in photographs or actual trees for consultations.

9.  Arthur Skolnik - Bonsai Novice Session 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 the maximum benefit. Completion of all four Novice sessions will earn the ABS Bonsai Novice Certificate.

10.  Peter Adams - Designing Pines
Student level: intermediate and advanced
Learn all about designing pines or work with Peter Adams, well known master of bonsai design on one of your well established pines. A discussion on design and shaping of various types of pines will be followed by a hands-on session with the students' trees. Each student will be provided with a black and white sketch of the future bonsai done by Peter. Students MAY bring a well established pine, tools and wire to the session.

11.  David DeGroot - Penjing Aesthetics and Design - lecture w/examples
Student level: All levels

12.  Larry Jackel - Creation and care of old wood on bonsai
Student level:intermediate and advanced
Description of course: This class will be hands on carving workshop including a brief history of carving in bonsai, application of carving techniques, and an idea exchange on how to improve old wood on bonsai. Bring any and all carving tools you have.

13.  Rob Kempinski - How to sketch a bonsai tree as an aid for design
Student level: beginner and intermediate
Sketching the future of a bonsai design can help an artist make decisions about what to do to a tree. However, many people feel they have no drawing ability and hence don't try to make sketches. This workshop will introduce bonsai artists to a very easy to learn approach to sketching a bonsai tree using pen and paper. By the end of the class students will have the skills and technique to design their trees prior to working on them. It will also discuss the other drawing techniques including virtual design using Photoshop for digital sketching of a tree. Fee: $5 for sketch pad and markers.

14.  Jerry Meislik - Advanced Techniques: Exposed Root Style
Student level: intermediate and advanced
A free-flowing discussion of traditional exposed root style and the tropical epiphytic style and how they are related. A demonstration creating an epiphytic style bonsai will follow.

15.  John Muth - Phoenix Graft workshop
Student level: intermediate
A hands on workshop of the Phoenix Graft. The class will use some excellent small Juniper snags (deadwood) and Shimpaku whips which they will combine to make a phoenix graft style tree. The class will concentrate on preparing the dead wood discussing various carving tools, wood preservation techniques and safety. Then the class will work on attaching the juniper to the dead wood in a way to create the illusion on a much older tree. Limited to 8 students Fee of $85. Students must bring their tools.

16.  Pauline Muth - Deciduous mame/shohin techniques and workshop
Class level: intermediate and advanced
In this lesson and workshop combination, students will learn techniques for creating small deciduous bonsai and then create one for them selves. A variety of deciduous material will be available for use. Students should bring tools and wire. The fee for material for this course is $40 for basic material. A specimen level of material is also available up to $150. Please bring tools and wire.

17.  Kathy Shaner - Creating the Illusion of Age in Bonsai
Class level: All Levels
Consider what it takes to make a bonsai appear to look as old as possible. How do we create the illusion of age? Learn specifics for each species of trees we use in bonsai. Applying the knowledge learned from Kathy's class will have you bonsai looking older in less time than you can imagine.

18.  Arthur Skolnik - Bonsai Novice Session II:
Viewing the masterpiece exhibit to study good design and apply it to your work. This is the 2nd session in the Novice Series. Learn how to examine show exhibits to increase your knowledge of bonsai practices and art.

19.  Peter Adams - Designing Junipers
Student level: intermediate and advanced
Learn all about designing junipers or work with Peter Adams, well known master of bonsai design on one of your well established junipers. A discussion on design and shaping of various types of junipers will be followed by a hands-on session with the students' trees. Each student will be provided with a black and white sketch of the future bonsai done by Peter. Students MAY bring a well established juniper, tools and wire to the session.

20.  David DeGroot - Principles of Keido Display - lecture w/examples (can be combined with,
or followed by exhibit critique)
Student level: All levels

21.  Larry Jackel - Fundamentals of the Ponderosa Pine
Student level: All levels
A detailed discussion of ponderosa pine management with emphasis on foliage development, new growth management, and preservation of old wood. Purchase of the ABS monograph is recommended.

22.  Rob Kempinski - Secrets of the Japanese Black Pine Life Cycle
Student level: intermediate
Supplies that the student must bring to the course…if any:
This class will introduce the students to the "secrets" of growing a Japanese Black Pine bonsai.
It will cover the whole life cycle of Japanese Black Pine development, addressing the various developmental phases of the bonsai. It will introduce specialized techniques for each phase.

23.  Jerry Meislik - Computers and Bonsai
Student level: All levels
Participants provide one or two high quality images of their own bonsai as a digital jpeg file taken against a plain white background and the group will discuss the tree's design and possibilities. We will then "re-design" your tree using computer graphics. You can take the redesigned image home to use as a road map for the future of your tree.

24.  John Muth - I'm feeling Blue-Atlas Cedar
Student level: intermediate
Not all trees are green some are blue and one on the bluest is the Blue Atlas Cedar. This is a tree that John feels is not given enough attention to as a bonsai. It has many great qualities and is strong grower that will develop very nicely in a relatively short time. John will take two of these trees and design them in two completely different styles showing the versatility of this tree discussing the care and growth along the way.

25.  Pauline Muth - Shimpaku mame/shohin techniques and workshop
Class level: intermediate and advanced
In this lesson and workshop combination, students will learn techniques for creating small Shimpaku Juniper bonsai and then create one for them selves. Shimpaku junipers will be provided. Students should bring tools and wire. The fee for material for this course is $30 for basic material. A specimen level of material is also available up to $150. Please bring tools and wire.

26.  Kathy Shaner - Wiring It Right for Beginners and Intermediate Bonsai Artists
Class level: Beginners and Intermediates
Learn all the basic and then some of the correct way to wire your trees. Kathy is truly a wiring expert and one of the best teachers of wire techniques. Bring a tree to practice on and your tools and wire to get the most out of this course. You may wish to follow it up with her advanced wiring course in the afternoon.

27.  Arthur Skolnik - Bonsai Novice Session III:
Construction Techniques that create your design from the art of wiring to fundamentals of creating jin and shari this session will include techniques needed to create beautiful design. This is the third session in the Novice Series.

28.  Peter Adams - Critique of Seminar Exhibit
Student Level: All Levels
Join this master of design as he takes you through the exhibit. As he critiques each bonsai on display, you will learn much on how to produce top quality bonsai.

29.  David DeGroot - Plant Selection for Bonsai (lecture w/examples, demo)
Student level: All levels

30.  Larry Jackel - The Natural Form :Ideas for American bonsai by studying our native trees
Student level: All levels
Photographs of wild trees will be presented and discussed for application towards design concepts in our personal collections

31.  Rob Kempinski - How to Digitally Photograph A Bonsai
Student level: All levels
Basics of Digital photography for bonsai including:Camera Selection - key parameters to consider;
Arranging the tree and stand properly; Arranging lighting; Setting up the camera properly; Taking the actual photograph and Digital post processing

32.  Jerry Meislik - Bonsai and Time: How Trees Can Improve Over Time
Student level: All levels
Slide program illustrating a number of bonsai trees and their path to improvement or sometimes to failure.

33.  John Muth - Azaleas- more than you ever thought...(well a whole lot of basics on azaleas)
Student level: Beginner
From propagation to fine pruning. The class will discuss all stages of growing and developing azaleas for bonsai. Topics we will cover will be propagation, soil, growing and shaping of whips, how to develop large trunks and branch development. Azalea Whips will be provides for hands on practice. Bring your tools. Class fee $35 for azaleas.

34.  Pauline Muth - From bonsai to masterpiece: Refinement tools and techniques
Class level: intermediate and advanced
We all enjoy the creation of a new bonsai but how many of us take the time to go beyond trimming a bonsai on our bench to making it into a masterpiece. In this session students will explore the techniques of refinement. Students may bring bonsai into the class to develop refinement plans but it is not necessary to do so.

35.  Kathy Shaner - Solving problems of trees with advanced wiring and other techniques
Class level: Intermediates and Advanced
Some trees have flaws we struggle to change to create the best bonsai possible. Kathy will teach and demonstrate techniques that will have you able to work with some of the worst problems found on stock trees or worked on bonsai. Students are encouraged to bring trees with design problems, tools and wire. Learn to make a problem tree into a masterpiece.

36.  Arthur Skolnik - Bonsai Novice Session IV:
Workshop….Creating a Bonsai - Participants should bring their tools to this session (some borrowing of the instructors tools will be allowed) to create two bonsai based on the principles taught in the prior three sessions. Materials fee for this session is $50 which includes 2 trees, pots, wire and materials used in the sessions.