WORKSHOPS AT THE FUKU-BONSAI CULTURAL CENTER
In the past few years, the number of
workshops here have increased. Initially, they were very basic as we had just introduced
the conversion kits and the Premium Keiki Bonsai Workshop Package. That
package continues to be popular, but we now have some stock that is large enough
to go straight into a #17 size conversion kit! With the addition of the three
Living Lovable styling concepts, there's a variety of "intermediate"
workshops." With the availability of a variety of 8LS8, the
"advanced" workshops are moving into some interesting areas when those
who have grown our plants or have taken beginner workshops visit
again!
Workshop fees are only for the materials as described in www.fukubonsai.com/3a2005c.html
and there is no charge for the instruction. Plants can be shipped after
the participant arrives home and when three or more are sent to the same
address, shipping is free! Here are a few recent workshops:
Phil visited us last year and took a basic workshop. His plants have done well,
but he still didn't have confidence. So we did a "Pruning Confidence
Workshop" that pretty much followed the principles laid out in "Lesson
#3: Pruning." Often,
it's easier to understand if someone walks you through the same lesson in person
and by trimming a few trees at the Fuku-Bonsai Culture Center, he quickly gained
the needed confidence. At the end, he
was given a challenge. Here's the trees at the start of his "final
exam," along with his story:
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" David, thank you for all of your time that you gave me last Saturday. I
came home "inspired". Since I purchased my bonsais from you
over a year ago, I’ve been intimidated to prune them until I met with
you again. You assured me that "keeping them alive" was the
first step. You gave me the confidence that I needed. I took my 4LL8-R
and did a major pruning to accent the trunk and
wired the new growth to change the shape. It felt great. |
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From the major prunings I made two new plants- WOW! I then pruned
all of my bonsais and did a wonderful job. I wish that I could live on
the island so I could attend your workshops more often. You have taught
me so much. Also I can’t tell you how much we enjoy our
"opae-ula".
Phil Bill (Oakland, California) |
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You're cordially invited to visit us in
Kurtistown to take a beginner, intermediate, or advanced workshop.
There is no charge for the instruction and there's a host of exceptional
plant stock available.
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Recently
another advanced workshop rock planted a larger 17LS8. Here's a
photo of the demonstration plant that was used to teach the rock
planting of a similar tree. In our workshops, we prefer that the
workshop leader and participate each work on separate trees. The demonstration
tree was potted into a 20"x20"x2" nursery
flat and will go into the nursery for a few years before coming back
to the sales area as a Custom Collection item. In this way there
will be growing variety in future Custom Collection offerings! |
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- DEVELOPING NEW TECHNIQUES
& NEW
- MODELS FOR FUTURE OFFERINGS!
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There's continuous experimentation in progress to
develop new "model designs." "SUMO"
styling is our basic training method in all potted sizes
including Custom Collection. "ROOTS"
is now available in 4" and 8" sizes with a very few in #17
size. "HAWAIIAN DRAGONS!" are still in 4" size
only. Someday we may be able to offer a "17LSS-RR"!
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Fuku-Bonsai has always been an
innovative nursery utilizing non-traditional, efficient, effective
techniques that work. We teach the techniques that we use, many that
have never previously been published in any bonsai book or magazine. In
rock-planting, we prefer to finish with aluminum foil covering the rock
and entire roots systems.
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The top is flared like a rain catchment
system to make watering easy. This also prevents roots from drying and
the plant very quickly establishes. So besides
teaching, we're also creating future model offerings! Here's a pair of
photos of such a group workshop that included experimental practices. I did a demonstration with a 4LL8-D and took it up to add a
more dramatic root system. Ron took it up on a larger scale and
did great!
Ron and Sharon Hagedorn of Allyn, Washington (left) and Tamio and
Pauline Miyata of Bellevue, Washington (right) called ahead and we were
able to squeeze in this workshop during their most recent Hawaiian
vacation.
Ron was the "expert" in the group so he took on an advanced workshop challenge using an 8LS8 and 17 conversion
kit. Sharon did
a 4LL8-Dragon, Tamio did a 4LL8-R, and Pauline did a 4LL8-S. All
were pleased with the range of results due to the variety of materials
available.
"Thank you for sharing your enthusiasm and knowledge about the
care and feeding of bonsai. We enjoyed our workshop and look forward
to watching our plants grow over the years."
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CALL AHEAD AND COME LEARN WITH US!
~~~David
(
This article was part of FBnew10; Spring 2005. To receive free FBnews
email notice, send your name, city, state and email address to sales@fukubonsai.com
and request being placed on the mailing list. )
- FUKU-BONSAI CULTURAL CENTER
& HAWAII STATE BONSAI REPOSITORY
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PO Box 6000 (Olaa Road), Kurtistown, Hawaii 96760
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Phone (808) 982-9880, FAX (808) 982-9883
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- Copyright 2005, Fuku-Bonsai