Winter Bonsai Workshops

Winter is a very busy time for the serious bonsai artist and there is no better time to add to the refinement of that special bonsai.

Pines should be needle plucked, bud selected and wired this time of the year.  Deciduous bonsai are much easier to refine in Winter, for obvious reasons; bare branches allow for easier wiring, bud selection and branch placement.

The Australian Bonsai Gallery workshops allow you to gain a clear understanding of these processes and give you the confidence to take your skills in bonsai to the next level.

Our workshops allow you to tap into more than 47 years of experience in the development and refinement of bonsai.

Details of our Workshop content can be found HERE.

Field Grown White Pine Refinement Work

Eight years from field planted small nursery plant, this grafted White Pine is starting to step up and is now showing some signs of becoming a nice bonsai.

Four years of development, shown here, has resulted in significant branch development from many back-buds.

Winter 2023

Late Colour in this Swampy

This old Swamp cypress is putting on a late show of colour due to the unusually warm Autumn.

It will soon be time for the next round of Winter pruning and wiring. 

We have had some great results from the previous Summers pruning.... allowing the first Spring flush to extend un-pruned.  This allows the first flush to mature before pruning.
…. see the article on this subject HERE.

Once the wiring and pruning is completed the rewards of this previous work will be evident.

Hail Shelter for the Bonsai

Finally, work has started on the hail shelter at The Australian Bonsai Gallery.  Hail is a regular threat in Dorrigo, particularly in the warmer months so we will be fully protected for next season.

Fortunately, our cool climate means that we don't require shade cloth.  Just a good, strong, commercial hail guard.!!

Autumn Colour in Trident Maples

Finally, some Autumn colour to boast about at the Australian Bonsai Gallery.

It will soon be time to bud select and wire these Trident Maples before the branches become to brittle.

Bud selection should be done well before the Spring so that growth can be directed only to important structural bud-points on the tree. Selecting two buds from each terminal will help to accelerate good ramification.

Spend the day working on & promoting BONSAI

The World Bonsai Friendship Federation established this international day of celebration to pay homage to bonsai Master Saburo Kato's mission to promote peace and friendship through the art of bonsai.

"Since the late 1970's Saburo Kato, Haruo Kaneshiro, John Naka, and Ted Tsukiyama worked tirelessly to create the World Bonsai Friendship for the pure love of bonsai."

The day is celebrated on the second Saturday of May each year.

Master Saburo Kato

Autumn - a great time for Bonsai Workshops

We are continuing with our 'one-on-one' workshop format as it has proven to be very successful in transferring as much experience in the one session. 

As is the case with any intense learning session, information overload is always a possibility so we spend the evenings going over the critical points of the days work.

This works very well and allows students to take key notes, for their records.

Many more workshops this month so if you would like to lock in a workshop date(s) please contact us HERE. ..... or contact us on 0417 655 247.

New Bonsai Gallery starting to take shape

The New Australian Bonsai Gallery is starting to come together.  We now have most of the collections bonsai in place ready for some landscaping to soften the design.

We have some bonsai that will be 'excess to requirements'.  We will post a number of trees for sale soon.!!

Scroll down for a short clip of the progress.

Azalea alba magnifica 2020-2022

It is great to look back to see the progress on your bonsai.  This very old Azalea alba magnifica is a case in point.

Working on your bonsai day in, day out it is easy to lose track of just how much they develop over a relatively short period of time.

The wonderful dead wood and natural movement will be enhanced over time making this bonsai a feature tree at The Australian Bonsai Gallery.

Work Starts on The New Australian Bonsai Gallery

We are excited to announce that we have sold our property and are in the process of moving to a smaller block so that we can concentrate more on our bonsai collection.

Our stone mason is hard at work building stunning stone wall terraces to accommodate the new Australian Bonsai Gallery.

We have had to postpone our Bonsai Workshop program so booking will be open from 1-March-2023.  Follow the link to book. HERE