ABS Learning Seminars
Seminars
Our Seminars feature expert speakers who lead discussions on a wide range of topics. All registered attendees can join for free, but seats are limited and given out in the order people arrive. Come early to secure your spot.
Developing Broadleaf Deciduous Trees
Sergio Cuan
Friday 9am-10:30am
Sergio Cuan, a leading deciduous bonsai artist in the US, will explore how vision, technique, and time come together to create beautiful bonsai. Working with deciduous trees is different from working with conifers. Conifers can often be styled quickly using heavy wire, raffia, and rebar for dramatic bends. In contrast, deciduous bonsai need steady, patient work to reach the artist’s vision. This lecture will cover both the creative side of design and the practical side of technique. The session includes three main topics: growing environment, examples of tree development from Sergio’s collection, and step-by-step case studies on grafting techniques.
Naturalistic Bonsai: What It Is and How It's Done
Arthur Joura
Friday 10:30am-12pm
There are different ways to do bonsai, beyond the false dichotomy of “good bonsai” and “bad bonsai”. In the Naturalistic method, observation of nature is the essential component. Trees are regarded as teachers and the myriad forms trees assume in nature are the subject of study and emulation. Respecting the nature of the plant being shaped is also integral to this approach. As with any style of bonsai, the Naturalistic style also incorporates human aesthetic values such as balance, proportion and harmony. Naturalistic bonsai connects with a wider, more diverse audience because its appeal reaches across all cultural boundaries.
Bonsai Garden Design
Felix Laughlin
Friday 2pm-3:30pm
Applying Museum Aesthetics to Outdoor Bonsai Display – Discover how to bring the refined beauty of a museum bonsai display into your own outdoor garden. Drawing on examples from Japan’s renowned Omiya Bonsai Art Museum, we will explore essential design elements and how to adapt them to elevate the aesthetic quality of your bonsai garden.
Beech Bonsai: History, Development & Design
Andrew Robson
Friday 3:30pm-5pm
This seminar explores both the rich natural and cultural history of the beech tree and its refined expression in the art of bonsai. The first half traces the beech’s ecological significance, geographic spread, and symbolic role across centuries of human culture—from ancient forests of Europe and Asia to its presence in modern landscapes. The second half transitions to the horticultural and artistic practice of beech bonsai, examining the species’ unique growth patterns, aesthetic character, and seasonal rhythms. Participants will gain both historical context and practical knowledge, deepening their appreciation for the beech as a living link between nature, time, and art.
Potters’ Round Table: Exploring the Art of Bonsai Pottery
Rob Wallace, Eli Akins, and Preston Tolbert
Saturday 9am-10:30am
Bonsai in the Blue Ridge is excited to host a special Potter’s Talk and Roundtable Discussion about the art and craft of bonsai pottery. This session will bring potters together to share their experiences with both modern and traditional ways of making bonsai pots. We will talk about how different clay bodies are chosen and tested, and how artists find and use local clays. The group will also discuss the technical and creative challenges of making bonsai pots, from small accent containers to large statement pieces, and the different methods used to create them. The panel will answer a common question in the bonsai community: how to choose the right pot for a bonsai tree. Each potter will explain their process and the considerations they take into account when offering advice on harmonizing these two art forms. Join us for this informative and inspiring conversation as we celebrate the blend of ceramics and horticultural art.
Knives Out!: The Art of Grafting Bonsai
Sylvia Smith
Saturday 2pm-3:30pm
Bonsai work changes with the seasons. It takes careful observation to know when a technique is needed and steady hands to do it well. Grafting is one such skill, useful for improving foliage, branch structure, and roots, or even changing the type of leaves on a tree. To use grafting successfully, it’s important to know the right time and method. Sylvia Smith will lead a detailed talk on various grafting techniques, explaining when and why to use each. She will share her own experiences, offer practical advice, and discuss which tree species respond best. If you want to use grafting to enhance your bonsai, don’t miss this session. We hope to see you there!
While You Were Sleeping: A Dormant Season Primer
Scott Barboza
Saturday 3:30pm-5pm
If you reduce pests and control diseases during the dormant season, you will face far fewer problems in the spring. This leads to healthier trees and less need for harmful pesticides and fungicides during the growing season – a good thing – and a far lower impact on the beneficial insects we’d like to encourage in our garden. In this discussion, Dr. Barboza will explain what dormant season spraying is and how he uses it to prevent issues in his own collection during spring.