Presentation Topics

In recent years, I’ve been focusing on topics that help elevate bonsai exhibits.

• Bonsai Evaluation – This program provides an overview of common approaches to evaluating bonsai. Learning to evaluate bonsai can help you identify goals for improving your trees and set you up for success when collecting or shopping for new trees. Participants will learn criteria for identifying quality in the trunk, the roots, and the branches and gain an understanding about how these criteria can change from species to species.
  
• Bonsai Design – This program can focus on any of the following topics relating to bonsai design: understanding flow, formal design considerations, design cues, creating silhouettes that are a good fit for a given trunk shape and style
  
• Bonsai Display – This program provides a basic overview of bonsai display. The program works best when participants bring trees, stands, and accents so we can work with live examples.
  
• Shohin Display – This program offers an overview of conventional shohin display and provides starting points for creating novel displays with small bonsai. The program works best when participants bring trees, stands, and accents so we can work with live examples.
  
• Show Prep – This program offers participants an opportunity to bring their show trees to the club meeting to learn tips and techniques for making their trees as beautiful as possible for exhibit. Topics include show wiring, pruning and foliage preparation, and top-dressings.
  
• Container Selection – Learn considerations for matching trees with their containers. Participants can bring trees or photos of trees to receive recommendations.
  
• Exhibit Critiques – Slide show and critique of trees from your club exhibit that focuses on identifying opportunities for improving bonsai and bonsai displays.

I’m always happy to present on the following tree-focused topics.

• Long-term bonsai development from scratch – Learn how to grow quality bonsai from seed or cutting. This topic can cover a mix of species or focus on just one or two (such as pines or junipers).
  
• Selecting material for pre-bonsai – participants learn strategies for identifying trees with lots of potential to help them get the most out of the material they’re working with.
  
• Black and red pine seasonal techniques – Learn the ins and outs of pinching, pruning, plucking, and decandling black and red pines. Focus can shift to cover topics relevant to the season.
  
• Deciduous bonsai seasonal techniques – Learn the basics of pinching, pruning, leaf-cutting, and defoliating deciduous species.
  
• Coast redwood design and refinement techniques – Learn different approaches to creating redwood bonsai so you can make your redwoods look the way you want them to look.
  
• How to create exposed-root bonsai – demonstration of techniques related to creating exposed root bonsai.
  
• Bonsai Health/ Pest and Disease Management – Overview of topics relating to bonsai health including recognizing and treating problems caused by pests, pathogens, or abiotic factors.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? Feel free to make a suggestion. I’m open to creating programs on new topics that complement your club’s program goals for the year.

(Updated June, 2025)