Tour of the Lac des Allemands Swamp

WITH RANDY BENNETT
THURSDAY MORNING 9:30AM-1PM

Join us as we explore the Lac des Allemands Swamp by airboat and see what makes Louisiana unique for bonsai lovers. We’ll travel through the swamp, cross the marsh, and head into the cypress forest on a high-performance, U.S. Coast Guard-approved airboat. You might spot hawks, herons, egrets, alligators, and sometimes even bald eagles along the way. Randy Bennett, who literally “wrote the book” on growing bald cypress trees as bonsai, will be with us to share tips on collecting, natural growth patterns, developing knees, and other interesting facts about this amazing native species. The tour begins at a family-run business about 30 minutes southwest of the hotel. We’ll take you to a peaceful fishing village where life moves at a slower pace. Your guides are U.S. Coast Guard captains who grew up on the bayou and have spent their lives fishing for alligators, crabs, and shrimp. They know the marsh’s ecology inside and out. We’ll leave the hotel at 9:30 am and return around 1:00 pm, traveling together on a 15-passenger van. There will be plenty of time to clean up and share your adventure at the reception!
Registration is $90 (transportation included).
Required materials: sunscreen, water, packed lunch (if desired).

Field-Grown Trident Maples

WITH SUTHIN SUKOSOLVISIT
FRIDAY MORNING 9AM-12PM

Trident maple (Acer buergerianum) is a top choice among deciduous bonsai species, known for its fast growth, quick healing, and beautiful fall colors. The trees for this workshop have been carefully grown in the field and have thick trunks, a wide base (nebari), and lots of healthy leaves ready for shaping. They are ideal for practicing trunk chops, building main branches, and creating classic broom or informal upright styles. The workshop will be led by Suthin Sukosolvisit, a master with worldwide recognition for his skill with shohin and deciduous bonsai. Suthin will teach his proven methods for working with trident maples, including how to make bold structural decisions, choose the right nodes, and use advanced pruning to create fine branching and small leaves.

Registration is $300 (tree included).
Required materials: tools, wire, turntable (optional).

Field-Grown Bald Cypress

WITH RANDY BENNETT
FRIDAY MORNING 9AM-12PM

The bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is a North American conifer valued in bonsai for its fast growth, soft feathery leaves, and ability to form large, fluted trunks with wide bases. It grows in swamps and has its own design style, changing from a cone shape when young to a flat-topped look as it matures. The trees in this workshop have straight trunks with natural taper and full canopies, making them ideal for bold first styling. The workshop is led by Randy Bennett, who has over 50 years of experience and wrote ‘Bonsai Design: Bald Cypresses’, a detailed guide focused on this species. Randy will share his knowledge to help you understand the bald cypress growth patterns, make important branch decisions, shape the top, and care for these trees.

Registration is $250 (tree included).
Required materials: tools, wire.

Dwarf Jade

WITH PEDRO MORALES
FRIDAY MORNING 9AM-12PM

The dwarf jade (Portulacaria afra), also called elephant bush, is a tough, beautiful succulent and a favorite in tropical bonsai. Its shiny green leaves, thick water-storing trunks, and fast growth help artists create a mature look much faster than with other plants. The workshop specimens are lush and well-grown, with dense canopies, thick trunks, and many branches. No matter what styling direction you take, these trees will be something you will be proud to have on your bench. Pedro Morales, a well-known expert and leader in tropical bonsai, will lead this workshop. He will use his years of experience to teach you how to style succulent bonsai, including tips on pruning, shaping branches, and caring for these hardy plants so they thrive year-round.

Registration is $150 (tree included).
Required materials: tools, wire.

Foemina Juniper

WITH MAURO STEMBERGER
FRIDAY MORNING 9AM-12PM

The foemina juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Foemina’) is prized in the bonsai community for its needle-like foliage, fast growth, and ability to develop refined pads. It suits strong, upright shapes or dramatic forest displays, unlike trailing types. The trees used in this workshop are healthy and full, with dense, layered branches and a central leader. These trees are ready for styling. Mauro Stemberger, respected for his energetic teaching and bold designs, will lead the workshop. He will show you how to work with this responsive species, covering advanced branch selection, wiring, and techniques for creating striking deadwood to reveal a classic bonsai look.

Registration is $175 (tree included).
Required materials: tools, wire.

Specimen Zelkova (Special 4-Hour Session)

WITH SUTHIN SUKOSOLVISIT
FRIDAY AFTERNOON 1PM-5PM

Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata) is a fantastic choice to showcase deciduous bonsai. With an elegant broom shape, sawtooth leaves, and autumn colors ranging from golden yellow to burgundy, these trees make a striking impression. Our specimens are large and field-grown, with thick trunks, mature bark, and strong root bases that are rarely found in regular nursery stock. Because these trees offer so much potential, we have extended this workshop to 4 hours to give you plenty of time to work on your design. Leading the session is Suthin Sukosolvisit, a master with many awards and a reputation for his skill in creating wonderful deciduous bonsai. Suthin will walk you through choosing the trunk line, pruning major branches, and wiring the structure. By the end, you’ll have a beautiful, high-quality tree to be proud of.

Registration is $300 (tree included).
Required materials: tools, wire, turntable (recommended).

Field-Grown Red Maples

WITH JENNIFER PRICE
FRIDAY AFTERNOON 2PM-5PM

The red maple (Acer rubrum) is a favorite native tree for creating impressive deciduous bonsai, with striking seasonal colors. The trees for this workshop have been carefully grown in the field, so they have thick trunks, strong taper, and well-developed radial roots (nebari) that would take many years to develop in a pot. Red maples respond well to pruning, producing fine branching and a stunning show of red leaves in autumn. Jennifer Price, an internationally recognized bonsai artist known for her expressive and natural style, will lead the workshop. She will show you how to turn field-grown trees into refined bonsai, offering advice on key structural decisions, bold styling, and the care needed to promote smaller leaves and stronger branch growth.

Registration is $200 (tree included).
Required materials: tools & wire.

Kaori Hime Tea Olive

WITH PEDRO MORALES
FRIDAY AFTERNOON 2PM-5PM
Osmanthus heterophyllus ‘Kaori Hime’, or Kaori Hime tea olive, is a dwarf evergreen from Japan, gaining popularity for fine-scale bonsai. It has tiny, sharply detailed, holly-shaped leaves similar to tropical Singapore Holly, but stands out for its toughness, handling cold down to -5°F. In late fall and winter, it puts on a show with lots of small, white flowers that fill the air with a strong, sweet scent. Its young branches are very flexible, it backbuds well on old wood, and its new spring growth has a touch of burgundy. All of this makes it a great and rewarding choice for bonsai styling. These 3-gallon workshop trees have been grown and pruned twice over the past two years, resulting in dense, multi-branched interiors and strong trunks. The workshop will be led by Pedro Morales, an internationally recognized bonsai expert. He will teach techniques for working with this evergreen, including how to choose branches, wire densely, and style the tree to highlight its compact shape and mature look.

Registration is $150 (tree included).
Required materials: tools & wire.

Pocomoke Crepe Myrtle [Sold Out]

WITH DAWN KOETTING
FRIDAY AFTERNOON 2PM-5PM

For a bonsai with compact seasonal color, the Pocomoke crepe myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica ‘Pocomoke’) is a great choice. Developed by the U.S. National Arboretum, this dwarf variety is known for its small, deep green leaves, colorful peeling bark, and bright pink to rose-red summer flowers. Unlike regular crepe myrtles, Pocomoke stays naturally compact and dense, making it perfect for small- to medium-sized bonsai. The trees for this workshop have twisty trunk bases and lots of branches, ready to be shaped. Dawn Koetting, a respected artist with a talent for styling deciduous and flowering trees, will lead the session. She will show you how to prune and wire your tree to highlight its trunk and help it bloom at its best.

Registration is $250 (tree included).
Required materials: tools, wire.

Bring-Your-Own Tree

WITH SUTHIN SUKOSOLVISIT
SATURDAY MORNING 9AM-12PM

Take your personal collection to the next level in this exclusive workshop with award-winning bonsai master Suthin Sukosolvisit. Bring a prized tree from your home bench that has hit a styling plateau, or bring raw material you just scouted from the convention vendor room, and Suthin will help you unlock its hidden potential. Renowned for his brilliant artistic vision, technical precision, and ability to see a masterpiece in any piece of stock, Suthin will work one-on-one with you to map out a clear, long-term design strategy. You will spend the session pruning, wiring, and refining your tree under his direct, master-level guidance.

Registration is $150 (tree not included).
Required materials: tools & wire.

Chinese Elm

WITH JENNIFER PRICE
SATURDAY MORNING 9AM-12PM

Chinese elm (Ulmus parvifolia) is prized in bonsai for its small leaves, fine branching, and rapid growth. The selected trees for this workshop stand out with dramatic, low-trunk movement and deeply textured bark, giving them an aged look while remaining a manageable size. With plenty of healthy branches, they are ideal for practicing pruning, wiring, and shaping a refined canopy. Jennifer Price, a well-known artist, will lead the workshop and share her artistic approach to bonsai design. She will show you how to see beyond the foliage and find each tree’s natural, graceful line, teaching you to balance strong structure with delicate branch details. By the end, you’ll have a unique, fast-growing bonsai that will quickly show the results of your work.

Registration is $125 (tree included).
Required materials: tools & wire.

Slab Pot Construction with Byron

WITH BYRON MYRICK
SATURDAY MORNING 9AM-12PM

A great bonsai deserves a container that highlights its character. In this hands-on workshop, ceramic artist Byron Myrick will show you the basics of building elegant slab pots. Instead of using a pottery wheel, Byron uses a clear, template-based method and offers several design templates with different wall shapes to suit your style. During the session, you’ll shape and refine your pot, then pick from Byron’s custom glaze samples to finish it. Afterward, Byron will take your pot to his studio for careful firing and glazing. He’ll ship your finished, gallery-quality pot to your door a couple of weeks later.

Registration is $225 (material included).
Required materials: none — everything will be provided.

PRIVATE DEMO! — Sculpting the Southwest

WITH MAURO STEMBERGER
SATURDAY MORNING 9AM-12PM

The Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei) has fine foliage, eye-catching deadwood, and rough, weathered bark. Bonsai enthusiasts appreciate this tough native tree from the American Southwest. It is a great choice for creating a rugged, ancient-looking bonsai. We are offering a private, interactive “demonstration-in-the-round” with world-renowned bonsai master Mauro Stemberger. With just 20 seats, everyone will get a close, front-row view of his work. Mauro is known for his energetic style and hands-on teaching. He will work on this impressive juniper in a setting where you can interact with him directly. You can ask questions, discuss design ideas, and see advanced bonsai techniques up close. This unique educational event is expected to sell out fast. After the session, Mauro’s finished bonsai will be auctioned during our live auction on Saturday night. Watch the demo, learn new techniques, share in Mauro’s artistic vision, and you might even take the tree home.

Registration is $150.

Collected Water Elm

WITH EVAN PARDUE
SATURDAY AFTERNOON 2PM-5PM

The water elm (Planera aquatica) is a native relative of true elms, popular among bonsai enthusiasts for its early-developing, mature bark. It grows well in wet conditions and has long, serrated leaves and flexible branches, making it easy and enjoyable to shape. The trees used in this workshop have strong trunks, good taper, and plenty of branches to help you create a realistic riverbank look. Evan Pardue, an artist with deep experience in native and wetland species, will lead the workshop. He will teach you his techniques for working with Water Elm, including how to choose and wire branches and how to care for the tree to encourage fast growth and striking bark.

Registration is $250 (tree included).
Required materials: tools & wire.

Specimen Podocarpus (Special 4-hour Session)

WITH JENNIFER PRICE
SATURDAY AFTERNOON 1PM-5PM

Bonsai artists value Podocarpus macrophyllus, or Buddhist Pine, for its dark green, strap-like leaves and graceful, layered shape. These trees have been carefully grown in a nursery for years, developing thick trunks, mature bark, and strong branches that give you a great starting point for styling. Because these trees are large and have so much potential, we’ve made this special workshop four hours long, so you get an extra hour of hands-on design time. Acclaimed artist Jennifer Price, known for her artistic eye, will guide you as you choose branches, create depth, and wire your tree into a polished shape. This is a rare chance to work with high-quality material and expert guidance, and to take home a striking conifer bonsai.

Registration is $350 (tree included).
Required materials: tools, wire, turntable (highly recommended).

Brazilian Rain Tree

WITH PEDRO MORALES
SATURDAY AFTERNOON 2PM-5PM

The Brazilian Rain Tree (Chloroleucon tortum) is a striking tropical species often used in bonsai. Its delicate leaves fold up at night or when it rains. The tree naturally grows with twists, has deeply grooved trunks, and smooth grey bark that gives it an aged look. The trees in this workshop have great movement, strong roots, and a solid branch structure, ready for further shaping. You will learn from Pedro Morales, an international expert in tropical bonsai. With years of experience and a clear teaching style, Pedro will show you how to prune, wire, and care for your rain tree so it stays healthy and looks its best. By the end, you’ll have a lively tropical bonsai to add to your collection.

Registration is $125 (tree included).
Required materials: tools & wire.

Bring-Your-Own Tree

WITH MAURO STEMBERGER
SATURDAY AFTERNOON 2PM-5PM

Bring your most challenging material, your favorite specimen, or a fresh find from the convention marketplace to style with international bonsai sensation Mauro Stemberger. Famous worldwide for his dramatic, highly expressive styling and dynamic use of wire, Mauro is a master at creating powerful, naturalistic silhouettes. In this interactive session, Mauro will evaluate your tree’s unique strengths, help you overcome structural hurdles, and push your design boundaries. Under his high-energy, expert tutelage, you will transform your material and master advanced techniques you can take home to the rest of your bench.

Registration is $150 (tree not included).
Required materials: tools & wire.