2026 The Art of Bonsai: Nov-Saturday

Aluminum Wiring Techniques with Pacific Willow

Learn one of the most essential skills in bonsai—wiring. This hands-on workshop focuses on shaping and styling bonsai using aluminum wire on a deciduous tree, an indispensable tool for bonsai artists. Participants will work with a Pacific Willow (Salix lasiandra), a Pacific Northwest favorite with graceful, flexible branches and long, glossy leaves offers a soft, flowing appearance that is well suited to informal upright, slanting, clump, and windswept bonsai styles.

You’ll learn how to apply wire correctly, bend branches safely, and create movement and structure that will guide your tree’s future development. Proper wiring techniques, timing, and aftercare will all be covered, giving you the confidence to continue shaping your bonsai at home.

This workshop is a compliment to October’s workshop where wiring with aluminum was taught on an evergreen, and serves as the foundation for our December Copper Wiring Workshop. We’ll discuss the differences between aluminum and copper wire, when each should be used, and why experienced bonsai artists often choose copper for refined conifer styling. If you’re interested in advancing your skills, this workshop is the perfect preparation for taking the next step in December.

What You’ll Learn

• How to wire a bonsai using aluminum wire
• Proper branch positioning and shaping techniques
• When and how to remove wire safely
• The differences between aluminum and copper wire
• How wiring influences long-term bonsai development

Who Should Attend

Ideal for beginners and intermediate bonsai enthusiasts who want to build a strong foundation in wiring techniques and prepare for more advanced styling with copper wire in our December workshop.

Leave with a beautifully wired Western Hemlock, practical wiring skills, and a deeper understanding of how thoughtful styling transforms a tree into a bonsai.

Class will take place in the greenhouse.