The Art of Bonsai

Offering monthly project-based workshops, Group Kobo, and Styling Kobo under the direction of bonsai master, Bobby Curttright

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Monthly Project-based Workshops

Each workshop is designed to foster creativity, connect individuals with nature, and provide the stress-relieving benefits associated with bonsai. The curriculum remains consistent between Thursday and Saturday sessions. Due to the varying plant materials used each month, participants can expect a unique experience, in a relaxed environment inside Gresham Japanese Garden’s Kyoudou Center. 

In addition to the hands-on teaching, a workshop may focus on a specific bonsai technique—important to learn. 

Workshop Details:

Schedule: Third Thursday and third Saturday of every month

Time: Saturday 1–3pm or Thursday, 6-8pm

Location: Kyoudou Center, Gresham Japanese Garden (inside Main City Park, building closest to Springwater Trail)

Instructor: Bonsai Master, Bobby Curttright

Fee: $45 per class, covers all materials and instruction

What to Bring: Students should bring their own pruning shears or snippers, and pliers

Bobby Curttright Biography

A love and curiosity for all living things has led Bobby on his journey that includes breeding seahorses, swimming with sharks, living and working in a PNW salmon hatchery, and eventually making his way into the ever evolving artistic world of Bonsai in 2012. After reading a beginner book and keeping two trees alive and well for a year, he began a more serious pursuit of the art form, in the form of a full time Japanese style apprenticeship, with Bonsai Master Michael Hagedorn. Alongside his three-year apprenticeship, on occasion he was very fortunate to travel to Japan for weeks at a time to also study under Mr. Hagedorn’s sensei, the famous Mr. Shinji Suzuki and take in as much as possible from his amazing garden in Obuse. This quiet town in central Japan is much like Gresham in its setting and climate, except it gets much more snow in the winter. Bobby completed his apprenticeship in 2016 with the blessings of both Mr Hagedorn and Mr Suzuki who have an affinity for creating top class trees, displays, and bonsai gardens.

Bobby is now well rooted in the Gresham area, with his family moving to their current home over a decade ago, where he has built and operated Cascadia Bonsai since completing his apprenticeship. The home garden is mostly comprised of local and Japanese species, with many areas to create impromptu seasonal displays. Both conifers and deciduous are regarded as necessary for the balance of the garden, and tree sizes range anywhere from handheld to ‘I didn’t know bonsai can be that big!’. His style would be akin to a natural, older style of Japanese Bonsai to really let the tree tell its own story. Bobby enjoys working on whatever tree he has in front of him and encourages everyone to strive to create trees that will be appreciated long after we have passed them on to other generations.

Workshop Cancellation Policy

We do not issue refunds on workshop registrations. 

If you register for a workshop and later become unable to attend, we will gladly offer a credit for your registration amount to use toward any future event if you notify us at least 24 hours before the workshop.

To cancel and request a credit, please email us at administrator@greshamjapanesegarden.com. Workshop credits are not redeemable for cash. Please note: Credits cannot be given for registrations for workshops hosted by visiting/out of town instructors. Due to the nature of these one-time-only workshops, all events hosted by special guests are subject to this policy. Thank you for understanding!

In the event a class is cancelled or rescheduled due to inclement weather, or any incident where GJG or its instructors are at fault, you will receive a credit to take another class at a later date.

About Our Policy

Our workshops require a great deal of pre-planning, including ordering supplies and tools, booking staff, and making commitments to pay our instructors — all based on the number of students who register. In fairness to all of our customers we are unable to make exceptions to our policy, including for reasons of illness, travel, or work hours. If you are unable to attend a workshop at the last minute, we suggest giving your spot to a friend!

Thank you for understanding!

The GJG Team