Gresham Japanese Garden

The Art of Bonsai - Thursday
2024-02-15 13:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Kyoudou Center, 219 S. Main Avenue, Gresham, OR, 97080
The Art of Bonsai embodies the Japanese spirit with philosophy and aesthetics harmonizing and complimenting each other. Bonsai is more than just an art form – it is a way of life and thinking; a way of cultivating patience, nobility, and sympathy – and this is the reason why bonsai is important for Japanese culture. Therefore, to understand bonsai, you must learn and understand each of its core values ​​in order to experience it with a calm and open mind.
Explore Gresham Japanese Garden’s Art of Bonsai workshop with Mark Vossbrink. Each month will be a different project in creating your own bonsai. The $40.00 cost includes all materials. A show and tell is part of the workshop, so feel free to bring one of your pieces from home.
Please bring your own pruners or snippers.
Cost: $40 per class
2024 Dates: Third Thursday or third Saturday of the month. The project is repeated.
Time: 1pm – 3pm
Place: The Gresham Japanese Garden’s Kyoudou Center, the building at the south end of Main City Park. There is a parking lot near the building.
DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS CLASS IS THE MAKE=UP WORKSHOP FROM JANUARY’S, IT FILLED UP QUICKLY.

The Art of Bonsai - Saturday
2024-02-17 13:00 - 15:00
The Art of Bonsai embodies the Japanese spirit with philosophy and aesthetics harmonizing and complimenting each other. Bonsai is more than just an art form – it is a way of life and thinking; a way of cultivating patience, nobility, and sympathy – and this is the reason why bonsai is important for Japanese culture. Therefore, to understand bonsai, you must learn and understand each of its core values ​​in order to experience it with a calm and open mind.
Explore Gresham Japanese Garden’s Art of Bonsai workshop with Mark Vossbrink. Each month will be a different project in creating your own bonsai. The $40.00 cost includes all materials. A show and tell is part of the workshop, so feel free to bring one of your pieces from home.
Please bring your own pruners or snippers.
Cost: $40 per class
2024 Dates: Third Thursday or third Saturday of the month. Project is repeated.
Time: 1pm – 3pm
Place: The Gresham Japanese Garden’s Kyoudou Center, the building at the south end of Main City Park. There is a parking lot near the building.
DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS CLASS IS THE MAKE=UP WORKSHOP FROM JANUARY’S, IT FILLED UP QUICKLY.

The Art of Bonsai - Saturday
2024-03-16 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-04-20 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-05-18 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-06-15 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-07-20 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-08-17 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-09-21 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-11-16 13:00 - 15:00
The Art of Bonsai embodies the Japanese spirit with philosophy and aesthetics harmonizing and complimenting each other. Bonsai is more than just an art form – it is a way of life and thinking; a way of cultivating patience, nobility, and sympathy – and this is the reason why bonsai is important for Japanese culture. Therefore, to understand bonsai, you must learn and understand each of its core values ​​in order to experience it with a calm and open mind.
Explore Gresham Japanese Garden’s Art of Bonsai workshop with Mark Vossbrink. Each month will be a different project in creating your own bonsai. The $40.00 cost includes all materials. A show and tell is part of the workshop, so feel free to bring one of your pieces from home.
Please bring your own pruners or snippers.
Cost: $40 per class
2024 Dates: Third Thursday or third Saturday of the month. Project is repeated.
Time: 1pm – 3pm
Place: The Gresham Japanese Garden’s Kyoudou Center, the building at the south end of Main City Park. There is a parking lot near the building.

The Art of Bonsai - Thursday
2024-03-21 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-04-18 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-05-16 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-06-20 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-07-18 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-08-15 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-09-19 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-10-17 13:00 - 15:00 and 1 more date
The Art of Bonsai embodies the Japanese spirit with philosophy and aesthetics harmonizing and complimenting each other. Bonsai is more than just an art form – it is a way of life and thinking; a way of cultivating patience, nobility, and sympathy – and this is the reason why bonsai is important for Japanese culture. Therefore, to understand bonsai, you must learn and understand each of its core values ​​in order to experience it with a calm and open mind.
Explore Gresham Japanese Garden’s Art of Bonsai workshop with Mark Vossbrink. Each month will be a different project in creating your own bonsai. The $40.00 cost includes all materials. A show and tell is part of the workshop, so feel free to bring one of your pieces from home.
Please bring your own pruners or snippers.
Cost: $40 per class
2023 Dates: Third Thursday or third Saturday of the month.
Time: 1pm – 3pm
Place: The Gresham Japanese Garden’s Kyoudou Center, the building at the south end of Main City Park. There is a parking lot near the building.

The Art of Bonsai - Saturday
2024-10-12 13:00 - 15:00
The Art of Bonsai embodies the Japanese spirit with philosophy and aesthetics harmonizing and complimenting each other. Bonsai is more than just an art form – it is a way of life and thinking; a way of cultivating patience, nobility, and sympathy – and this is the reason why bonsai is important for Japanese culture. Therefore, to understand bonsai, you must learn and understand each of its core values ​​in order to experience it with a calm and open mind.
Explore Gresham Japanese Garden’s Art of Bonsai workshop with Mark Vossbrink. Each month will be a different project in creating your own bonsai. The $40.00 cost includes all materials. A show and tell is part of the workshop, so feel free to bring one of your pieces from home.
Please bring your own pruners or snippers.
THIS MONTH’S CLASS HAS CHANGED TO THE SECOND SATURDAY, THE 12TH.
Cost: $40 per class
2024 Dates: Third Thursday or third Saturday of the month. Project is repeated.
Time: 1pm – 3pm
Place: The Gresham Japanese Garden’s Kyoudou Center, the building at the south end of Main City Park. There is a parking lot near the building.

2025 The Art of Bonsai - Jan Thursday
2025-01-16 13:00 - 15:00

2025 The Art of Bonsai - Jan Saturday
2025-01-18 13:00 - 15:00

2025 The Art of Bonsai - Feb Saturday
2025-02-15 13:00 - 15:00
The Art of Bonsai embodies the Japanese spirit with philosophy and aesthetics harmonizing and complimenting each other. Bonsai is more than just an art form – it is a way of life and thinking; a way of cultivating patience, nobility, and sympathy – and this is the reason why bonsai is important for Japanese culture. Therefore, to understand bonsai, you must learn and understand each of its core values ​​in order to experience it with a calm and open mind.
Explore Gresham Japanese Garden’s Art of Bonsai workshop with Mark Vossbrink. Each month will be a different project in creating your own bonsai. The $40.00 cost includes all materials. A show and tell is part of the workshop, so feel free to bring one of your pieces from home. Please bring your own pruners or snippers.
February’s subject matter will be a forcynthia shrub. Explore the different bonsai styles to show off the beautiful spring bloom.
Cost: $40 per class
2024 Dates: Third Thursday or third Saturday of the month. Project is repeated.
Time: 1pm – 3pm
Place: The Gresham Japanese Garden’s Kyoudou Center, the building at the south end of Main City Park. There is a parking lot near the building.

2025 The Art of Bonsai - Feb Thursday
2025-02-20 13:00 - 15:00

2025 The Art of Bonsai - March Saturday
2025-03-15 13:00 - 15:00
March Project: Mugo pine grove on a flat stone.
The Art of Bonsai embodies the Japanese spirit with philosophy and aesthetics harmonizing and complimenting each other. Bonsai is more than just an art form – it is a way of life and thinking; a way of cultivating patience, nobility, and sympathy – and this is the reason why bonsai is important for Japanese culture. Therefore, to understand bonsai, you must learn and understand each of its core values ​​in order to experience it with a calm and open mind.
Explore Gresham Japanese Garden’s Art of Bonsai workshop. Each month will be a different project in creating your own bonsai. The $40.00 cost includes all materials. A show and tell is part of the workshop, so feel free to bring one of your pieces from home.
Please bring your own pruners or snippers.
Cost: $40 per class
2025 Dates: Third Thursday or third Saturday of the month. Project is repeated.
Time: 1pm – 3pm
Place: The Gresham Japanese Garden’s Kyoudou Center, the building at the south end of Main City Park. There is a parking lot near the building.

2025 The Art of Bonsai - March Thursday
2025-03-20 13:00 - 15:00

2025 The Art of Bonsai - Apr-Thursday
2025-04-17 13:00 - 15:00
The Art of Bonsai embodies the Japanese spirit with philosophy and aesthetics harmonizing and complimenting each other. Bonsai is more than just an art form – it is a way of life and thinking; a way of cultivating patience, nobility, and sympathy – and this is the reason why bonsai is important for Japanese culture. Therefore, to understand bonsai, you must learn and understand each of its core values ​​in order to experience it with a calm and open mind.
Explore Gresham Japanese Garden’s Art of Bonsai workshop. Each month will be a different project in creating your own bonsai. The $40.00 cost includes all materials. A show and tell is part of the workshop, so feel free to bring one of your pieces from home.
Please bring your own pruners or snippers.
Cost: $40 per class
2025 Dates: Third Thursday or third Saturday of the month. Project is repeated.
Time: 1pm – 3pm
Place: The Gresham Japanese Garden’s Kyoudou Center, the building at the south end of Main City Park. There is a parking lot near the building.

2025 The Art of Bonsai - Apr-Saturday
2025-04-19 13:00 - 15:00

Bonsai Critique - Afternoon Session
2025-05-03 13:00 - 15:00
The ‘Bonsai Critique’ brings together bonsai enthusiasts for an in-depth critique session led by Gresham Japanese Garden’s newest instructor, Bobby Curttright. Participants will present a tree for constructive feedback on aesthetics, health, and styling techniques.
Throughout the critique, Bobby will provide insights on refinement, branch structure, and long-term development strategies, helping all students gain a deeper understanding of training, health, and development fostering an engaging and educational atmosphere.
Attendees will leave with valuable knowledge and inspiration to enhance their trees, making the event a rewarding experience for both beginners and seasoned practitioners.

2025 The Art of Bonsai - May-Thursday
2025-05-15 18:00 - 20:00
MAY AND SEPTEMBER PROJECTS: AIR LAYERING AND GROUND LAYERING FOR BONSAI
🌱 Air Layering & Ground Layering Bonsai Workshop
Location: Gresham Japanese Garden – Kyoudou CenterMaterials Provided | Bring Your Bonsai Tools
Overview
Looking for an affordable and effective way to create your own bonsai tree? Join us for this hands-on workshop where you’ll learn air layering—a technique that allows you to grow a new tree by separating a branch from an existing one.
We’ll cover several approaches to air layering, discuss which tree species respond best, and walk through how to plan your bonsai before separation.
We’ll also explore ground layering, a related technique used to correct aesthetic issues on trees already in containers. Both methods will be demonstrated on real trees in our greenhouse, and students will get to perform their own air layer.

🌿 Note: Once you learn air layering, you may start scouting branches all over the neighborhood! (Please get permission before layering someone else’s tree.)

What’s Included

✅ Expert instruction
✅ Greenhouse demonstration
✅ One-on-one guidance during hands-on practice
✅ Follow-up class in September for separation and potting

Part 2: Follow-Up Class – September
In September, we’ll host a second class to check on your air layers and (if successful) guide you through the separation and potting process. To ensure everyone can participate—even if their first attempt doesn’t take—we’ll have extra air layers available.
Limited spots available. Secure yours today!

September Thursday's Class
