Pruning Program

GJG is thrilled to announce its Pruning Training Program taught by professional aesthetic pruners.

The pruning courses are designed for gardeners and landscape professionals interested in pruning for the health of a plant and for the aesthetics of the landscape, while advancing their pruning and plant knowledge and skills. Each course focuses on different aspects of pruning in regards to different plant material.
The winter pruning training program includes three courses taught on Zoom with one-hour recaps held at Tsuru Island. After the courses and recaps, there will be an all-day hands-on workshop for 12 people who have completed the courses.
The all-day workshop is a hands-on training with Francheska Snyder and her assistant. You must take all three winter pruning courses to participate in the all-day workshop. The course recaps are not mandatory to participate in the workshop. Maximum participation is 12 students for the workshop portion.

Costs

Pruning Course (Zoom): $45 each

Course Recap (onsite): $20 each
You have an opportunity to see demonstrations, ask further questions, and meet your instructor in person.

All-day Workshop: $100

Pruning Courses

Fundamentals of Pruning, Zoom: Thursday, February 9th, 6-8pm

In the Fundamentals of Pruning course students will learn more than just how to make cuts and shape plants within the landscape. Topics discussed will range from why we prune, what tools should be used, and even some basic plant biology—all of which form the foundation and provide the necessary background knowledge needed to prune woody plants correctly. After covering these synergistic topics, the course will discuss how to approach a variety of plants found in landscapes.

Zoom courses are recorded and available for two weeks after the course date.

Fundamentals of Pruning Course Recap, Onsite: Saturday, February 11th, 12:30-1:30pm

Lincoln Proud: Instructor

Lincoln has a wide background in horticultural and garden experience that spans many styles and climates. His formal training took place at Longwood Gardens where he completed the Professional Gardener training program. Since then he has studied in Japan and worked at many gardens including the Portland Japanese Garden, a private estate in Texas, as well as the Boyce Thompson Southwest Arboretum and Wallace Desert Garden in Arizona. Most recently Lincoln is involved at Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden and now the Gresham Japanese Garden.

Introduction to Aesthetic Pruning Approach, Zoom: March 9th, Thursday 6-8pm

Learn to apply the aesthetic pruning approach to trees and shrubs in your garden. Including how to assess your tree, identify the role it will play in your garden and develop a pruning plan to achieve your goals.

Zoom courses are recorded and available for two weeks after the course date.

Introduction to Aesthetic Pruning Approach Course Recap, Onsite: Saturday, March 11th, 12:30-1:30pm

This is an optional one-hour Course Recap to the Introduction to Aesthetic Pruning Approach course. You must be signed up for the Introduction to Aesthetic Pruning Approach course in order to attend this recap class.

The Course Recap will be onsite at Gresham Japanese Garden’s Tsuru Island. Tsuru Island will be your classroom to practice assessing trees in a garden context and develop a pruning plan.

Maryann Lewis: Instructor

Maryann Lewis is an APA Certified Aesthetic Pruner® and a co-founder and past president of the Aesthetic Pruners Association. She began teaching in 2005 as an adjunct instructor at the Academy of Art San Francisco and in 2012 began teaching various aesthetic pruning classes with the Marin Master Gardeners Pruning Guild. Maryann was a guest instructor for the Fresno Central High School Agriculture Department in 2015 and was a lead instructor for two North American Japanese Garden Association pruning workshops in 2014 and 2015. In 2022 she was one of three pruning instructors for the International Japanese Garden Training Center’s Waza to Kokoro seminar. Maryann has taught workshops and given presentations for the Aesthetic Pruners Association, the American Conifer Society, The Hoffman Center for the Arts in Manzanita, Oregon, the JM Winery in Woodinville Washington, and now the Gresham Japanese Garden.

Assessing and Pruning in an Overgrown Landscape, Zoom: April 13th, Thursday 6-8pm

Managing an overgrown landscape can be overwhelming. How do you even start? Learn ways to gracefully bring your landscape back into a scaled composition.

Zoom courses are recorded and available for two weeks after the course date.

Assessing and Pruning in an Overgrown Landscape Course Recap, Onsite: Saturday, April 15th, 12:30-1:30pm

This is an optional one-hour Course Recap to the Assessing and Pruning in an Overgrown Landscape course. You must be signed up for the Assessing and Pruning in an Overgrown Landscape course in order to attend this recap class.
The Course Recap will be onsite at Gresham Japanese Garden’s Tsuru Island and will be our visual classroom to review the online curriculum and assess the Island’s landscape.

Francheska Snyder

Originally from Pennsylvania, Francheska Snyder is the current owner/operator of Niwa Method, a landscape contracting business specializing in Japanese gardens in the Portland area. She has previously worked in public non-profit gardens such as the Portland Japanese Garden, Shofuso Japanese House and Garden, and Wyck Historic House and Garden. She has participated in work-study opportunities assisting Japanese garden builds across the United States, in Italy, and in various regions of Japan. Francheska earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2009. She holds a certificate in Ornamental Horticulture from Longwood Gardens, a 3rd Term Master Level certificate from the Ohara School of Ikebana and is a recognized Chanticleer Scholar. She also uses her time and talent on the board of Leach Botanical Garden, and consulting and teaching for the Gresham Japanese Garden.

Pruning Workshop, Onsite: May 6th, 9am–3pm

In addition to the Zoom courses and onsite course recaps, the all-day pruning workshop May 6th from 9am – 3pm will combine everything you learned from the courses into an all-day hands-on pruning workshop at Vanport International’s Japanese Garden in Boring, Oregon.

The workshop will be limited to 12 participants with two instructors for an optimal learning experience.

Work Site

We are always on the look-out for work sites. Take a look at the site requirements and if you think that you are a good fit, contact us at administrator@greshamjapanesegarden.org.