New-Member Workshops

New Member Workshops are designed specifically for those with little to no bonsai experience. We provide two workshops to each participating new club member. The repotting workshops are offered in late winter, two sessions are typically offered around mid February to March. The bonsai design workshop sessions are offered in the fall, again typically two offered around mid October to mid November. These workshops cover basic bonsai design, wiring techniques, and how to repot a tree.  There is a $75 fee per member to cover the cost of materials. Memebers receives a tree, bonsai pot, bonsai soil, and aluminum wire for working on their tree. Bonsai tools are provided for use during the workshops.

Videos of the workshops are available on our video library page in the members area. Workshop handouts are available there as well.

New member workshop schedules are not put together in advance and are not advertised. Only new PSBA club members, within two years, are permitted to take these workshops. For more information about New Member Workshops, contact us.

Fall 2026 Sessions

The New Member Fall Classes, focusing on design and wiring, are set to be held Sunday, October 18 and Saturday, October 24, from 12:30–5:00pm. To register for a class session:

1. Pick one date

2. Contact Elsa Durham at psba.new.members@gmail.com to secure a space in the class.

3. Pay the one-time fee of $75, which covers both the Fall & Spring class sessions and all related materials. Pay Here

Class will be held at Haller Lake Community Center, 12579 Densmore Ave. N. Seattle. Parking is available both in front and in back of the building. Entry to class is through the door to the immediate left of the staircase in the front of the building.

Class size is limited and assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Please let Elsa know if you are available on the alternate date if your first choice class is filled.

Spring 2026 Sessions

2026 Spring Sessions of PSBA’s New Member Workshop were held March 7 and March 29

Three Spring (repotting) Sessions of PSBA’s 2026 New Member workshops happened March 7, March 29, and April 12. Each new PSBA member is invited to take one of each session (Spring and Fall) within two years of joining the club. Participants must be current PSBA members and must pay the one-time $75 fee for materials. The fee must be paid on before attending the workshop. Members who have attended the Fall session (already paid the fee) must bring the tree they received in that styling workshop to work on in the repotting workshop.

Class sizes are limited. Register early to secure your seat. Please tell us your preferred class date and if you would be available for the other date.

Guest Artist Workshops

PSBA guest artist workshops are one of the most rewarding and educational benefits of membership. In these workshops, you’ll receive hands-on, practical instruction from regionally, nationally, or internationally recognized bonsai professionals.

Workshops may be held on Saturday, Sunday, and/or Monday preceding the Monday evening general meeting. They typically run for four hours, with four to eight participants. A limited number of silent observer slots are also available.

Locations vary depending on a number of factors, but in recent years workshops have typically been held at the private residence of a trusted member, a community center, community college, or similar venue. Cost varies depending on the artist but is usually around $60–$90.

We strongly encourage members to take advantage of the opportunity to work with these professionals at an affordable rate, subsidized by the club. Many of these artists have their own private schools or study groups that are significantly more expensive and/or have waiting lists, making a PSBA workshop with them an opportunity worth taking!

Who Can Participate?

Workshops with visiting artists are open to all paid-up PSBA members, regardless of their level of experience. You don’t need to be a seasoned veteran with superb trees to participate! To get the most out of the experience, however, we recommend that you do the following before signing up:

• Complete our two-part New Member workshop/class.

• Attend as a silent observer on one or two occasions.

• Participate in your local PSBA peer-to-peer study group on a few occasions.

• Become familiar with the fundamentals of wiring, pruning, and styling.

• Build a reasonable level of confidence in keeping your plants strong and healthy.

Silent Observers

In addition to participant spaces, a limited number of silent observer slots are available for a nominal fee ($10–$15). These are ideal for newer members or practitioners who may not yet have the trees or fundamental skills to get the most out of participating in the workshop.

Selecting Appropriate Plant Material

All material should be as healthy, vigorous, and well-established as possible. Trees exhibiting any signs of disease, pest infestation, or stress are not acceptable for workshops. Please do not bring trees that have recently been repotted, collected, imported, styled, or heavily pruned.

Likewise, please avoid very young seedlings or saplings with insignificant trunks and minimal branching. Good workshop material will generally have a fairly substantial trunk, plenty of primary and secondary branching to work with, and lots of “options.”

Pre-bonsai that has had some bonsai-specific training is often preferable to totally raw material from a general nursery or garden center. Avoid examples that lack low branches, have foliage only near the ends of the branches, and/or have only very thick, heavy branches that will be challenging or impossible to manipulate.

Please take a look at the sample photos below for examples of good and poor workshop material. If you’re unsure whether a tree is appropriate for a guest artist workshop, ask the workshop coordinator or a senior club member in advance.

We recommend bringing two to four trees so you’re sure not to run out of work. The artist may recommend working on one tree over another, or perhaps a tree mostly needs to be discussed and only requires a handful of decisive actions.

Species, Season, and Specialty

While our guest artists are proficient with most species and all aspects of bonsai, many specialize in or are particularly well known for working with certain species, styles, sizes, or techniques. We will highlight these specialties in the artist bio and workshop announcements and encourage you to select the tree(s) you’ll bring accordingly.

Likewise, please consider whether the work you’re hoping to do on a particular tree is appropriate for that species at that time of year. You can reference the monthly work calendar on the website or consult the guest artist workshop coordinator or a senior member if you’re unsure.

Tools and Supplies

You are responsible for bringing your own tools and supplies to a guest artist workshop. Generally speaking, it’s better to bring it and not need it than vice versa.

At a minimum, you should have bonsai pruning scissors, a concave branch cutter, pliers, wire cutters, a small saw, and cut paste. A turntable can be very helpful, allowing the tree to be examined and worked on from various positions. Blocks, wedges, and small sandbags can also be useful for adjusting the planting angle.

We encourage participants to label or uniquely mark their tools and bring them in a roll or case to avoid mix-ups or lost tools. Tools should be clean, sharp, and disinfected.

Bring plenty of wire in most or all gauges. Again, it’s better to have it and not need it than vice versa—you don’t want to run out of suitable wire halfway through styling a tree!

Please bring your own water and snacks. The workshop coordinator may choose to provide food during the lunch hour, but don’t assume that they will.

Repotting

Repotting is not generally conducted at guest artist workshops unless stated otherwise in the workshop announcement or you have obtained permission from the workshop coordinator.

If repotting is to be performed, please bring a root hook, root cutter, sickle, chopsticks, drainage mesh, multiple pot options, soil scoops, a tarp, and plenty of prepared (i.e., sifted and graded) growing media, in addition to the standard tools mentioned above.

Etiquette

Please keep in mind that all participants deserve an equal amount of the instructor’s time. Respect the scheduled start and end times as a courtesy to the artist, hosting venue, and your fellow participants.

If you are a silent observer, please live up to the name. Refrain from asking questions, making unsolicited comments, or conducting private conversations that may distract or disturb others.

Recap

PSBA guest artist workshops are a fantastic opportunity to learn bonsai from a master in a hands-on, fairly personalized format alongside a handful of fellow members. This learning environment is different from the demonstrations and lectures that constitute the majority of our general meeting programming, as well as from local study groups.

While people of all skill and experience levels are welcome, you can maximize the benefit of the experience by coming well prepared with the trees, tools, and knowledge described above.

A great value for the money, these workshops are ideal for those who have found their feet with the basics of bonsai care and creation and are looking to take the next step in their bonsai education.

To enroll in a guest artist workshop or for more information, contact the workshop coordinator.