Bimer Bonsai Club is planning a course for members which will commence in September 2020. The course will have eleven 3-hour modules and run for a year and go through the 12-month calendar of activities that help to develop great bonsai in South East Queensland. Targeted at beginners to intermediate with reference notes and practical application to trees it is open to any club member. The course will be run by several committee and experienced club members.
It will be held on the first Saturday of every month at our Wavell Heights facility (Wavell Heights Community Hall, 76 Cressey Street, off Edinburgh Castle Road, Wavell Heights, Brisbane Queensland) from 9.00am to 12.00pm.
- The cost will be only $150 for the course and will include
- Three trees to learn from
- Significant notes and reference information
- The course will cover:
- How to keep your Bonsai alive.
- Plant selection and acquisition
- Techniques for developing Bonsai
- Principles of bonsai design
- A feature species each month
- History, Styles and sizes
- Tools, wiring, care, and maintenance
- Display, Tokonoma, Show display, Scrolls
- Pots, Stands, Shohin display and accents
- What to do each month with your trees.
We are seeking expressions of interest from Club Members to understand possible numbers. Please email your non-binding interest to participate to info@bimerbonsai.org.au or talk to Keith Stanley or a committee member at the next club meeting.
Feedback from Course participants
Comments from K
I’ve really enjoyed the course, and everything presented, and the style used both by PowerPoint and hands-on. I have appreciated the presentation style and opportunity to meet fellow bonsai club members who are interested in learning and sharing their experiences in a friendly atmosphere. I believe that by participating in the course, fellow club members can identify with those new to the club and appreciate genuine interest.
I have appreciated the 12 months approach simply for the discussion around the time of year i.e. season changes and what we should be doing with our Bonsai, this part has made it realistic and ‘real-time’ learning.
Comments from A
I feel the course has been a great success. Built on your enthusiasm, informative & interesting notes plus support from many experienced Bimer members.
Considering all the materials that have been provided, the quality of trees and hours in the course, the cost of $150 is good value.
Having the course on the same day as Bimer meeting works well and helps promote the course.
The practical, hands on experience has been a highlight for me. However, the YouTube instruction videos that were suggested provided noticeably clear & detailed wiring instructions. Excellent and a homework place for them.
Comments by P
I think the price is fair, considering the amount of work it gives you. At least, it should be easier next term…It is an investment for sure.
Happy with the length, would be happy with the use of some videos (could give you a break) followed by discussions. … when we talk about specific subjects, I can see the benefits of having a different presenter
Comments by PW
I think the course represents excellent value for money. At $150 for 11 sessions, it only works out to be $13.60 per sessions, and this is for 3-hour sessions. The fee also includes the supplied trees, wire, and pot, so the cost of the “tuition” probably works at to be not much more than $5 per session which, if anything, is probably too cheap.
The Saturday morning session has worked conveniently for me, particularly given that the sessions have been held prior to the regular club meetings.
There is an amazing amount of research and work that has been put into the course preparation and thank you for your efforts to put everything together which is very comprehensive. I have been very happy with your presentations at each meeting which have been very informative and enjoyable. It has been great to have Albert and a few of the other senior members provide some additional contribution and this has been great.
Comments by C
I thought it was a good & appropriate course. It has to be kept in mind that it is a beginner’s course. If the basics are explained it is a course “on the right track”. Your course does just that and more.