2024 Workshops, Programs, Seminars and Fundrasiers

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Schedule

​October

• Art of Bonsai
• Ikebana for Every Season

November

• Ikebana for Every Season
• Art of Bonsai

December

• Art of Bonsai
• Ikebana for Every Season
• Wreathmaking Workshop

The Art of Bonsai – $40

Third Thursday and Third Saturday of every month from 1-3pm.

Explore the art of growing and creating Bonsai displays. Connect with nature and experience the stress-relieving benefits of this hobby. The workshop is 2 hours and a project is completed each month to take home. Each class is a different project. Cost includes all material and instruction. Please bring your own pruning shears, or snippers and pliers to class.

Class will be held in the Kyoudou Center (building closest to Springwater Trail). Registration is mandatory.

INSTRUCTOR: MARK VOSSBRINK
Mark Vossbrink has been teaching the art of bonsai for many years. He grew up in Hawaii. Before retirement,  Mark owned and operated a floral business in Portland.

Ikebana for Every Season

Ikebana is one of the traditional Japanese art forms that uses plant and other materials and was established in the 15th century though the origin goes back farther.

Ikebana has three main components: the natural material (flowers, tree branches, leaves, or conifer needles), the vase, and the kendzan (a device for strengthening the stem and keeping it in the desired position). The basic aesthetic principle of Ikebana is refined simplicity, achieved by bringing out the natural beauty of the material, which determines the bouquet’s asymmetrical composition and contrasting colors and textures.

In these series of workshops, Nana Bellerud will cover the basic concept, techniques, tools and equipment, and plant care for Ikebana. Participants will make 1 basic style and 1 freestyle of Ikebana with emphasis on seasonal themes.

Participants may use the Garden’s vases and tools to experiment with, but if you want to take your creations home, you will either need to purchase our kits, or bring your own.

Cost – $50

(Includes plant material and instruction). Containers and kensan will be available to borrow for the class.

INSTRUCTOR: NANA G. BELLERUD

Nana G. Bellerud has been studying the Sogetsu School of Ikebana since 2005 and continues to be inspired and have new insights from its teachings. Nana demonstrates, exhibits, and teaches ikebana at a wide range of venues including the Portland Art Museum, Portland Japanese Garden, and Leach Botanical Garden. Through her demonstrations and workshops, she seeks to introduce others to the art of ikebana and to intrigue and inspire them. Beyond simply producing a beautiful work of art with flowers and natural objects, she shows her audience how ikebana explores artistic concepts such as balance, contrast, and negative space. Nana is currently serving as Branch Director of Sogetsu Portland and is a past President of Ikebana International Portland Chapter #47.

HISTORY

Sogetsu Ikebana is enjoyed throughout the world. The Sogetsu School stays within the family. Today it is run under the direction the 4th Iemoto Akane Teshigahara (Sofu’s granddaughter). Under her style, while the relationships existing between the elements of line, mass, space and colour remain unchanged in Sogetsu principles, she has introduced greater emphasis upon floral material and colour. Akane’s focus is on maintaining the relevance of ikebana with contemporary life.

READ MORE ABOUT THE ART OF IKEBANA

Free Seminars

We’re excited to say, 2024’s schedule is all about community engagement: free educational classes taught by GJG volunteers with Al’s Garden Center partnering on a few of them.

• Growing and Caring for Blueberries

• Pollinators in Your Yard

• Fundamentals of Pruning

• Spring Lawn Maintenance

• And more…

Pruning Training 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.

Fundraisers

We are offering three fundraisers this year to fund the operations of the Gresham Japanese Garden.

• Plant Sale: May 6-12, 2024
• Wreathmaking Workshop, December 2nd, 6-8pm
• Wreathmaking Workshop, December 8th 2-4pm