2024 Workshops, Programs, Seminars and Fundrasiers

If you are interested in renting the Garden space for an upcoming wedding or special event, click here.

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

Third Thursday 6-8pm, and Third Saturday 1-3pm of every month

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: BOBBY CURTTRIGHT

A love and curiosity for all living things has led Bobby on his journey that includes breeding seahorses, swimming with sharks, living and working in a PNW salmon hatchery, and eventually made its way into the ever evolving artistic world of Bonsai in 2012. After reading a beginner book and keeping 2 trees alive and well for a year, he began a more serious pursuit of the art form, in the form of a full time Japanese style apprenticeship with Bonsai Master Michael Hagedorn. Alongside his 3 year apprenticeship he was very fortunate to have traveled to Japan several times for weeks at a time to also study under Mr. Hagedorn’s sensei, the famous Mr. Shinji Suzuki and take in as much as possible from his amazing garden in Obuse, which is much like Gresham in its setting and climate, except they get much more snow in the winter. Bobby completed his apprenticeship in 2016 with the blessings of both Mr Hagedorn and Mr Suzuki who have an affinity for creating top class trees, displays, and bonsai gardens.

Bobby is now well rooted in the Gresham area, with his family moving to their current home over a decade ago, where he has built and operated Cascadia Bonsai since completing his apprenticeship. The home garden is mostly comprised of local and Japanese species, with many areas to create impromptu seasonal displays. Both Conifers and Deciduous are regarded as necessary for the balance of the garden, and tree sizes range anywhere from handheld to ‘I didn’t know bonsai can be that big!’. His style would be akin to a natural, older style of Japanese Bonsai to really let the tree tell its own story. Bobby enjoys working on whatever tree he has in front of him and encourages everyone to strive to create trees that will be appreciated long after we have passed them on to other generations.

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