Bonsai Gone Native:

The Bimer Bonsai Club, in partnership with the Brisbane City Council and the Mt Coot-Tha Bonsai House, is excited to present Bonsai Gone Native. This exclusive event will bring together bonsai experts and enthusiasts from across the country, all with a shared passion for showcasing the magnificence of our native flora. We hope that the event inspires attendants to try their hands and experiment creating bonsai with local species.

Activities will be held at the Botanical Garden Bonsai House and Auditorium.

Program:

The complete program for the event can be found here! Here's a glimpse of what awaits you at Bonsai Gone Native:

Workshops:

Exclusive Friday Workshops by Bonsai Master Instructors Marcela Ferreira and Hugh Grant, who have both made a name for themselves globally as experts in Australian Trees as Bonsai, and a FREE Sunday workshop with our local experts Albert Garcia and Steve Cullum. Our expert instructors will individually guide each participant through the design of their tree and set a task to master the techniques of shaping and styling for the participant to achieve. These will be three-hour Masterclass Workshop, limited to 10 participants per session.

There will also be spots for observers to watch the workshops and obtain knowledge on how to work with native species.

Presentations / Demonstrations:

Saturday and Sunday FREE Live Demonstrations and presentations: Witness the magic unfold as acclaimed bonsai artists bring raw material to life, demonstrating the art of transforming Australian native trees into stunning Bonsai creations. Gain valuable insights, tips and tricks as they share their expertise with you. Guided tours of the Australian Native Bonsai exhibition along with a walking tour of the new Bonsai House.

Native Bonsai Display:

Our presenters will talk about their journeys in bonsai, specialised knowledge in Australian natives as bonsai subjects, and will do a demonstration on working with Australian natives, showcasing the initial styling of a tree and techniques used for natives.

Bonsai Marketplace:

Browse through our sales area dedicated to a wide selection of Australian Native Bonsai stock and developed trees, bonsai tools, pots, soil and other essential supplies. Our marketplace will feature trusted vendors who specialise in native bonsai materials. Take home a treasure that will remind you of the unforgettable experience you had at Bonsai Gone Native.

Don't miss out on this opportunity:

Come and be part of this extraordinary event that celebrates the harmonious fusion of art, nature and culture. Together, let's explore the unique beauty of Australian Native Trees as Bonsai and create lasting memories that will inspire your bonsai journey for years to come

Our Instructors / Presenters:

Marcella Ferreira

Marcela Ferreira is the founding member of the Victorian Native Bonsai Club, and she has filled her small inner-city garden in Melbourne with her exquisite creations and is now a specialist of Australian native bonsai. She has previously won the National Arboretum’s Native Bonsai Acquisition Prize

Hugh Grant

Bonsai professional and designer Hugh Grant of is a member of Tree Makers, a studio and practice located high in the upper Blue Mountains of NSW Australia. Tree Makers specialises in Australian Native trees and plants. In 2016 he interned with Ryan Neil for Mirai Bonsai in Oregon, USA.

Our Tutors:

Albert Garcia

Albert Garcia has been involved with bonsai for 30 years, and in the last 10 – 15 he has been working and experimenting with native species. He is a long-time member of the Bimer Bonsai Club and has a focus on teaching members all aspects of native bonsai.

Keith Stanley

Keith got hooked on bonsai in 1981 in Melbourne by visiting Lindsay Farr’s “Farm” in the Dandenong’s. With a massive interest in a huge variety of species of trees, in the last 5 years he has been learning more and more about Australian Native bonsai. Being inspired by the variety and uniqueness of the varieties.

Steve Cullum

Steve Cullum has been experimenting with native bonsai for many years, focusing on SEQ species. He helped develop the bonsai collection in Mackay and happily share this exprience with anyone who will listen. He's member of the Redlands Bonsai Society where he leads the education and development programs.