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Once again the long slog to the West Coast for yet another installment of Bonsai Knowledge. Day 1 starts with classroom study. It amazes me that Boon keeps handing out the same worksheets, and I keep learning so many new things from them. Today we talked about three different candling (decandling) techniques and their uses for trees in nearly every stage of development. I will be writing a comprehensive illustrated article detailing the techniques very soon.
We watched a good video with bad music and sound, and went outside to work on trees.
Just stepping out the back door, one sees trees in every state of development, from Japanese black pine seedlings to ancient collected junipers, trees developed from nursery stock, and prebonsai stock waiting to be sold or styled, or both. Having seen some of these trees for going on five years now, it's gratifying to actually get to work on them and help advance their development.
Once again I have met three new students, and one I've met before. Without fail, these are folks who are a pleasure to be around, who have the same kind of ethic with regard to improving their ability to work on trees, the same kind of commitment to the art. Time after time, I have met friends for the first time at a Bonsai Boon Bonsai Intensive. All I can feel for those who live close enough to drive here regularly is intense envy...but I'm not bitter.
