Bonsai Basics: Chrysanthemum Bonsai
May
4
to Nov 2
Education, Art Workshop, Special Event

Bonsai Basics: Chrysanthemum Bonsai

This course is hosted by the U.S. National Arboretum, with registration support by Friends of the National Arboretum. This course is offered in partnership with Potomac Bonsai Association and Old Dominion Chrysanthemum Society.

The horticultural perfection of a bonsai does not have to take decades to accomplish. The chrysanthemum can be artfully shaped into a bonsai within one growing season. This Bonsai Basics course is a series of five classes. Participants meet about once a month for lectures and demonstrations, beginning on Saturday, May 4th and concluding on Saturday, November 2nd.

This course is hosted by the Arboretum, with registration support by FONA. Registration costs $200 for the entire course. FONA members, use your discount code to receive 20% off. Register soon, spots are limited and this event fills quickly!

REGISTRATION

At registration, students will select from one of four small groups that meet on different dates and times. With no more than ten students in each, these groups allow for individualized attention from the instructors. All students will meet jointly for the first and last lessons. There is no variation in course content among the groups.

Group schedules are listed below. Students may not switch small groups during the course. If a group is not available when you register, that group is full. There is no waitlist for individual small groups, only the course as a whole.

Group A
Saturday, May 4 (1 PM – 4 PM)
Saturday, June 15 (10 AM – 12 PM)
Saturday, August 3 (10 AM – 12 PM)
Saturday, September 21 (10 AM – 12 PM)
Saturday, November 2 (1 PM – 4 PM)

Group B
Saturday, May 4 (1 PM – 4 PM)
Saturday, June 15 (1 PM – 3 PM)
Saturday, August 3 (1 PM – 3 PM)
Saturday, September 21 (1 PM – 3 PM)
Saturday, November 2 (1 PM – 4 PM)

Group C
Saturday, May 4 (1 PM – 4 PM)
Sunday, June 16 (10 AM – 12 PM)
Sunday, August 4 (10 AM – 12 PM)
Sunday, September 22 (10 AM – 12 PM)
Saturday, November 2 (1 PM – 4 PM)

Group D
Saturday, May 4 (1 PM – 4 PM)
Sunday, June 16 (1 PM – 3 PM)
Sunday, August 4 (1 PM – 3 PM)
Sunday, September 22 (1 PM – 3 PM)
Saturday, November 2 (1 PM – 4 PM)

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PBA Festival & World Bonsai Day Celebration
May
10
to May 12

PBA Festival & World Bonsai Day Celebration

National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, Arboretum Visitor Center

Together with the Potomac Bonsai Association (PBA), the U.S. National Arboretum is honoring World Bonsai Day on May 11th with a weekend festival celebrating the art of bonsai. A juried exhibit of PBA bonsai will be on view in the Museum’s Exhibits Gallery. Aspiring and longtime bonsai artists will find everything they need and more from vendors selling bonsai, pre-bonsai, pots, accents, and supplies. The weekend includes free demonstrations, children’s activities, and docent-led tours of the Museum. Beginner bonsai workshops will be offered throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday. The $75 fee for the workshop includes everything you need to get started, including a tree. Advanced registration for the workshop is strongly recommended but not required.

Visit the PBA website for a full festival schedule, including a list of confirmed vendors and information about the paid workshops.

Register for a workshop: Click here!

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Ikebana International Annual Exhibition
Apr
12
to Apr 21
Special Event, Exhibit, Education

Ikebana International Annual Exhibition

Presented by Ikebana International, Washington, D.C. Chapter No. 1
U.S. National Arboretum
April 12 - 21, 10 am - 4 pm
Free and open to the public

Special Events:

  • Free Live Demonstrations on April 13, 14, 20, 21 from 1 - 2 pm

  • Ikebana for Kids Workshop on April 21 from 1 -2 :30 pm (Need Prior Registration)

Ikebana International, Washington D.C. Chapter No. 1 will host its annual exhibition at the U.S. National Arboretum. The exhibition will demonstrate the creativity and artistry of their members in arrangements representing several different schools of ikebana.  There will also be live demonstrations showcasing ikebana styles of four different schools. 

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Seeking Remote Nature: Stones Located and Nature Revealed
Jun
24
to Aug 20

Seeking Remote Nature: Stones Located and Nature Revealed

Exhibits Gallery, National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

This exhibit of landscape-view and nature-related stones will transport you to far-flung locations around the world. The stones are from the collections of members of the Potomac Viewing Stone Group, a regional organization dedicated to stone appreciation. Come and let your imagination travel!

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Satsuki Bonsai Exhibit: Azaleas of Old Japan
May
20
to Jun 4
Exhibit

Satsuki Bonsai Exhibit: Azaleas of Old Japan

Exhibits Gallery, National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

Colorful cultivars of late-blooming Satsuki azaleas have been hybridized in Japan for hundreds of years. This annual exhibit showcases our most spectacular examples in a one-week indoor display. Based on individual bloom times, trees may be on display in the outdoor pavilions before and after the indoor exhibit.

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Film Screening of "Bicentennial Bonsai: Emissaries of Peace"
May
13
4:30 PM16:30
Special Event, World Bonsai Day

Film Screening of "Bicentennial Bonsai: Emissaries of Peace"

Attend a special after Museum hours event in celebration of World Bonsai Day! Enjoy tours, music, sake tastings, bento-boxes and a film screening of BICENTENNIAL BONSAI: EMISSARIES OF PEACE followed by a Q&A with filmmakers. Registration required.

A film by Paul Awad and Kathryn O’Sullivan
35 min | 2020 | Washington, DC Premier

If more people did bonsai, there would be more peace in the world.
-Saburo Kato (1915–2008), bonsai master

In 1975, only thirty years after the United States and Japan had been at war, Japan gave 53 priceless bonsai to the United States in celebration of the U.S. Bicentennial. Some bonsai were several hundred years old. One had remarkably survived the bombing of Hiroshima. Bicentennial Bonsai: Emissaries of Peace chronicles this historic gift, includes rare interviews and archival footage, and reveals how we can rediscover our shared humanity and establish a path toward healing and world peace. Paul Awad and Kathryn O’Sullivan are a husband-and-wife filmmaking team based in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area.

EVENING’S SCHEDULE
4:30 – gates to the Bonsai Museum open for after-hours tours*
5:00 – koto music, free sake tastings, and pre-ordered bento boxes in the museum
6:00 – movie screening in the auditorium followed by Q&A with filmmakers

Registration
General Admission: $12.50
NBF, FONA, JASWDC members**: $10
Bento Box (vegan or chicken) pre-order: $20

**Type your discount code into the “Coupon Code” box on the last page of registration and hit “Apply” to see the discount when you check out. NBF, FONA, and JASWDC will be sending discount code information to their members. Contact your organization if you have any questions.

REGISTRATION CLOSES MAY 10

*Due to another event happening at the Arboretum this evening, we recommend you arrive early to find parking.

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Bonsai Basics: Chrysanthemum Bonsai
May
13
to Nov 4
Special Event, Education, World Bonsai Day

Bonsai Basics: Chrysanthemum Bonsai

Shape your own flowering bonsai in a single growing season.

The horticultural perfection of a bonsai does not have to take decades to accomplish. The chrysanthemum can be artfully shaped into a bonsai within one growing season. Register for a series of five chrysanthemum bonsai classes, beginning on World Bonsai Day, Saturday, May 13th, 2023, and produce a styled, blooming chrysanthemum bonsai by November.

This Bonsai Basics is a course for beginners and intermediates, consisting of five classes beginning May 13 and ending November 4. A maximum of 40 students will meet all together for the first and last class for lectures and demonstrations. In between, students attend three, two-hour classes in small groups of 10 for more intensive teaching by curatorial staff of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum.

Participants will learn the basics of watering, wiring, pinching, pruning, potting, and displaying chrysanthemum bonsai. While these principles also apply to bonsai that are traditional woody tree species, using the chrysanthemum allows students to see the results of their pruning, wiring, and other work, within only a few months instead of after years of training. When cared for correctly, these “gnome” species of chrysanthemums, bred for their small flower and leaf size, will bloom heavily in the fall, providing students with an opportunity to present their personally designed,flowering bonsai in an all-group display. This course is offered in partnership with Potomac Bonsai Association and Old Dominion Chrysanthemum Society.

Program Prerequisite Requirements:
Participants must be 12 years of age or older and have access to an outdoor growing area with a minimum of 6 hours of direct sun per day.

Course Fee: $150 for all 5 classes

For more details on course materials, schedule and how to register, click here.

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World Bonsai Day
May
13
10:00 AM10:00
World Bonsai Day, Special Event

World Bonsai Day

National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum is pleased to participate in the 13th Annual World Bonsai Day, created by the World Bonsai Friendship Federation (WBFF). This event honors the memory of Mr. Saburo Kato, a bonsai master and founder of WBFF, who believed that bonsai has the power to unite people by acting as a bridge to international friendship and peace.

The day’s activities will include something for everyone and will happen both in-person at the Museum and online at bonsai-nbf.org/wbd-2023.

IN-PERSON MUSEUM EVENTS

DOCENT-LED TOUR | 10 am - 4 pm

Join a free, docent-led tour of the Museum throughout the day. No registration required. Free to the public.

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES | 10 am - 12 pm & 1 pm - 3 pm

There will be a children's activity table located in the Bonsai Museum’s Exhibit Gallery. It is a fun way for children to engage in and learn about Japanese culture and botany. Children and interested adults will have the opportunity to color Japanese themed coloring pages such as koi, pagodas, fans, and ladies in kimonos; stamp leaves onto drawings of bonsai; and try their hands at a variety of origami animals and shapes, such as frogs, cranes, flowers, stars, and boxes. No registration required. Come and go as you’d like within the scheduled times. Free to the public.

CHRYSANTHEMUM BONSAI WORKSHOP | 1 pm - 4 pm

A fee-based series of workshops on chrysanthemum bonsai begins on this day. Learn more here about that series.

FILM SCREENING: BICENTENNIAL BONSAI: EMISSARIES OF PEACE | 4:30 pm - 8 pm
Attend a special after Museum hours event! Enjoy tours, music, sake tastings, bento-boxes and a film screening of BICENTENNIAL BONSAI: EMISSARIES OF PEACE followed by a Q&A with filmmakers. Registration required. More info here.

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PBA Bonsai Festival
May
5
to May 7

PBA Bonsai Festival

Bonsai Museum Exhibits Wing, Chinese Pavilion, Lecture Demonstration Center, Vendor Tent

Co-sponsored by the Potomac Bonsai Association (PBA) and the U.S. National Arboretum, this event features a show of PBA member trees and vendors selling bonsai, pre-bonsai, pots, accents and supplies. A juried exhibit of PBA bonsai will be on view in the museum. Free demonstrations will be given by PBA members. There will also be fee-based workshops.

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PBA Juried Bonsai Exhibit
May
5
to May 14
Exhibit, Special Event, World Bonsai Day

PBA Juried Bonsai Exhibit

Exhibits Gallery, National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

This exhibit showcases the best bonsai from members of the Potomac Bonsai Association in formal displays. It will be on view for the public during the Potomac Bonsai Festival and will continue through the following weekend and celebration of World Bonsai Day. 

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Ikebana International Chapter 1's Annual Exhibition
Apr
7
to Apr 16
Exhibit, Special Event

Ikebana International Chapter 1's Annual Exhibition

A program of our friends at CHAPTER 1 Ikebana International and USNA

Exhibits Gallery, National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

Enjoy spring flowers with a Japanese twist! The Washington D.C. Chapter (Chapter 1) of Ikebana International will exhibit flower arrangements representing a variety of ikebana schools and styles. There will be a change-out of the exhibits on April 10 and 13, so plan return visits to see everything. Master teachers will give free ikebana demonstrations on April 8, 9, 15, and 16.

All events are open to the public and are free of charge.

Free Demonstrations: April 8, 9, 15, 16, 1 - 2 pm

Ikebana for Kids Workshop: April 16, 1 -2 :30 pm (Needs prior registration)

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SYMPOSIUM: Connecting Cultures: Japanese Flowering Cherries in America
Mar
18
1:00 PM13:00
Exhibit

SYMPOSIUM: Connecting Cultures: Japanese Flowering Cherries in America

Run by our friends at USNA

Auditorium, Administration Building & Visitor Center 

Cost: $20 ($16 for FONA and NBF members)

Since the mid-19th century, appreciation of Japanese flowering cherries has been growing in the United States, melding Japanese aesthetics and techniques with a distinctly American flair. Today, the U.S. National Arboretum stands as a center of American appreciation for Japanese flowering cherry trees, growing about 60 cultivars. The oldest flowering cherry trees on the Arboretum’s grounds were planted in the early 1950s, and these aging trees provide an opportunity for us to experiment with a traditional Japanese method of tree rejuvenation. Noted Japanese expert Kurato Fujimoto will work with our staff for the week preceding this symposium to install traditional-style wooden crutches to support the heavy branches of two old weeping cherry trees. This half-day program will cover the history of Japanese cherry trees in America, ancient cherry trees and restorative practices in Japan, the flowering cherry research program at the Arboretum, and a tree-side presentation of the traditional Japanese support system.

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Sakura Orihon: Diary of a Cherry Blossom Journey
Mar
4
to Apr 2
Exhibit

Sakura Orihon: Diary of a Cherry Blossom Journey

Exhibits Gallery, National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

As he followed the blossoming cherry trees from south to north in Japan, landscape architect Ron Henderson recorded his experience in folding sketchbooks called orihon. His work celebrates the cherry blossom culture in Japan, highlighting his pilgrimages to visit famous old trees. But he also focuses on the horticultural practices that extend the lives of cherry trees in Japan, illustrating pruning techniques, branch crutches, rope tenting, and root grafting. This exhibition of Henderson’s books inspires awe for the trees as well as for the unique manner in which one man documented his journey.

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Winter Silhouettes: Year of the Rabbit 
Jan
21
to Feb 12

Winter Silhouettes: Year of the Rabbit 

Hop into the Year of the Rabbit with an auspicious visit to the Bonsai Museum. See how many rabbits you can find among the bonsai, kusamono, and viewing stones!  This special exhibit will celebrate the transition from winter to spring that Asian cultures traditionally considered the beginning of a new year.

Exhibits Gallery, National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

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Ikenobo Ikebana Exhibit
Jan
14
to Jan 15

Ikenobo Ikebana Exhibit

Enjoy a special weekend display of Japanese flower arrangements from one of the oldest traditional schools of ikebana represented locally by the Ikenobo Ikebana Society Metropolitan Washington D.C. Chapter.

Exhibits Gallery, National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

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Cultivated Stones: Chinese Scholars' Rocks from the Kemin Hu Collection
Nov
4
to Mar 17
Exhibit

Cultivated Stones: Chinese Scholars' Rocks from the Kemin Hu Collection

Running from:

November 4, 203 - March 17, 2024

Located:

Exhibition Gallery at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

WHAT’S ON DISPLAY?

The public is invited to view the once private collection of Chinese Scholars’ Rocks generously donated by noted scholars’ rock collector, Kemin Hu.

This gift doubles the Museum’s viewing stone collection, making it the finest collection of documented Chinese Scholars’ stones in the United States. Hu continues a philanthropic tradition established by her father, Zhaokang Hu.

Featured in The Washingtonian
(February 2023)

The exhibit displays a large selection from the Hu gift. Sizes of the stones range from a few inches to almost 5 feet. Besides geological stones, Hu’s gift includes objects of fossil, petrified wood, coral, stalactite, root wood, and ceramics.

Adding to the excitement around this gift, the National Bonsai Foundation, the nonprofit partnering with the U.S. National Arboretum to support the Museum, has captured this collection within an immersive and stunning artbook now available for purchase.

This beautiful, in-depth book, which features the photography of Stephen Voss and elegant writings of Dr. Phillip E. Bloom, details the Chinese stones gifted by noted scholars’ rock expert Kemin Hu.

“A must-have volume for all students of Chinese stone appreciation.”
— Thomas S. Elias, Chairman of the Viewing Stone Association

learn more

What Are Chinese Scholars’ Rocks?

Chinese scholars’ rocks are stones collected in nature, some naturally occurring and others hand carved or otherwise embellished. The stones often resemble natural landscapes, animals, or evoke nature in some manner. They’ve been described by scholars’ rock expert Dr. Phillip E. Bloom as appearing to…

“...billow like clouds or dance like flames…evoke snow-capped mountains or turbulent seas, ferocious beasts or tranquil vistas.”
— Dr. Phillip E. Bloom

The Asian art of collecting, displaying, and appreciating unusual stones is ancient, dating back at least two thousand years. Stone appreciation practice originated in China and spread to Korea and Japan. Much later, the practice was adopted by other countries throughout the world.

These stones have an enormous “wow” factor for people viewing them for the first time. Accompanied by quality interpretative materials, thousands of visitors will begin to understand what these stones represent as well as their importance. With this gift, the U.S. National Arboretum and the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum becomes an even greater treasure in the Washington, DC, area.

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Drawing Bonsai for Beginners
May
14
11:00 AM11:00

Drawing Bonsai for Beginners

This event is run by our partners at USNA.

Celebrate World Bonsai Day at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum! 

In addition to enjoying free, outdoor kids activities and bonsai care demonstrations, why not spend some time mindfully observing and learning to draw bonsai? 

World Bonsai Day celebrates peace, friendship, and the beauty of bonsai. Bonsai can seem mysterious to both the admirer of these living works of art and to the practitioner learning the art of shaping a tree. Both admirers and practitioners can benefit from the mindful practice of drawing. Join artist and art educator, Mary Ellen Carsley, in this hour-long in-person workshop to learn fundamental drawing skills and some of the principles that are used to help shape bonsai. New to drawing? Don’t worry! No prior drawing or experience or working with bonsai is necessary. This workshop is focused on the complete beginner, but all levels of experience in the visual arts are welcome. A drawing pad, pencil, and eraser are provided. We will be working together in the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum’s Yuji Yoshimura Lecture and Demonstration Center, rain or shine! All you need is a willing hand, and an open heart to enjoy the practice of drawing to deeply discover the beauty of bonsai.

THREE CLASS SESSIONS ARE AVAILABLE

Saturday, May 14, 2022

  • 11:00 am — 12:00 pm

  • 1:00 pm — 2:00 pm

  • 3:00 pm — 4:00 pm

$30 per session, includes all materials. Advanced registration required.

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Bonsai Styling Demonstration by Mark Fields 
May
7
9:00 AM09:00
Education, Mindfulness Workshop

Bonsai Styling Demonstration by Mark Fields 

This event is run by our friends at the Potomac Bonsai Association.

See bonsai artist and nursery owner Mark Fields style a regular juniper tree into a bonsai. This demonstration is free to the public.

At the Visitor Center Auditorium - no registration needed.

This event is part of the Potomac Bonsai Associaton’s Spring Festival.

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Beginner Bonsai Classes
May
7
to May 8
Education, Special Event, World Bonsai Day

Beginner Bonsai Classes

This event is run by our friends at Potomac Bonsai Association for their Spring Festival.

Come to the Potomac Bonsai Association’s beginner bonsai learning tent outside the Museum to receive one-on-one instruction from experienced club members. Students will learn how to prune, wire, and repot a bonsai they can take home after class.3-hour class. $50 fee (cash or card) per session; all materials provided. No advanced registration required!

Location: Outside the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

This event is part of the Potomac Bonsai Association’s annual spring festival, which takes place from May 6th - 8th. Find a full festival schedule here.

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Bonsai Vendor Tent
May
6
to May 8
Special Event

Bonsai Vendor Tent

This event is run by our friends at the Potomac Bonsai Association.

Bonsai Vendor Tent
Friday, May 6th, 12 pm - 4 pm
Saturday and Sunday, May 7th - 8th, 9 am - 4 pm
Outside the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
Find everything you need to begin growing bonsai. Twelve vendors from the region will be selling everything from refined bonsai to pre-bonsai material, tools, soil, and planters.

This event is part of the Potomac Bonsai Association’s Spring Festival. Learn more about festival and other events here.

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PBA Fall Bonsai Show 2021
Oct
8
to Oct 10
Special Event, Exhibit

PBA Fall Bonsai Show 2021

The Potomac Bonsai Association (PBA) will host an exhibition of bonsai by affiliated club members. Member bonsai will be displayed in the courtyard and formal displays will be set up in the display wing of the special exhibits building of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the National Arboretum, Washington D.C.

More information here.

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Global Bonsai Seminar (CANCELLED)
Oct
8
to Oct 11
Education, Exhibit

Global Bonsai Seminar (CANCELLED)

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ABS changed from traditional demonstration/workshop conventions in 2006. Using an idea put forth by board member Pauline Muth that matched their organizational goals of bonsai education, conventions were changed into learning seminars. Under this plan, multiple excellent bonsai teachers were invited to teach classes on their favorite bonsai skills. The seminars are designed as a college class weekend. Each weekend packed with classes, workshops, demonstrations, vendors and a wonderful exhibition.

ABS pairs with local and regional bonsai organizations, such as The National Bonsai Foundation, to host the event. ABS relies on the hosts to bring the best wanted bonsai experience to their area of the country.

Presented by ABS, BCI, NBF & PBA.

List of Teachers:

JULIAN ADAMS
BJORN BORNHOLM
YOUNG CHOE
ENRIQUE CASTANO
JAMES DOYLE
MARK FIELDS
RON LANG & SHARON EDWARDS-RUSSELL
PETER MACASIEB
KRISTINE MAJESKE
& many others.

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World Bonsai Day
May
9
12:01 AM00:01
World Bonsai Day

World Bonsai Day

Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of ORIGAMI CLASS (1).png

Every year, we celebrate World Bonsai Day, a global celebration of the art of bonsai. This year is no exception. Please visit our homepage on May 9 to explore the WORLD BONSAI DAY HOMEPAGE TAKEOVER - a special presentation of videos, blogs, interviews and more that we’ll be curating for you! Plus, join the conversation on social media by following #WorldBonsaiDay. Start using the hashtag now and we may highlight it on our homepage. Snap photos of your collection at home, photos from when you visited the museum, other collections, etc. We can’t wait to celebrate bonsai with the world!

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(POSTPONED) Ikebana International Exhibit
Apr
3
to Apr 13
Exhibit

(POSTPONED) Ikebana International Exhibit

IMG_4886.JPG

Enjoy spring flowers with a Japanese twist! The Washington D.C. Chapter of Ikebana International will exhibit flower arrangements representing a variety of ikebana schools and styles. There will be a change-out of the exhibits on April 6 and 9, so plan return visits to see everything. Master teachers will give free ikebana demonstrations on April 11 and 12 at 10 am and 12:30 pm.

All events and exhibits take place at The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum’s Exhibit Gallery located in the U.S. National Arboretum.

New Arrangements: April 6, 9

Ikebana Demonstrations: April 11 & 12 at 12:30pm

A U.S. National Arboretum event in partnership with The Washington, DC Chapter of Ikebana International.

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Tools of the Trade (Bonsai Demonstration)
Feb
22
1:00 PM13:00
Exhibit, Education

Tools of the Trade (Bonsai Demonstration)

Tools_of_the_trade_291_244_s_c1.jpg

Whether for pruning, wiring or repotting, bonsai artists have a specialized tool kit. Take a closer look at some of the different tools commonly used in bonsai. Andy Bello, NBF’s First Curator’s Assistant will talk about how to use, clean, sharpen, and store these essential tools. Read more about Andy Bello’s bonsai work and teachings on our blog.

This hands-on free program is intended for anyone interested in the art of bonsai.

Meet in the Yoshimura Center at 1:00 p.m. No registration required and the event is free.

This event is a U.S. National Arboretum sponsored and managed program.

Andy Bello with Michael Hagedorn on World Bonsai Day 2019 at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

Andy Bello with Michael Hagedorn on World Bonsai Day 2019 at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum

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(POSTPONED) Sakura Orihon: Diary of a Cherry Blossom Journey
Feb
8
to Mar 29
Exhibit

(POSTPONED) Sakura Orihon: Diary of a Cherry Blossom Journey

As featured in The Washington Post…

As he followed the blossoming cherry trees from south to north in Japan, landscape architect Ron Henderson recorded his experience in folding sketchbooks called orihon. His work celebrates the cherry blossom culture in Japan, highlighting his pilgrimages to visit famous old trees. He also focuses on the horticultural practices that extend the lives of cherry trees in Japan, illustrating pruning techniques, branch crutches, rope tenting, and root grafting. This exhibition of Henderson’s books inspires awe for the trees as well as appreciation for the unique manner in which one man documented his journey.

All events and exhibits take place at The National Bonsai & Penjing Museum’s Exhibit Gallery located in the U.S. National Arboretum.

A U.S. National Arboretum event.

Read more about Ron Henderson and his visit to The Museum in 2019 on our blog.

Sketches from Henderson’s sketchbooks.

Sketches from Henderson’s sketchbooks.

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Origami & Bonsai: Ancient Arts Collide
Jan
18
10:00 AM10:00
Art Workshop, Education

Origami & Bonsai: Ancient Arts Collide

Learn how to create 4 origami animals and enjoy our Nation's treasured collection of bonsai trees on a private tour with Museum Curator.

Learn how to create four origami animals from experienced origami teacher and artist, Jeff Raab. At the start of class, be inspired by the peace and calm of the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum's treasured trees on your private group tour lead by Museum Curator, Micahel James. Then get cozy for a folding session inside with Jeff. This is the perfect hobby to learn in time for the brisk winter months so you can stay inside and keep those creative juices flowing. Beginners and accompanied children (ages 6 and up) welcome!

All supplies provided.

An accompanying adult must be present for no more than 2 children.

Read an interview with Jeff Raab on our blog.

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