Spring Festival Spotlight

We are less than two weeks away from our Spring Festival now and classes are filling up! Our Bring Your Own Tree workshop with Sean Smith is officially sold out but the rest of our classes and workshops for the event still have a few spaces left. Today we wanted to show a bit of extra attention to a couple of our guest artists as well as spotlight specific classes they will be leading during the event.

Louise Leister moved to Florida from New York 25 years ago and has been active in several of the local clubs for almost as long. She is an award winning bonsai artist and we are happy to have her back again to lead our Black Pine class on Saturday, April 6th at 1:30 PM. In this class you will bring your own Black Pine (or purchase one at the shop at a discount, everything will be 20% off during the festival) and Louise will guide you on several levels of Black Pine care including styling, health, soil requirements, and watering.

Make sure you don’t miss out on this awesome class with an equally as awesome instructor, Click Here to save your spot before we are all sold out. For only $75, this class is well worth the price!

Given that this event will be our second event with Sean Smith as our Special Guest Artist, we’ve actually talked about him quite a bit on this blog. He will be teaching a large selection of classes, workshops, and demos during our Spring Festival. On Friday he will even be giving a lecture on the Art of Display in Bonsai.

However, in this post we wanted to focus on Sean’s Loropetalum (Chinese Fringe Flower) Class. These massive trees, which have beautiful pink flowers, are perfect templates for your artistic eye, and are more than ready to be worked. Sean will guide you into transforming your chosen tree into a work of art during our event.

This class takes place on Saturday, April 6th at 9:00 AM in DeLand, Florida. To claim your spot in Sean’s Loropetalum class, Click Here.

Come out to Schley’s Bonsai and Supplies this April and take home a living work of art of your own making!

Spring Festival Spotlight

Today we are doing another spotlight on one of the classes that will be offered during our annual Spring Festival here at Schley’s Bonsai and Supplies. Another one taught by our special Guest Artist Sean Smith, and this time you’ll get the chance to build your own bonsai display table. Sean has an extensive background in both carpentry and bonsai so this should be an excellent time for all!

Not only do you get to craft your own table, but Sean will also give a history on how display tables got their start in the realm of bonsai and explain how best to use them. Tips on choosing the right set up, including accent pieces will also be discussed. This is a new class for us here, unlike the root stand carving class which was also featured at our January event (you can sign up for a root stand class during the event by clicking this link).

As with our other classes and workshops, lunch is included in the price. By the end of the day, you will be taking home a fully assembled and stained black walnut bonsai stand at less than the cost it would be to purchase the stand outright!

Getting to hold these kinds of events and share knowledge about the different aspects in the bonsai world is one of my favorite parts about being in this business. I hope we get to see all of you here in April. Click Here to save your spot before they are all sold out!

When: Saturday, April 6, 2019 at 3:00 PM

Where: 2745 Audubon Ave, DeLand, FL 32720

Don’t forget to RSVP!

Spring Festival Spotlight

As always, we will have free beer available during our Spring Festival. On site we will also have a menu of fresh, hot food available for purchase (or free when you participate in one of our classes or workshops).

On Sunday morning (April 7th), Sean Smith will be teaching another session of his tall root stand carving class. No experience in woodworking is necessary to participate in this class where you get to take home a work of excellent art at the end of the day. At less than $100, this class is a steal!

You’ll want to stick around for the rest of the day Sunday after this class to catch a free demonstration as well. And, following the final two classes of the event, the three bonsai demonstration trees from the weekend will be raffled off!

To sign up for this class (or one of the many others) visit our website or Click Here. Admission is free and open to all who want to make the trip out here in DeLand to learn more about an ancient art.

We are getting close and are excited to share this wonderful time with all of you!

When: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (April 5th, 6th, and 7th)

Where: 2745 Audubon Ave, DeLand, FL 32720

What: Schley’s Bonsai 2019 Spring Festival

RSVP Now

Spring Festival Workshop Spotlight

You may be aware that we offer a Bring Your Own Tree Workshop nearly year round, but during our event, instead of Jason guiding you on styling and plans for the future of your chosen tree, we will have Guest Artist Sean Smith giving you a plan of attack. Sean is being brought down to Central Florida again because he is a master in many facets of bonsai culture. From woodworking to Suiseki, he has a unique eye so don’t miss out on this event!

To save your spot in this class, Click Here.

This workshop isn’t the only chance to learn from Sean though. He’ll also be teaching several classes, lecturing, and doing a few (free) demos! Check out our website to learn more!

In the next few weeks leading up to the event, we will be shining a spotlight on some of the workshops and classes that will be going on during our Spring Festival, so make sure you follow along on here. This weekend will be packed with awesome stuff to do, see, and drink. Not to mention that, during the festival, everything in the shop will be on sale. Don’t miss it!

Stay updated by liking us on Facebook where you can also RSVP to this event.

Annual Spring Festival Details

Hey everybody, our January event was super fun but now we are gearing up again for something even better! Like with the winter event, everything at the shop will be 20% off during the festival. And beyond that, we have a weekend jam-packed with things to do!

This year it takes place Friday through Sunday, April 5th, 6th, and 7th.

Our Guest Artist, Sean Smith, is returning this April and will be taking the lead in several classes, workshops, and demos. As usual this event will have FREE BEER as well as lunch available on site (included in the cost of the classes and workshops).

New this year is our bonsai display area, if you are interested in having your bonsai on display during the event, contact Jason at schleybonsai@aol.com or call (386) 675-3118 for more information.

During this event there will be free demonstrations each day. For more information about the individual classes and workshops, CLICK HERE.

RSVP TO THE EVENT ON FACEBOOK

This Weekend is our Winter Event

We still have a few spots left for classes during this event, but with the weekend fast approaching I wanted to take the time to show off some of the trees our students will be able to choose from. I also wanted to gush a bit more about this years Guest Artist. So, onward…

We have two instances of Sean Smith’s wood carving class, both with a shorter block and a taller (both pictured above). No woodworking experience is required in order to participate in this class, though students will need to come prepared with their own electric dremel. This class is good for those who are new to bonsai, as you can still create a work of art without the fear and responsibility of long-term care of a plant. It’s a pretty neat and artistic way to get your bonsai feet wet. Equally rewarding for those experienced in bonsai and looking to enhance their skill set by creating a beautiful stand to use when showing off their trees. Click Here to learn more and to save your spot before they are all gone!

When: (Shorter stand) Friday, January 25th at 1:30PM and (Taller stand) Saturday, January 26th at 9:00AM

Where: 2745 Audubon Ave, DeLand FL, 32720

Interested in learning the basics of bonsai from one of the best artists in Florida?

On Sunday, January 27th we will be having an all day beginner class taught by Mike Rogers. You’ll get your very own tree along with the tools needed to start styling your new work of art. You’ll have the chance to choose your own Juniper from our selection, the images above are just a few examples we have out on the tables. Click Here for more information on the class and to claim your spot.

While we have Sean Smith with us, he will be teaching several other classes. One of them will be a class on Bald Cypresses, where you will get your very own tree to begin styling. This class is also on Sunday, at 9:00 AM. These are pretty massive and more than ready to begin their life in bonsai. Click Here for more information and to claim your spot.

Sean Smith will also being leading a Bring Your Own Tree Workshop on Friday morning. He will give you a plan of attack to design your tree, with direction on styling and wiring. Click Here to learn more.

New Inventory for the New Year

We have been working hard to bring in new inventory as we prepare for our upcoming event. We want to have lots of stock and finished trees on offer to make the drive out here worth it for all of you. More than just having our guest artists at the shop to expand your knowledge, we want to have a selection of trees that speak to each and every one of you.

After spending the weekend picking up several truck loads of new stock, I’d be lying if I said my back didn’t ache. Who knew this getting older thing would stick?

Fortunately for me, one of my Christmas presents this year was a back massager. I’ve needed it more than once after picking up and transporting hundreds of trees. So. Much. Lifting.

Now all we have to do is weed them. And organize. And trim. And…okay, so, work isn’t done yet but I’m excited to get to it and to experience our Winter Event with all of you. One of my favorite parts of this job is leading other people into this hobby, watching them learn and grow as the years go along. It’s always so rewarding when someone comes to bonsai with fresh eyes and excitement. I’ve been doing this for over twenty years and there is still little I enjoy more than watching someone fall in love with bonsai for the first time.

Obviously bonsai is no longer just a hobby for me, I chose to focus on it and to make it an every day, pivotal part of my life and I wouldn’t change that for anything. But even without starting a nursery yourself, you can incorporate some of the skills, teachings, and general atmosphere surrounding this hobby into your every day life.

Bonsai teaches us patience, gentleness, and  thoughtfulness. These things can be hard to find in this day and age. But with this art form, we can take a page from a way of life that at times feels unreachable with the constant rush of modern life. In the simple moments you take every week to care for your own bonsai, you gain a snippet of quiet contemplation and a connection with nature.

Happy New Year, everyone. May 2019 bring you peace and prosperity. I look forward to keeping up with this blog again and getting to share a slice of life with all of you. Thank you for being part of this journey!

Coming to our event? Let us know! You can RSVP on our Event Page on Facebook HERE.

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from all of us over here at Schley’s Bonsai!!

We’ve already told you about our upcoming event in January, but we’re happy to update that one of our classes will be taught by Mike Rogers.

He will be teaching our all day beginner class on the 27th. Click here for more information. Be sure to snag your seat before they are all sold out.

And don’t forget to check out the other classes we are offering here, including root stand carving with our special guest artist, Sean Smith, and a Black Pine grafting class with Louise Leister.

Coming this January, we are having an epic weekend of education and savings!

Yikes, long time no blog. We here at Schley’s Bonsai, contrary to popular rumor, are not dead at all. Just forgetful and very busy at the shop. But we have exciting news coming for the new year, we will be having a Winter Festival with special guest SEAN SMITH!

Beyond just a packed schedule of classes and workshops, everything in the shop will be on sale 20% off during the event!!

If you’re interested in expanding your knowledge of bonsai, check out the links below for some of the classes that are being offered.

• Bald Cypress
• Root Stand Carving
• Black Pine Grafting
• And More!

Full Schedule and more information about our guest artist beneath the cut.

New Video Tour of the Nursery

Hey guys, we finally got around to doing a new video to show off all the hard work we have been doing in the nursery.

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