Grant Bowie VTP in South Australia

[Andrew Ward]

Grant Bowie (interim currator of the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection) will be conducting workshops and demonstrations on the weekend of Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 July, 2009.
The weekend, hosted by The South Australian Bonsai Society Inc and the Australian Association of Bonsai Clubs Ltd, will be held at
The Goodwood Community Centre, 32a Rosa Street, GOODWOOD.
Grant will be conducting three workshops: Saturday morning 9.00am - 12.00MD, Sunday morning 9.00am - 12.00MD, and Sunday afternoon 1.00pm - 4.00pm.
On the afternoon of Saturday 25 July, Grant will be presenting a bonsai styling demonstration, including 'radical bending' in styling. Visitors are very welcome.
Members of the South Australian Bonsai Society are able to observe workshops and presentations free, non-members may observe at a cost of $5.
Members who are interested in participating in a workshop should contact Andrew Ward at andrew.james.ward@gmail.com. Fee for workshop participants is $10.
Shared lunch. Refreshments will be provided by The South Australian Bonsai Society Inc.

[Asus101]

Ill be going to him good buddy!

[Bretts]

At that price I would book in for a couple of workshops

[Chris]

nice to see thanks for letting us know see you there Asus101

[Asus101]

I will be in Canberra visiting Grant....

[Bretts]

I knew Grant was good but can he really be in too places at once?

[anttal63]

these workshops will be great. this is where you can push yourself and your trees leaps and bounds! grant is very informative, has a great eye for styling individuallity into trees and he's a laugh too!

[Scott Roxburgh]

I couldn't agree more Ant!

Working with Grant at the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection has not only given me hands on time with world class trees but also many good laughs and great tips for my own trees.

Grant is a wealth of knowledge and everyone in the area should be jumping into one of the workshops at that price!

Take a Banksia and really get him talking!

[Asus101]

Working with Grant at the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection has not only given me hands on time with world class trees but also many good laughs and great tips for my own trees.

You still there? Maybe I shall see you there.

[Chris]

outstanding great to see was very informative can't wait till the next show nice ppl loved the time spent there.
the bending the drilling was outrages without one crack the tree in the end looked exelent i'm sure the owner was impressed as i also seen a little demmo with the dremel and the Arbotech mini grinder wot a jem they are.
sorry for no pics my camera dident work proper ( not the cameras fault )


im also glad everyone liked my home made sausage rolls

[Grant Bowie]

Hi everyone,

I had a lot of fun in SA and I hope all those who attended the workshops and demo had a good time. The workshops were all full and it was very busy.

There was a good range of material in the workshops and we did some serious bending and cutting.

The demo tree was a challenge but I was happy with the outcome(the owner said he was as well), although it was just the first rough shaping and was the first day in the rest of its life. It was a Black Pine grown by Don Delucca and they are usually as hard as steel and this one was no exception. I removed one large trunk/branch about two thirds up the trunk and then we drilled and bent the remaining trunk/branch with raffia and vet wrap. I had to leave more foliage than I would like for shaping purposes but left excess foliage for the health of the tree. I will not leave behind well shaped and wired but potentially dead demo trees.

Thanks to the SA Bonsai Soc for inviting me.

Grant Bowie

[Andrew Ward]

An excellent, informative and rewarding weekend for all who participated!

The feedback has been unanimously positive. The black pine's custodian is very happy with his styled tree from the demo, as were others who participated in the workshops.

Grant has a wealth of knowledge, is able to communicate effectively with his 'audience' and is willing to share his knowledge and skills. Am looking forward to a return visit in the future!