Bonsai Expert Academy
The Mă-Kè Bonsai Way
The Bonsai Expert Course is for Bonsai Enthusiasts who feel they would like to build on their Bonsai Skills quickly and rapidly by committing to the additional time and effort required to achieve it. Bonsai Expert candidates attend a minimum of 48 sessions covering Core, Advance, Specialist, and Open Modules.
This course is conducted in structured modular sessions that are usually spread out over a two-year period. You can join the Expert Academy at any time in the year, as you will be starting off working on modules and sessions relevant to the particular season you start in. After that, each module builds on the skills sets required to successfully care for and grow a healthy, vibrant, world-class bonsai.
Course Structure
The sessions are held on most 1st., 2nd. and 3rd. Sunday's of the month. To complete the Course Students need to complete 48 Modules including presenting 12 projects over the 2-year duration.
Each year 24 Modules including 6 projects must be completed. Project modules are worked on at the Open Workshops. Academy Students are required to attend at least 12 Project Workshops a year, the remaining 12 may be made up of Core, Advance and Specialist Modules.
Dates for Sessions and Open Workshops are published in the calendar please register for your sessions there.
Year 1: 2nd. Sundays of Month
Core Modules
10:00 am
3101: Art, History Origin, Styles, Sizes
3102: Botany for Bonsai Artists
3103: Pruning of Deciduous Species
3104: Pruning of Conifer Species
3105: Autumn Care for Bonsai Trees
3106: Bonsai Repotting
Year 1&2: 2nd. Sundays of Month
Advance Modules
10:00 am
3201: Propagating and growing
3202: Watering and fertilising
3203: Creating forest groups
3204: Choosing a bonsai pot
3205: Root-On-Rock Bonsai
3206: Root Over Rock
3207: Bonsai By Design
3208: Bonsai Wiring
3209: Photographing Bonsai
3210: Bonsai Display
3211: Tool Care and Sharpening
3212: Soils/Growing Mediums
Year 2: 3rd. Sundays of Month
Specialist Modules
10:00 am
3301: Bonsai Deadwood
3302: Japanese Maples
3303: Japanese Pines
3304: European Pines
3305: Mediterranean Species
3306: Tropical Bonsai Species
3307: Bonsai Lighting and Heating
3308: Kokedama
3309: Grass Bonsai
3310: Chinese Penjing
3311: Native Broadleaf Species
3312: Junipers Bonsai
Venue
Ma-Ke Bonsai, 66 Harvey Road, Whitton, Greater London, TW4 5LU
Dates and Duration
The Beginners Expert Course modules are run at least twice a month, usually Sundays. In addition, you can find all scheduled academy modules below.
Timings
The 10 am - 4 pm. Please arrive 10 min earlier for registration.
Course Fees
Please call for Course Fees as this depends on the Modules chosen. The Taught modules start from £250 per module. Please remember that a few modules will require you to get your own materials.
Bonsai and Tools
Students are responsible for getting their bonsai, tools and supplies for the practical sessions and projects. You can purchase them from Ma-Ke Bonsai Nursery. All modules have a hands-on element to them.
General Information
Tea and Coffees will be available throughout the day. Please bring a packed lunch, and there will be a short break between morning and afternoon sessions. Please dress yourselves warmly as we work both in the studio and outdoors in the nursery and London weather can be very changeable.
Enrollment
The intensive hands-on nature of the Expert Course there are only a few places in the Academy, please call to discuss.
RSVP ClosedSat, 09 Mar09 Mar 2024, 10:00 – 15:00Our bonsai are beginning to show the blush of spring and buds and early flowers are flushing. We need to look are all the spring jobs building up to give our bonsai a great, balance start for our bonsai.
RSVP ClosedSun, 18 Dec18 Dec 2022, 10:00 – 15:00Autumn and your bonsai are beginning to dress down for the year. For many beginners, this is a confusing time of the year. This session helps you understand bonsai dormancy, and how to ensure that you get your bonsai ready for autumn and the winter beyond.
RSVP ClosedSun, 11 Dec11 Dec 2022, 10:00 – 15:00 GMTThe Bonsai Course for Beginner - Intensive Boot Camp gives you the skill and confidence to care for and train your bonsai. It teaches you the skills necessary to keep your bonsai healthy and vibrant. Aimed at absolute beginners but even practising enthusiasts find it grounding and enlightening.
- RSVP ClosedSun, 20 Nov20 Nov 2022, 09:00 – 21 Nov 2022, 09:00Autumn and your bonsai are beginning to dress down for the year. For many beginners, this is a confusing time of the year. This session helps you understand bonsai dormancy, and how to ensure that you get your bonsai ready for autumn and the winter beyond.
Sold OutSun, 13 Nov13 Nov 2022, 10:00 – 16:00The Bonsai Course for Beginner - Intensive Boot Camp gives you the skill and confidence to care for and train your bonsai. It teaches you the skills necessary to keep your bonsai healthy and vibrant. Aimed at the absolute beginners but even practising enthusiasts find it grounding and enlightening.
RSVP ClosedSun, 23 Oct23 Oct 2022, 10:00 – 17:00Pruning to remove excessive growth and bring balance back to a tree after summer growth. Prepare trees for the rest of the year. Pruning of conifers, pines in particular and deciduous bonsai trees.- Sold OutSun, 16 Oct16 Oct 2022, 10:00 – 17:00 BSTThe Bonsai Course for Beginner - Intensive Boot Camp gives you the skill and confidence to care for and train your bonsai. It teaches you the skills necessary to keep your bonsai healthy and vibrant. Aimed at the absolute beginners but even practising enthusiasts find it grounding and enlightening.
RSVP ClosedSun, 25 Sept25 Sept 2022, 10:00 – 15:00Pruning for inner growth, summer pruning of conifers, pines in particular and deciduous bonsai trees.
RSVP ClosedSun, 18 Sept18 Sept 2022, 10:00 – 15:00 BSTThe Bonsai Course for Beginner - Intensive Boot Camp gives you the skill and confidence to care for and train your bonsai. It teaches you the skills necessary to keep your bonsai healthy and vibrant. Aimed at the absolute beginners but even practising enthusiasts find it grounding and enlightening.- RSVP ClosedSun, 21 Aug21 Aug 2022, 10:00 – 15:00The Bonsai Course for Beginner - Intensive Boot Camp gives you the skill and confidence to care for and train your bonsai. It teaches you the skills necessary to keep your bonsai healthy and vibrant. Aimed at the absolute beginners but even practising enthusiasts find it grounding and enlightening.
RSVP ClosedSun, 07 Aug07 Aug 2022, 10:00 – 16:00Pines in Japanese and many Asian cultures are considered holy and revered trees. ‘Matsu’ the Japanese word for Pine mean waiting for “god’s soul to descend from heaven.”
RSVP ClosedThu, 04 Aug04 Aug 2022, 10:00 – 15:00For many of us living in city flats with large bright windows and perhaps balconies, growing many semi-hardy Mediterranean species in-doors or on balconies has become quite an interesting possibility.
RSVP ClosedSun, 31 Jul31 Jul 2022, 10:00 – 15:00 BSTAccent Bonsai or Grass bonsai as they are traditionally referred to are accompanying plant that is displayed with bonsai and was meant to highlight the season.
RSVP ClosedThu, 21 Jul21 Jul 2022, 10:00 – 10:05Root-On-Rock Bonsai clings to rock surfaces and gets their nourishments from crevices and potholes in to which debris and soil have collected.
RSVP ClosedThu, 14 Jul14 Jul 2022, 10:00 – 15 Jul 2022, 10:00These sessions show you how to grow many exotic tropical and sub-tropical species such as Bonsai.- RSVP ClosedSun, 10 Jul10 Jul 2022, 10:00 – 16:00The Bonsai Course for Beginner - Intensive Boot Camp gives you the skill and confidence to care for and train your bonsai. It teaches you the skills necessary to keep your bonsai healthy and vibrant. Aimed at the absolute beginners but even practising enthusiasts find it grounding and enlightening.
- RSVP ClosedThu, 07 Jul07 Jul 2022, 10:00 – 08 Jul 2022, 10:00These sessions show you how to grow many exotic tropical and sub-tropical species such as Bonsai.
What our students say!
I have approached the bonsai world around 3 years ago, since 2, I decided to follow a course because my interest was becoming bigger. After a couple of experiences I met Mark and I have to say that I found the perfect person. He driven me through the beginners an then to the advanced course with the simplicity and professionalism that just few people have. He's not just a lovely person, he's also a really prepared bonsai teacher. During the Mark course You find yourself surrounded by so many lovely bonsais, result of so many love and knowledge for the bonsai's world. Alessandro De Maria.
One of the things I like the most about MaKe bonsai is the family atmosphere that can be enjoyed there. While sipping a nice coffee and indulging on the myriads of bonsais Mark has in his nursery, I learnt about the basic techniques every bonsai enthusiast need to master to be able to improve his/her collection. Mark is very friendly and his passion for bonsai makes him a great teacher as well as a fun person to chat with.