Led by Steven Ittel. The art of bonsai (literally meaning “planted in a container”) originated in China, where it is called pun-sai, during the 8th century. It is believed that the first miniature landscapes in containers were brought to Japan at least twelve hundred years ago by monks as religious souvenirs. A thousand years ago, Utsubo Monogatari wrote in Tale of the Hollow Tree, “A [full-size] tree that is left growing in its natural state is a crude thing. It is only when it is kept close to human beings who fashion it with loving care that its shape and style acquire the ability to move one.”

Mr. Ittel is the Vice President of the Brandywine Bonsai Society, and instructor at Longwood Gardens. He is also an amateur potter. His lecture will focus on the basics of bonsai care and how bonsai are styled.

Plant sale and book auction.