Kokedama with Young Choe

Kokedama is a style of Japanese bonsai. Loosely translated, ‘koke’ means moss and ‘dama’ means ball. The idea has its origins in Japan where Kokedama are very popular. The historical Japanese form of kokedama had miniature sculptured bonsai trees displayed on handmade pottery or pieces of driftwood. In this class you will create a more modern kokedama, with an ornamental plant whose roots grow in a hand-formed ball of soil and clay. Wrapped in moss and bound with string, a humble plant is transformed into a sculptural art form.

About the Instructor:

Young Choe is a renowned kusamono and kokedama artist, and practitioner of what she calls “articulture,” a marriage of her artistic vision and love of plants. Young studied art in her native South Korea, but she had always been fascinated by plants. In the US, she began volunteering at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum, and the little accent plants that often accompany bonsai captivated her. Soon after, she pursued a BS degree in horticulture and studied under master artists in Japan. Today, Young travels the world teaching kusamono, kokedama, and other living arts to budding articulturists.

• General admission is included in the course fee. We encourage you to stay and enjoy the Gardens after class.
• All horticultural materials and tools for this workshop are included in the tuition.
• You will be working with live plants, soil, and garden tools- feel free to bring a favorite pair of gardening gloves if you have them.
• Please check in at the Welcome Center at 10:15 a.m. for a 10:30 a.m. start time.