3rd African Bonsai Convention 2011 - Our Headliners

The 3rd African Bonsai Convention 2011
Durban, South Africa

OUR HEADLINERS

Links The International Bonsai Arboretum Interview Photo Gallery Bonsaibark	Bill Valavanis (USA) - 46 years bonsai experience
	Bill's interest in bonsai started very early for him. He began lecturing to garden clubs in the Charleston, West Virginia area when he was only sixteen. In 1970, Bill went to Japan to begin his bonsai studies in earnest. There he studied with Kyuzo Murata, Toshio Kawamoto, Kakutaro and bonsai chrysanthemums with Tameji Nakajima. To learn more about Japanese design and line, he studied with the Shofu School of Ikebana and received a master's teaching certificate. Bill graduated from the State University of New York at Farmingdale in 1971, majoring in Ornamental Horticulture. He began teaching regular bonsai classes in Rochester and traveling extensively teaching classical bonsai art.
	Main display area at the International Bonsai Arboretum
	After graduation from Cornell University in 1976, he lived, studied and taught bonsai courses at the Yoshimura School of Bonsai with Yuji Yoshimura. Bill lives in the Rochester area and his business The International Bonsai Arboretum reflects his dedication to the promotion of the international artistic and horticultural expression of classical bonsai art through propagation and education. He began publishing International BONSAI in 1979, now reaching over 50 countries.


Bill Valavanis makes a spectacular job of styling several junipers on a limestone rock at the Futago Rock Planting Convention.