Kokedama: Moss Ball Bonsai Folk School Class

Japanese culture greatly influenced Florida in the early 1900s. The Yamato Colony was a small community of Japanese farmers who settled in present day Boca Raton. One of the many art forms they brought to America was Kokedama. Kokedama is a style of Japanese bonsai where a plant’s root system is wrapped in sphagnum moss and bound with string, transforming it into a sculptural art form. Loosely translated, ‘koke’ means moss and ‘dama’ means ball.

This bonsai method is a centuries-old artform in gardening that beautifully combines nature and art, which Japanese culture is famous for. In this class, you will take fresh plants, wrap them in a clay-based soil recipe that is designed to hold its spherical shape, and then fasten moss around it. It is all held together by winding fishing line around this gorgeous little green orb. Students will leave this class with bonsai plants of their own and the skills to care for them and create more at home. Wear clothes and shoes that can get dirty—this is a hands-on class!