Sooke Garden Club Oct. 28: Bonsai

Victoria bonsai expert Mark Paterson is the guest speaker at October’s Sooke Garden Club meeting.

By Cory McInnis

When you go down the Google rabbit hole, you learn that bonsai is a practice that began more than 2,000 years ago in China. Even though I have no knowledge or practice with bonsai, I do hold great respect and admiration for the work that is involved in creating, maintaining and expressing oneself in its art form.

Being around bonsai forms brings a sense of calm and ease. I find it allows your eyes to focus on shape, structure and telling a story.

Mark Paterson is Victoria’s bonsai expert. Currently in charge of the Horticultural Centre of the Pacific’s Bonsai collection, Mark has been the curator to two public bonsai collections.

He owned a bonsai store on West Saanich Road, has been president of the local Bonsai Club, and has taught hundreds of people from ages four to 85 about the delights of Bonsai – including trades landscapers!

Mark has worked with and taken lessons from bonsai artists from around the world, and he’s excited to share with Sooke gardeners the ins and outs of bonsai.

Mark is the guest speaker for the Sooke Garden Club’s next meeting – Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 7pm at the Juan de Fuca Local Area Services Building (CRD Building) at #3 – 7450 Butler Road off Otter Point Road.

If you’d like to learn more about the club, visit sookegardenclub.ca, check out the SGC Facebook page, website or email at Sookegc@gmail.com. Drop-ins are also welcome for $5 per person.