Join the Minnesota Bonsai Society!

ByCelina

Getting Started.

Regardless of your level of knowledge, as a member you are welcome at ANY of the meetings, classes and workshops sponsored by the club.

Learn more about bonsai

Monthly Program Meetings – Each month we have educational programs as well as access to experienced members who are happy to help you with your trees. When a visiting bonsai professional is in town, they often present at the meetings.  Each year, we have round robins where you can see techniques that members use and ask questions. First Tuesday of the month, 5:45-9 PM at the Amherst H. Wilder Auditorium A.  Free.

Mentorship – Sign up for the Mentorship program.  It connects you individually with a senior member. You will receive an email, roughly every month, reminding you of seasonal work to consider on your trees depending on their stage of development. You can send photos for “virtual consultations” or ask any other questions you might have about your bonsai.

MBS Library – Borrow books from the MBS library at our monthly program meeting. Some “how to” books are available and lots of exhibition books for inspiration. The more refined trees you see, the more ideas you will have when it comes to styling your own trees. 

Other Educational Offerings by MBS

Annual State Fair Show – Come view our largest bonsai show at the Minnesota State Fair, where we exhibit on the Friday and Saturday of Labor Day weekend. Novices are welcome to exhibit. The show is judged by a visiting professional, who also makes suggestions to advance the design of each tree.  The critique is usually 9 PM Friday night. 

Annual Mother’s Day Bonsai Show – On Mother’s Day weekend each year, MBS displays club bonsai trees at the Como Marjorie Mc Neely Conservatory. MBS volunteers will be on-hand to answer any questions you may have about the Art of Bonsai. 

Annual Member Garden Tour and Picnic

Each year, members tour a few members’ bonsai collections, see how they do bonsai, and ask questions about horticulture, aesthetics or anything else. There is a picnic afterwards. 

Dig In!  A Framework to advance your practice.

Start Here:

Introduction to Bonsai Beginner Workshop – a half-day beginners’ workshop with a lecture and hands-on tree styling. The session begins with a basic overview of how to start a bonsai. Then it’s time to dive in and repot your tree.  A great opportunity to begin the styling process with some guidance. Usually, lots of volunteers are around to help. It’s a great place to connect with other bonsai enthusiasts and start a study group. Once you complete the novice workshop, you are ready for the intermediate options below. The cost includes a tree and you don’t need to be a member to join in the fun.

Get more material:

Bonsai Nursery Tour – A lot of bonsai start as garden center material.  In the spring of every year, we offer a nursery tour in which you can meet up at the local garden centers and learn how to pick material for use as bonsai. See our website for date, time and location. Free

Obtain plant materials, tools, pots and accessories – Some members bring items for sale to the monthly program meetings.  Pre-bonsai, bonsai and accessories are also available at our bi-annual auction. The auctions, held at the end of June and September, are a great place to get material at reasonable prices.  Some material can be purchased from online sources are listed on our website under “Resources“.  

Advance your skills and knowledge:

Bonsai Concepts Class– The Bonsai Concepts classes are a perfect way for members, relatively new to bonsai, to further develop their skills as a bonsai artist. Both beginner and more advanced members are welcome. Monthly classes, led by experienced club members, begin with a didactic on seasonally appropriate work and often include a brief demonstration. In the latter portion of the class, you have a chance to work on your own trees in a workshop format.  This allows you to apply the techniques you learned with some supervision.  If you don’t have a tree, you are welcome to observe!

Fundamentals Program – The Fundamentals series is an intermediate course designed to teach you the necessary skills to advance your trees, season after season.  You work with a national bonsai professional over the course of 2 years on the same material, meeting 2-3 times a year.  This program offers MBS members the unique opportunity to study with a bonsai professional, without the expense of traveling to the teacher’s studio.  You may participate as an observer or working member.

Professional Workshops – Provides another great “hands-on” opportunity, for all experience levels, to advance your skills working with a visiting bonsai professional. Usually offered twice a year in late spring and early fall, you have a chance to perform seasonally appropriate work on your trees with professional guidance. Some workshops are species specific in which case the cost of the pre-bonsai material is included. If you don’t have trees, observer spots are available for an exceptional value. 

Review our Website at www.minnesotabonsaisociety.org for details on workshops and resources

Resources outside of the Minnesota Bonsai Society

Online Courses -The Internet has no shortage of articles, blogs and videos on bonsai!  Pay attention to who is writing, lecturing or demonstrating bonsai knowledge. The Internet has a lot of good information if you know where to look.  Here are some recommendations.

  • Bonsai Empire Online Courses at www.bonsaiempire.com/courses – video courses are available for beginner to advanced level. Courses cost $14.99 to $69.99 but with frequent 20-30% discounts available.
  • Bonsai-U by Bjorn Bjorholm at Eisen-en. www.bjornbjorholm.com/bonsai-u-membership/  
  • Bonsai Mirai Live at www.live.bonsaimirai.com/. Theyoffer standard streaming, mobile app and a growing library of lectures designated for beginning, intermediate and advanced learners.

Bonsai Conventions – Annual Bonsai Conventions provide educational workshops and exhibits

Bonsai Magazines – watch for copies at our Monthly Program Meeting

Professional Intensive Programs – Many study intensives at the professionals’ nursery.  A few are listed

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