The Minnesota Bonsai Society (MBS) is an all-volunteer organization, and member participation is what has made us one of the biggest and best clubs in the country.
MBS was founded in 1971 and incorporated in 1985 to create and inspire participation and appreciation in the art of bonsai. The club has special programs for bonsai beginners and offers a wide variety of programs and activities for all levels of bonsai skill.
A one-year membership is $40 for up to two members of the same household. Your membership includes access to all MBS functions, activities, and our library. MBS members are assigned a member number, which will be sent to you upon joining. The member number is used for identification purposes if you show trees at a public event or sell items at our auctions, so be sure to keep track of it.
General Meetings
Meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month (there is no meeting in January). Our meetings are open to members, their guests, and visitors. The doors open at 6:30. Meetings start at 7:00 and generally last about 2 hours. Programs during the year include presentations by visiting bonsai professionals, member roundtable discussions, social events, and more. Click here to learn more >>
At most meetings there will be a resource available to take payments for such things as memberships, gift cards, and classes. These items may also be purchased from our website at any time. Please contact our administrator if you need to confirm in-person payment availability for a specific date. Our preferred method of payment is by credit card; checks may also be accepted.
Our extensive library is available at the general meetings to members only. Not all materials are available at every meeting, so ask the librarian about books of particular interest to you. You may check out materials for one month. You will be asked to guarantee the book’s return with a credit card imprint or a signed check, which will be returned to you when you return the materials.
Occasionally there may be members (who are required to be in good standing) at meetings selling bonsai-related items such as trees, soil, tools, pots, books, and periodicals. Come early or shop during the mid-meeting break. Please be respectful of the program speaker and keep conversations and transactions brief and quiet during the program presentation. Not all sellers accept all forms of payment.
Name Tags and T-shirts
We offer name tags, T-shirts, and work shirts with the MBS logo, and occasionally other fund-raising merchandise. Check for order sheets and vendor tables at the general meetings.
Newsletter & Website
The newsletter is published electronically and includes information about upcoming programs and events, official business and announcements, and MBS contact information, along with stories and pictures from past events and articles about various bonsai topics.
We maintain a website at www.MinnesotaBonsaiSociety.org. The site is open to the public and includes maps and directions to club events and the annual calendar, as well as information about upcoming events, articles about bonsai, and pictures of past events. If you would like to submit articles or pictures to either the newsletter or website, please contact the webmaster (contact information listed on the website).
Bonsai Shows & Exhibits
We have two formal bonsai exhibits during the year.
1. Mother’s Day Show: Our Mother’s Day show is held at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park on the Saturday and Sunday of Mother’s Day weekend. Any member may bring trees, and all skill levels are welcome. This show is not judged.
2. State Fair: Our biggest show is held at the State Fair, where we exhibit on the Friday and Saturday of Labor Day weekend in the Agricultural Horticulture Building (T28 Cooper). This is a State Fair event, and, by special invitation, any member of the public is also welcome to exhibit alongside MBS members. Please contact us for details. The show is judged and critiqued by a visiting bonsai professional hired by the club with awards given. A special Novice Class is open to members with fewer than three years’ experience. Written critiques are provided for all trees and let you benefit from the expertise of a professional bonsai artist.
We encourage all members to exhibit and volunteer at shows. We can always use help with setup and teardown, and members also work at the shows to answer visitors’ questions about bonsai and MBS. This is a great way to share your enthusiasm and knowledge. Newer members are welcome—remember, even as a beginner you know more than most members of the public. Look for sign-up sheets online and at the general meetings.
From time to time, we are asked to participate at other events. These will be announced at meetings and in the newsletter.
Auctions
MBS sponsors a spring and fall auction every year as part of our outreach efforts. A wide variety of hard-to-find material is offered, including styled trees, raw plant material, tools, pots, books, and supplies, at both a live auction and a silent auction. Auctions are open to the public, but only members are allowed to offer items for sale. Sellers pay a 15% commission to MBS. Check the newsletter for complete seller instructions. Our preferred method of payment is by credit card; checks may also be accepted.
Workshops
Bonsai Basics & Intermediates Meetings
Every year the Society offers free entry level classes for members. We call it Bonsai Concepts. The class meets monthly, for about 9 months. Classes cover the basic concepts of bonsai, from wiring to wintering. These meetings are conducted by experienced club members who are happy to share their expertise. Attendance is voluntary; pick and choose the meetings of interest to you, no sign-up required. We find most people new to bonsai will want to attend most meetings. At the end of the class year your group may want to form a study group to continue learning on its own. This is a wonderful way to form friendships within the Society.
Introduction to Bonsai Workshops (Open to the Public)
Novice Workshops are how most of us got started. These 1-day workshops are taught by club members and are open to the public. The cost is $95.00 and includes a tree, pot, supplies, and classroom instruction. They typically run 6 hours with a lunch break. If you haven’t taken one yet, it’s a great hands-on learning experience. If you have, volunteer to help teach new students!
Member Workshops
The Society hosts two master bonsai artists each year to conduct programs and workshops for members. Programs are presented at the general meetings and workshops are held on weekends, usually in 3 or 4 hour sessions. Upcoming workshops will be announced at the meetings and in the newsletter, and there will be sign-up sheets available at the meetings. Space is usually limited to 6-8 people per workshop, so sign up early. Observer spots are also available and great for all levels.
A limited number of silent observer spaces are available for a nominal fee. These workshops are an opportunity to learn from some of the world’s best bonsai artists. They are here to teach, and members are encouraged to participate regardless of skill level. Bring your own tools and wire.
In addition to club-sponsored workshops, visiting masters may have time available for private instruction. If you or your study group is interested in booking time with a master, contact the master coordinator for more information.
Study Groups
Many private bonsai study groups have been formed by Society members. These are groups of people wishing to explore the art more deeply. While most of them are made up of MBS members these groups are not sponsored by the Society. We do encourage private groups of this nature and will cooperate as much as possible to promote the art of bonsai.
The typical study group is made up of a limited number of people wishing to pool their resources to work together and learn more about bonsai. They may hire a visiting master for a private workshop, go on field trips to collect trees, conduct their own workshops, or socialize. Many study groups are formed by classmates from the Tuesday evening Bonsai Basics classes. Membership in study groups is usually by invitation. If you want to participate in a study group and can’t find one, consider starting your own.
Events
Picnic, Holiday Party, Annual Banquet, and Members Tour
The Society sponsors various social events throughout the year. Check the website and newsletter for this year’s events and dates.
The summer picnic is usually held in July, and sometimes replaces the July general meeting. This is a potluck social affair, and you are welcome to bring your family. The club grills burgers and brats and provides buns, condiments, drinks, and table service. You bring a favorite dish to share.
The members’ tour is an opportunity to visit the collections of various club members. The tour usually includes three or four homes and is held on a weekend during the summer.
We have a holiday party as our December meeting. This is also when board elections are held. The club furnishes sandwich and veggie trays and beverages. Members bring a favorite dish to share.
Our annual banquet is generally held in January or February, when there is no monthly meeting. The event includes dinner, a cash bar, and usually a fund-raising raffle or auction.
Questions or Comments
If you have questions about MBS or would like more information, board members’ contact information is listed in the newsletter. Feel free to talk to someone at a meeting or send an e-mail with your comments, program suggestions, or feedback.
Members are also welcome to attend board meetings, which are held on the fourth Tuesday of the month (see the website or newsletter for time and location). If you have business you would like to discuss at a board meeting, please contact the president and ask to be added to the agenda.
Contact administrator@minnesotabonsaisociety.org with any questions.