UPCOMING EVENTS
April
April 1 – General Meeting
April 19 – Bonsai Concepts
April 22 – Board Meeting (Zoom)
April 26–27 – Beginner Workshops
May
May 6 – General Meeting
May 10–11 – MBS Mother’s Day Show at Como
May 17 – Bonsai Concepts
May 17 – Spring Nursery Tour
May 27 – Board Meeting (Zoom)
Link to full calendar
View full calendar here >>
You can also get live updates on our events page on Facebook >>
MAY GENERAL MEETING
The May 6 general meeting presentation will be on propagation techniques presented by Kirk Hedberg and Gary Schwochau.
We will review some of the species conducive to seed propagation, touch on the process of germination, and discuss techniques such as stratification and scarification to improve yields. We will also discuss techniques to enhance nebari creation in seedlings and young trees. There will be a show-and-tell of some of the supplies Gary has found useful for growing from seed.
We look forward to seeing you there!
The club meets on the first Tuesday of each month (except January) for a presentation. In person events will be held at:
When: First Tuesday of the month (Except January)
Time: 7-9 PM
Location: Wilder Center, 451 Lexington Pkwy N, St Paul, MN 55104
Join by Zoom (If Available) >>
Missed a General Meeting? Some are recorded here >>
BONSAI CONCEPTS
Cost: Free for members! No signup required.
When: Saturday, Noon-4pm (See dates in link below)
Topic: Each month will focus on seasonal care
Instructors: Dale & Sue Krueger (dale.n.krueger[at]comcast.net)
Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate, All Levels
Location: 12300 40th St N, Stillwater, MN 55082
Note: Location will be NOT be at the Washington County Fairgrounds for June, July and September 2025. TBD
All are welcome to come and learn, with or without trees. Each meeting begins with a classroom session followed by our helping you with your trees.
April 19 Topic:
Our growing season has arrived, and we want to start out on the right step. This month at Bonsai Concepts, we continue to with our spring work which includes repotting, grafting, air layering, design, and maintenance work for many of our trees. We also will spend time talking about display to get ready for our Mother’s Day show in May. New and veteran members, please join us on Saturday, April 19, from noon to four at the Washington Co. Fairgrounds (enter from 40th Street). There was a full house last month, so make sure to get there early!
See you Saturday!
Dale and Sue
MOTHERS DAY SHOW – May 10-11 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
Visitors to Como love this event where MBS members show the trees they have been working on.
This is your opportunity to inspire someone to learn about bonsai, to take a class, or to join the club. As your trees wake up this spring, choose some you would like to share. All levels are welcome.
Volunteers will be needed to help setup and answer questions during the show.
SIGNUP HERE TO VOLUNTEER >>
Any questions, send an email to helen.pennie@minnesotabonsaisociety.org
PHOTOGRAPHY DAY IS BACK!
The Minnesota Bonsai Society is pleased to be able to offer a Photography Day. Members will receive professionally shot photos of a minimum of two trees, and The Bonsai Society will obtain a portfolio of home-grown, royalty-free stock images for marketing materials
We will be scheduling in 15-minute blocks starting at 9:00 am and ending at 4:00 pm with a lunch break from 12:00 pm-1:00 pm. Members may bring additional trees if so desired, but anything over two is not guaranteed to get photographed. If there is time left over in any given 15-minute block, additional shots may be possible. Do note that the scheduling and process will move along at a fairly brisk pace, so please arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time to allow for expediting and staging of the trees. We will not have time in the schedule for any set dressing (no scrolls), but totems/talismans can be accommodated as shown. Individuals are also welcome to bring their own stands/slabs if so desired.
When: Saturday June 7, 2025
Cost: Free for members!
Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Location: Cords Photography, 681 17th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413
Caskets Arts Building Studio 110
Space is limited, please reserve a spot to attend. Click below to learn more.
SPRING AUCTION
Each year MBS sponsors a Spring and Fall Auction. This is a fun and exciting event where members can buy or sell trees, pots and other bonsai-related materials during the live or silent auction.
It’s one of the best ways to obtain new material for your collection, or make room on your benches. A percentage of the sale is retained by the society to help fund other events.
When:
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Time: 10am – 2pm (Open to the Public)
9am – Seller Check-in only
10am – Public viewing starts
11am – Bidding starts
Where: Washington County State Fair Grounds, 12300 40th St N, Stillwater, MN 55082
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
Are you a newcomer to the world of Bonsai? Or have you been at it a while and are looking to learn more? We have great resources for you, including the Society Website, the Facebook page, and the Basics and Bonsai Concepts classes.
If you feel you would benefit from additional assistance in helping you nurture and grow your trees, please consider joining the MBS Mentorship Program.
Under this program, you will be assigned to a Bonsai Society Mentor based on your location in the Twin Cities, and will work with a Mentor along with other folks like you interested in learning more about how to best manage your bonsai trees.
If interested, please contact Bryan Evarts at bryan.evarts@minnesotabonsaisociety.org
WEBSITE UPDATES – MEMBERSHIP & PAYMENT OPTIONS
As a member of the Minnesota Bonsai society, you will receive a member number. You will need this number to sell at auctions and to confirm your membership for some events.
To find your member number – click login on the top right corner of the website. Once you are successfully logged in, it will display on the top right hand corner. See the orange circle on image in the top right. You can also request a badge at the in-person general meetings that includes your name and member number. Note: If you create a new user name and account, it will generate a new member number for you. So please don’t create a new one if you already have an existing account.
If you are having difficulty with accessing your membership or renewing please contact Celina (celina[at]minnesotabonsaisociety.org).
CLICK TO JOIN OR RENEW HERE >>
VOLUNTEERING
Call for volunteers!
People new to bonsai are welcome for their perspectives on what would help them advance their skill base. If you wish to volunteer for this in 2024, email administrator@minnesotabonsaisociety.org.
It will be a good way for the participants to get to know more professionals and have a say in program content.
We are always looking for volunteers, if you are interested to see what positions are available, or how you can help, please email administrator@minnesotabonsaisociety.org.