UPCOMING 2024 EVENTS
December
December 3 – Tuesday, 7:00 PM – General Meeting *Holiday Party Sign Up here >>
December 17 – Board Meeting (Zoom Meeting)
January 2025
No General Meeting
No Bonsai Concepts
January 21 – Board Meeting (Zoom Meeting)
Please check for changes prior to event.
You can also get live updates on our events page on Facebook >>
FEATURED ARTICLES
Automatic RO System for Optimal Bonsai Watering (Click to Read>>)
2023 State Fair Winners & Slide Show (Click to view>>)
Winter Care (Click to view articles)
Missed a General Meeting? (Click to view past programs)
Most Recent Board Minutes (Click to view >>)
Visit with Suthin – Garden Tour (Click to view >>)
GENERAL MEETING – DECEMBER HOLIDAY PARTY
For the December General Meeting, MBS will be providing a catered dinner for members. Catering will be done by Brasa. We will need a head count, so please let us know if you will be attending. Sign Up here >>
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
Can’t attend in person? Join us on Zoom >>
Missed a General Meeting? Some are recorded here >>
2025 MEMBERSHIP INCREASE
Dear MBS Members,
The Board of Directors for the Minnesota Bonsai Society has voted to raise annual membership dues to $50 per year starting January 1st, 2025. This increase is the first in over a decade.
For the past ten years, the Board has been able to absorb rising costs with careful budgeting coupled with strong public support for our offerings. Your Society is currently in a good financial position but is facing price increases in 2025 of 20-40% in some instances.
$10 represents an increase that is 8% less than the cumulative price increase from 2014-2024 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index¹. The Board feels this level of membership still delivers a great value based on the benefits and opportunities your Society provides throughout the year.
If you haven’t already renewed your membership for 2024, you still have until the end of December to do so at the current $40 rate. New and returning members may log into your account to pay your dues today. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us with any questions.
Steve Holzgraefe,
Treasurer on behalf of the Minnesota Bonsai Society Board of Directors
¹https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/2014?amount=40
FALL AUCTION – OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SEPTEMBER 28
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.
Our preferred method of payment is by credit card; checks may also be accepted.
*A current MBS membership is a requirement for selling at the auction. If your membership is not current as of the auction date and you choose to sell items, your proceeds will be held by the club until you rectify your membership status.
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
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.
October Class:
The temperatures are dropping, and the leaves are falling. Now we need to shift gears and prepare our trees for storage. This month at Bonsai Concepts we will spend the bulk of our time discussing fall tree care and wintering options. We still are in fall work mode as well, especially for conifers.
Please join us on Saturday October 19, at the Washington County Fairgrounds from noon to four. Bring your questions, and for those that have stored trees before, bring your experiences as well.
See you Saturday!
Dale and Sue
MERCH IS NOW AVAILABLE!
T-shirts, hats, aprons and more are now available for purchase.
You can purchase them from Spreadshirt or Lands End.
Note:
MBS gets a portion of the sale from Spreadshirt only. (Land’s End keeps 100% of the sale)
Return policies are disclosed on the Spreadshirt and Land’s End website.
You can find the links on our website under “Merch” in the main top menu or use the links below.
WEBSITE SECURITY
Our website still has heightened security since we are still getting attacked from bots (1000s a day). Because of this, you may get an email to verify your account to ensure you are safe when logging into the MBS website.
If you are not able to log into the website, please check your email for a verification email. Please check your junk folder too.
The email will come from administrator@minnesotabonsaisociety.org and will have links in the email to verify you are a real person.
This may happen each time you login to the website. If you enter your password incorrectly multiple times, you might get blocked.
Please email me if this happens or are having trouble logging in. celina.blandford@minnesotabonsaisociety.org
Thank you for your patience!
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 MBSMentorProgram[at]gmail.com.
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 >>
STAY INFORMED
An email version of this newsletter is sent periodically for reminders.
If you do not see the emails, check your “junk mail” folder or “spam” folder. We make every effort to ensure that these emails are delivered. If you do not see the email in your inbox, please check your junk mail folder and add us to your white List or Safe Sender List.
You are automatically added to the email list as a member, if you wish to unsubscribe, you can click “unsubscribe” at the bottom of the newsletter.
If you want to be added to the list, please email administrator@minnesotabonsaisociety.org.
You can also follow us on Facebook for any last minute cancellations due to weather or venue changes.
MINNESOTA BONSAI SOCIETY FACEBOOK GROUP
For those of you who are on Facebook*, we have started a new group in order to share ideas, pictures and ask and answer questions.
Just click this link Minnesota Bonsai Society Community Group and hit the “Join” button. As this group is just for MBS members, you will be asked if you are a member and will then be approved within a day.
*If you are not on Facebook for concerns about privacy, you have the option to create a new email address just for this purpose, and then make a profile using a nickname. Your profile picture can be a tree, your dog, or whatever you choose. You will be required to give them your birthdate which you have in common with millions of people, but you may block all information about yourself.
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.
BECOME A MEMBER
JOIN THE MINNESOTA BONSAI SOCIETY!
Memberships includes access to the MBS library, free bonsai concepts classes, and meetings. Plus discounts to attend member only workshops and events. A one year membership for up to 2 members of a household is just $40.00. Join here >>
GIFT CERTIFICATES
WORKSHOP OR MEMBERSHIP GIFT CARDS
MBS offers two gift card options – a $75 workshop gift card that includes a 1 year free membership or a $40 Membership gift card.
Purchase one here >>
FACEBOOK GROUP
HAVE BONSAI QUESTIONS?
Please join our member only Facebook group. This group is intended to foster information exchange and community for members of the Minnesota Bonsai Society. All are invited to post pictures of their bonsai and bonsai-related items, questions and answers to questions. Click to Join group here >>
RESOURCES
Looking for pots? Wire-cutters? Finding supplies in a store can be a challenge in Minnesota. Some supplies can be purchased at the auctions, general meetings and bonsai basics. MBS also does bulk orders of akadama, pumice and lava every couple of years. Watch the newsletter for updates. We have also compiled a list of online vendors you can purchase from. View List >>