MBS Newsletter

UPCOMING  2024 EVENTS

March
March 5 – Tuesday, 7:00 PM(in-person & Zoom)- General Meeting*  
March23 – Saturday, 12-4 pm– Bonsai Concepts Class*
March26 – Board Meeting  (Zoom Meeting)

April
April 2 – Tuesday, 7:00 PM – General Meeting*
April 13 & 14 – Fundamentals with Julian Tsai
April20 – Saturday, 12-4 pm– Bonsai Concepts Class* (free for members)
April23 – Board Meeting  (Zoom Meeting)
April 27 & 28 – Introduction to Bonsai Workshops

May
May 3-5 – Bonsai Central Convention St. Louis
May 7 – Tuesday, 7:00 PM – General Meeting
May 9 & 11 – ABS Learning Seminars 2024 – Grand Rapids, MI
May 10 – Mother’s Day setup
May 11 & 12 – 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Mother’s Day Exhibit
May18- Saturday, 12-4 pm– Bonsai Concepts Class* (free for members)
May 18 – Saturday, 10:00 am – Garden Nursery Tour (free for members)
May28 – Board Meeting  (Zoom Meeting)

Please check for changes prior to event.

You can also get live updates on our events page on Facebook >>

View full calendar here >>


FEATURED ARTICLES

Andrew Robson Shohin Presentation (Click to View>>)
Automatic RO System for Optimal Bonsai Watering (Click to Read>>)
2023 State Fair Winners & Slide Show (Click to view>>)
Preparing for winter/cold frames (Click to view)
Jack Wilke Interview (Click to view)
Nursery Tour with Lionel Flood (Click to view)
Missed a General Meeting?  (Click to view past programs)
Most Recent Board Minutes (Click to view >>)
Visit with Suthin – Garden Tour (Click to view >>)
Mark Youngdale Scholarship (Click to learn more>>)
Lands End Merch (Click to learn more)


FUNDAMENTALS 2024

We are pleased to announce that Julian Tsai has agreed to teach our next Fundamentals sai professional from Southern California. He spent two years apprenticing at Fujikawa Kouka-en, in Osaka, before Covid and other factors shortened his stay. He has spent considerable amount of time with Peter Tea, honing his techniques and developmental skills. He is passionate about creating and developing bonsai that will be generational. He currently has three groups he works with regularly as well as private clients. 

Julian will visit twice in 2024, April 13 & 14 and November 9 & 10. There will be a mid-year class without Julian as well.
Working position fee- $325.00 (plus cost of trees)

Observer position fee-$150.00

Registration opening March 1, 2024

Click to learn more >>


GENERAL MEETING 
Click to enlarge map

The club meets on the first Tuesday of each month (except January) for a presentation. In person events will be held at:

Amherst H. Wilder Auditorium, Auditorium A
451 Lexington Pkwy N, St Paul, MN 55104  Click for map >> 

Missed a General Meeting? Some are recorded.
View here >>

March 5, 2024 – 7pm Meeting:

Dave Weiss will present on his building of a Passive Solar Greenhouse. He will talk about how it was built, discuss the pros and cons of the structure so far and how he would do things differently next time. Although he not had a full year with it yet, he will talk about how he sees using it with his trees during the four seasons.

When: Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Time: 7-9 PM
Location: Amherst H. Wilder Auditorium, Auditorium A 451 Lexington Pkwy N, St Paul, MN 55104
Can’t attend in person? Join us on Zoom >> 

SEE ALL DATES >>


ANNUAL MOTHER’S DAY SHOW 2024

Take Mom to this annual tradition! Each year the Minnesota Bonsai Society displays some of their finest work at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como. Members will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the art of Bonsai and all the benefits of becoming a member of the Minnesota Bonsai Society.

Admission: Free and open to the public, donations to Como are always accepted
When: Saturday May 11 & Sunday May 12, 2024
Where: Como Conservatory
Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

MBS Members – We need volunteers. See link below to signup. 

SEE FULL DETAILS >>


AUCTION

Stay tuned for 2024 dates.

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.

Check or Credit card only please. No cash

When:
Time: 10am – 2pm (Open to the Public)
9am – Seller Check-in only (Must be a member to sell)*
10am – Public viewing starts
11am – Bidding starts
Where: Washington County State Fair Grounds, 12300 40th St N, Stillwater, MN 55082

*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.

SEE FULL DETAILS >>


BONSAI CONCEPTS
Concepts is held monthly (except December and January)

Each meeting begins with a classroom session followed by our helping you with your trees.

March 23, 2024 :

And so, it begins…

Our bonsai growing year begins this month by discussing and demonstrating correct potting techniques. We will also talk about what to look for in a container for your tree and other work we can do on our trees in the early growing season. Please join us on Saturday, March 23 at the Washington County Fairgrounds from noon to four. Bring all the potting tools, pots, soil, and materials you have. We will have some soil and possibly pots available from a couple of our club vendors as well, but bring what you have.

See you Saturday at noon!

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 
Typically held in the Hooley Hall building

All are welcome to come and learn, with or without trees.

SEE ALL DATES >>


CONVENTIONS

BONSAI CENTRAL
Bringing the best to the Midwest!

Artists: Bjorn Bjorholm, Andrew Robson, Tyler Sherrod, Young Choe, Marija Hajdic and Mauro Stemberger

Where: St. Louis
When: May 3-5 2024
Website: https://bonsai-central.com/
Cost: Please go to website for workshops and admission

SEE MORE EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY >>


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. 

LEARN MORE >>


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. 


WOMEN’S BONSAI GROUP

There is a new women’s bonsai group starting. See information below.

“The Purple Pot Society is open to bonsai practitioners of every gender and race. It is our mission to support, encourage, and inspire women to pursue bonsai.  We also want to advocate for the diversity and inclusion of all underrepresented groups within the bonsai community.

Mission: To support, encourage, and inspire female* bonsai artists and advocate for diversity and inclusion of all underrepresented groups within the bonsai community.”

They also have a facebook group!

LEARM MORE>>


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.

CLICK TO JOIN  >>


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.


ANNUAL MOTHER’S DAY SHOW 2024

Take Mom to this annual tradition! Each year the Minnesota Bonsai Society displays some of their finest work at the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como. Members will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the art of Bonsai and all the benefits of becoming a member of the Minnesota Bonsai Society.

Admission: Free and open to the public, donations to Como are always accepted
When: Saturday May 11 & Sunday May 12, 2024
Where: Como Conservatory
Time: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

MBS Members – We need volunteers. See link below to signup. 

SEE FULL DETAILS >>


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 >>