Upcoming Club Events:

  • September 14:  Special Bonsai Demonstration at Hakone Gardens
    Our club was invited to present the art of bonsai at this special event which coincides with a show of pottery by Denise Soultanian.  Michael Greenstein and Ray Giron will speak about the aspects of bonsai while working on trees from their collection.  Hakone is located in Saratoga 21000 Big Basin Way and price of admission ranges from $8 to $12 depending on age.  The demonstration will run from 11 am to 1 pm.

  • September 19: Club Meeting – "Birds of a Feather"
    Bring a bonsai that is recent to your collection or one you are babysitting and have questions about.  Bring your tools because this is a night where you might want to do some work.  Bonsai of a similar species will be grouped together and a mentor will be assigned to discuss the trees you brought.  Please don’t bring too many to let time for everyone in your group to get some tutelage.  Later you will have a chance to share with the entire group knowledge you found particularly helpful.

  • September 27: Club Workshop & Intro to Bonsai – Styling

  • October 17: Club Meeting – "Earth, Wind, Fire, Water"
    Many styles or species of bonsai have characteristics that bring to mind one or more of these basic elements.  If you have a tree or a kusamono that you feel fits one of these concepts or you have a tree that with some  styling could fit a theme, bring it. However, don’t tell anyone your theme, let’s make a game of it and see if people can guess!

  • October 18: Club Workshop & Intro to Bonsai – Containers

You’re Invited! Please visit us. No need to RSVP, just come as you are.

Meeting Times

3rd Friday of the Month (except Aug.)
7 PM to 9:30 PM

Club Workshop and Intro to Bonsai
12:30 - 4:30PM

Location:

St Mark’s Episcopal Church (Parish Hall)
600 Colorado Ave.
Palo Alto, CA 94306
MAP

Introduction to Bonsai Class Monthly Schedule of Classes

Here is the schedule of Introduction to Bonsai class topics for the next twelve months. The topics of Styling and Wiring will be offered twice a year. Otherwise, topics are offered once a year. Classes/workshops will be scheduled on the second Saturday after the Club’s monthly meeting except when that date conflicts with another event in the bonsai community. Most classes will include hands-on exercises created by the instructors for the given topic. Instructors of these classes are Michael Greenstein, Lynne O’Dell and Rita Curbow with assistance by Jenn Tan. Other members are welcome to assist with these efforts if interested in doing so.

Schedule:

January: Wiring led by Rita. Offered twice a year; see comments under August
February: Styling along with Repotting at potting parties.
March: Show Prep of club member's trees led by Rita and Lynne
April: No workshop because of annual show
May: Bonsai Garden Tour at Michael’s home. Different styles of trees will be pointed out and questions answered about tools, etc.
June: Pruning led by Rita and Lynne. Various tree types such as junipers, maples, etc., will be discussed. Students should read Pruning chapter in the ABS.
July: Summer Care led by Michael. Tips on dealing with pests, fertilizing, watering, protecting from sun/heat and wind will be covered. Michael will discuss pines as needed.
August: Wiring led by Rita. Will include handouts of drawings used by Mauro Stemburger in his January 2025 Golden Zoom presentation.
September: Styling led by Michael. Offered twice a year so students don’t have to wait an entire year for this.
October: Containers led by Rita. Note the GSBF Bonsai Rendezvous is usually held in October.
November: Soil / Potting / Winter Care, for example: No longer fertilizing all trees; some trees still growing; discuss trees that can be repotted and wired at this time of year.
December: No workshop during the Holiday Season