Atlanta Bonsai Society

2024 Bonsai Soil Sales

2024 Club Soil Sales are LIVE on our sales website: https://dirtmerchantsrus.com/ The site is loaded with this year’s inventory and is ready for your purchase. This is a fantastic opportunity to obtain top quality soil at unbeatable prices. This year we are featuring many of the same products and sizes as last year, just in higher quantities for the most popular items. Soil sales are for local pick up only and pick up times are available most weekdays. Pick up will be at 3482 Oakcliff Road Unit C, Doraville, GA 30340. Hope to see you there!

March 16th and 17th 2024:

Spring Exhibition at Atlanta Botanical Gardens

Featuring Tyler Sherrod of Dogwood Studios

Join your fellow club members for our annual spring exhibition. This is a member driven exhibtion, friendly to novices, intermediate and advanced bonsai enthusisats. We’ll feature a varity of displays, featuring all sizes of bonsai including shohin, kusamono and Suiseki. We will be in Day Hall at the Botanical Gardens and admission to the gardens is free for all club members that weekend. Just give your name at the admissions stands in front of the gardens.

Hope you can come participate in one of our biggest events of the year. What makes this event special is your participation! We welcome all members of any experience level. And don’t worry if you haven’t shown before, our novice section includes stands and decorations to make your tree look special.

We will feature a varity of activites each day, such as guided critiques, docent tours, bonsai demonstrations, and workshops.

We feature a variety of vendors selling bonsai, pre-bonsai and bonsai related merchandise. Confirmed vendors include: Mike Brawley Selling Prebonsai Stock, Ryan Stoyer selling tea and and ceramics, Dave Gutman one of our great local potters, Shannon Salyer selling shohin and accents, Matt Hughes selling pre-bonsai and one of our local tool sharpeners! Vendors can apply to: bcurrey@curreyco.com

Friday March 15th 2:00pm Set Up at Day Hall.

Friday March 15th 4:30pm – 6:30pm Tree Drop off for the show

Saturday March 16th 9:00 – 6:00pm Exhibition

Saturday March 16th 9:30am Discussion on Member Based Judging

Saturday March 16th 10:15am Show Walk Through with Tyler

Saturday March 16th 2:00pm – 4:00pm Bonsai Demonstration

Saturday March 16th 2:00pm Docent Guided Tour

Saturday March 16th 7:00pm Informal Banquet at Dim Sum Heaven

Sunday March 17th 9:00 – 4:00pm Exhibition

Sunday March 17th 10:00am – 12:00 Guided Critique

Sunday March 17th 1:00 – 4:30pm Bring your own bonsai workshop

Sunday March 17th 2:00pm Docent Guided Tour

Sunday March 17th 4:00pm Breakdown, Clean Up and Clear Out

Register for the Sunday Workshop Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bring-your-own-tree-workshop-with-tyler-sherrod-of-dogwood-studios-tickets-797081511257

If you want to Volenteer please sign up for a shift here! this is one of our biggest events so we can surely use your help! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A4FABAB2EA4FC1-atlanta#/

Lastly, we encourage everyone to show! While you are not required to sign up in advance, it is a big help for those planning the show. If choose, please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0A4FABAB2EA4FC1-tree#/

Map for those coming to drop off trees:

April Beginner’s Meeting

On April the 10th at 7:00pm – 9:00pm at the Callanwolde Conservatory, we will continue our beginners series, featuring local hero and bonsai teacher Rodney Clemons of All Good Bonsai. There is no one better suit to take on the task of teaching how to grow bonsai in Atlanta, as Rodney has been an active grower and resident of the area for over 30 years.

Our format for these sessions is simple: Anyone may attend, but to bring a tree (or trees) we ask that you reserve a ticket.

During our April session we will take on early spring work and other appropriate topics, such as fertilization and pest control.

Register Here to Bring a Tree to our April Beginner’s Meeting: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-bonsai-with-rodney-clemmons-tickets-796493993977

April 2024 Club Meeting

Featuring Shannon Salyer on Shohin

On April the 20th join us for our club meeting at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. We will start the day with a one hour beginner’s Question and Answer session, led by our members. At 10:00am Shannon Salyer will take over and teach us about the development of Shohin bonsai, which are trees under 9″ tall that will fit in the palm of your hand. Shohin bonsai are their own unique practice and a world in their own right. In the afternoon Shannon will lead a “bring your own tree workshop” for a group of up to eight people.

9:00am – 10:00am Beginner’s Question and Answer

10:00am – 12:00pm Shohin Presentation

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch

1:00 – 4:30pm Bring your own tree workshop

Register for the Workshop Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/shannon-salyer-on-shohin-tickets-797090698737

May 2024 Bonsai Yard Sale and Cook Out

Join the Club on Saturday May 11th at 10:00am at the Ormewood Church Fellow Ship Hall for a Springtime Yard Sale “swap meet” event and a cookout. We’ll throw burgers on the grill, hang out in the shade, and sell each other our wares.

May 2024 Club Meeting:

Featuring Young Choe

On May 18th at 9:00am join the club at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center for an exciting day of Kusamono activities. We will start the day off with a beginner’s Question and Answer session at 9:00am. At 10:00am Young Choe, America’s leading Kusamono (accent plant) artist will take over with a demonstration where she works her magic. In the afternoon, we will do a workshop for eight lucky persons to make their own kusamono under Young’s guidance. We will have plant material on hand for purchase for the workshop in order to help keep the workshop pricing reasonable. Bring your own pottery, or there will be some for sale. The club will provide soil, muck and moss! Be creative, and bring stones, wood fragments, pottery, etc. etc.

9:00am Beginner’s Question and Answer

10:00am – 12:00pm Kusamono Demonstration

12:00 – 1:00pm Lunch

1:00pm – 4:30pm Workshop

Register for the Workshop Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kusamono-workshop-with-young-choe-tickets-797098030667

June Beginner’s Meeting

On June the 12th at 7:00pm – 9:00pm at the Callanwolde Conservatory, we will continue our beginners series, featuring local hero and bonsai teacher Rodney Clemons of All Good Bonsai. There is no one better suit to take on the task of teaching how to grow bonsai in Atlanta, as Rodney has been an active grower and resident of the area for over 30 years.

Our format for these sessions is simple: Anyone may attend, but to bring a tree (or trees) we ask that you reserve a ticket.

During our June session we will take on summer work and other appropriate topics, such as fertilization and pest control.

Register Here to bring a tree to this session: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-bonsai-with-rodney-clemmons-tickets-796493993977

June 2024 Club Meeting:

Featuring Tyler Sherrod of Dogwood Studios

Join us at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, on June the 22nd at 9:00am for our June club meeting. We will being at 9:00am with a beginner’s question and answer session, and then at 10:00am we will have guest artist Tyler Sherrod give a clinic on the topics of wiring and pad developement. In the afternoon, Tyler will host a bring your own tree workshop. This is a great time of year to work on pines or junipers in a workshop.

9:00AM Beginner’s Question and Answer Session

10:00 – 12:00pm Club Meeting

12:00 – 1:00pm Lunch

1:00 – 4:30pm Bring your own tree workshop

Register for the Workshop Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hands-on-workshop-with-tyler-sherrod-tickets-797106826977

July 2024 Club Meeting:

Featuring: Mike Lane

Join the club at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center for our July club meeting featuring tropicals specialist. We will start at 9:00am with a Beginner’s question and answer session, and then at 10:00am Mike Lane will take the wheel and share his knowledge of tropical bonsai. In the afternoon we will feature a “bring your own tree” workshop.

9:00am Beginner’s Question and Answer Session

10:00 – 12:00 Tropical Bonsai Presentation

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch

1:00 – 4:30pm Bring your own tree workshop

Register for the Workshop Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tropical-bonsai-workshop-with-mike-lane-tickets-797114319387

August 2024 Beginner’s Meeting

On August the 15th at 7:00pm – 9:00pm at the Callanwolde Conservatory, we will continue our beginners series, featuring local hero and bonsai teacher Rodney Clemons of All Good Bonsai. There is no one better suit to take on the task of teaching how to grow bonsai in Atlanta, as Rodney has been an active grower and resident of the area for over 30 years.

Our format for these sessions is simple: Anyone may attend, but to bring a tree (or trees) we ask that you reserve a ticket.

During our August session we will take on tropical and juniper work.

Register to bring a tree to this session here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-bonsai-with-rodney-clemmons-tickets-796493993977

August 2024 Annual Auction at Ahler’s Auction House

Join us on August the 17th at Ahlers and Ogletree Auction House for the club’s most important fund raiser of the year, the annual auction! Set up and Check in begins at 10:00am and check in closes at 12:00. At 12:30pm we will host a preview and the auction will kick off at 1:00pm sharp! Lunch will be provided for our volenteers!

AHLERS & OGLETREE
AUCTION GALLERY

1788 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd. NW
Atlanta, GA 30318

September 2024 Japanfest Exhibition and Bonsai Classes

While the dates are still to be determined (we are assuming the 14th – 15th of September) we plan to return to Japanfest in 2024 with a “mini-exhibtion” and introductory bonsai classes. The event will be held at the Gas South Convention Center on Sugarloaf Parkway.

More so than almost any other event, Japanfest provides an opportuninty to share our love of bonsai with the public and give many people their first experience with Bonsai. We always need plenty of volenteers for this very popular event!

October Beginner’s Meeting

On October the 9th at 7:00pm – 9:00pm at the Callanwolde Conservatory, we will continue our beginners series, featuring local hero and bonsai teacher Rodney Clemons of All Good Bonsai. There is no one better suit to take on the task of teaching how to grow bonsai in Atlanta, as Rodney has been an active grower and resident of the area for over 30 years.

Our format for these sessions is simple: Anyone may attend, but to bring a tree (or trees) we ask that you reserve a ticket.

During our October session we will take on the topics of Fall Work, and the unique opportunities it affords, as well as addressing any plant material that our participents bring in.

Register to bring a tree to this session here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-bonsai-with-rodney-clemmons-tickets-796493993977

October 2024 Club Meeting

On October the 19th, at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center beginning at 9:00am we will have our Club Meeting. Our current guest artist has cancelled and we are actively seeking an alternative. Keep checking this space for details!

November 2024 Club Meeting

Featuring Guest Artist Sergio Cuan

Our November Meeting is a little different! It comes a little early in the month, on Saturday November the 2nd at 9:00am. We are going to do a Sergio Cuan workshop double header! Register for either a morning workshop, the afternoon workshop, or why not both? We will once again be at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. Sergio is not just an accomplished bonsai artist, but a formally trained visual artist as well. His thoughts on design, proportion and development are truly worth hearing. Sergio approaches tree design with sensitivitey and grace, something we can all learn from.


In both the morning and the afternoon, Sergio will facilitate a workshop in the “Bring you own tree” format for up to eight people.

9:00- 12:30 Club Meeting and Morning Workshop

12:30 – 1:30 Lunch

1:00 – 4:30 Afternoon Bring your own tree workshop

Register Here for the Morning Session: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sergio-cuan-bonsai-workshop-tickets-797995705637

Register Here for the Afternoon Session: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sergio-cuan-bonsai-workshop-tickets-797997290377

December 2024 Holiday Party and Annual Meeting

We;ll have our annual holiday party on Saturday December the 21st at 11:00 am. The club will provide lunch and you provide your favorite appetizers and desserts. This is always a nice time, to simply sit and visit with our fellow club members.

We will also conduct the club’s annual meeting, consisting of elections, the treasurer’s report and publishing the next year’s schedule.

Annual Club Events

The club has planned calendar of events each year. Each Spring the club will sponsor an annual bonasi exhibition at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. In late Summer the club hosts an auction fundraiser each year. This is the club’s primary fundraiser. All proceeds go directly back into the club to support our monthly activities. For the remaining months of the year the club focuses each month on a seasonally appropriate topic, usually presented by a professioanl bonsai artist. Past Topics have included: Repotting techniques, how to judge a bonsai exhibition, how to care for tropical bonsai, accent plants and moss balls, seasonal work for pines, seasonal work for junipers and fall seasonal work for decidious trees.

Smith-Gilbert Gardens – Styling: Rodney Clemons Photo: Matt Defrain

Bonsai Workshops

We offer novice workshops led by a local bonsai professional and advanced workshops led by various guest artists.  Since bonsai have needs based on the calendar our workshops are seasonal in nature.

Depending on artist demand, we may have more than one workshop session per weekend, so check the events page for times as the monthly meeting approaches. Please remain flexible with whether you can take morning or afternoon workshop. The cost of each workshop session is currently $75 for at least 3 hours, unless we are including tree or other materials, which may be extra. The club will provide wire to use at workshops and meetings; everything else you may need should be brought by workshop participant, including tree and tools.

Recent Guest Artists

  • Young Choe
  • Rodney Clemons
  • Adam Jones
  • Kenji Miyata
  • Kathy Shaner
  • Tyler Sherrod
  • Jerome Kellerhals
  • Sergio Cuan
  • Eli Akins

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Styling: Rodney Clemons – Monastery of the Holy Spirit