Atlanta Bonsai Society

Pine Tree Seasonal work with Tyler Sherrod June 24

Join regular club guest artist Tyler Sherrod of Dogwood Studios for a course on seasonal work with pine trees, including decandling and needle pulling for multi-flush pine trees. This work is essential, especially with Japanese Black Pines, if you want to achieve the reduction in needle size and an increase in ramification. We will meet at 10:00am on June 24th at the Retreat at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center for our meeting and workshop. Beginner’s Q&A starts at 9:00am prior to the meeting.

The work Tyler will demonstrate on pine trees is essential to their care, and important for most bonasi practicitioners to learn. Come and enjoy a friendly and very informative meeting about cultivating these very special species.

9:00am – 10:00am Beginner’s Q&A

10:00 – 12:00pm Demonstration and Club Meeting

12:00 – 1:00pm Lunch provided around noontime

1:00 – 4:30pm Bring your own tree workshop for eight persons at a cost of $75.00 per person. This is a superb value for a hands on workshop. The club will provide aluminum wire and Tyler will be on hand to help you move your tree forward. Bring a pine to continue the theme of the morning, a decidious tree that needs cut back (better late than never) or a juniper that needs wiring and styling. It’s a great time of year for all of these activties. Purchase your ahead of the event here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=646720497417

Beginner’s Event on July 12th

The Club is thrilled to continue our “bonsai beginners” series in 2023.  We will continue last year’s well received seminars, the only change being that we have added some additional dates in 2023.  The seminars will be held on the second Wednesday night most months, from 7:00pm – 9:00pm at the Callanwolde Conservatory.

The seminar will be taught by Rodney Clemons, of Allgood Bonsai.  Rodney is one of Atlanta’s longest standing bonsai professionals, a nationally recognized speaker and lecturer and just a downright funny guy.  Check out Rodney’s website here:  https://www.allgoodbonsai.com/

There are two parts of each one of our beginner’s sessions:  A discussion of the seasonal maintenance important to the time of year and a one by one, tree driven question an answer session.  Each participant is encouraged to bring a tree or two from their collection and Rodney will coach the owner on the best course of action for that particular plant.  This tends to result in a great back and forth as Rodney works on each tree with the owner and the group’s input.

Each Seminar will have a ten-person limit for those who wish to bring a tree and have Rodney, critique, comment and work that plant.  If the seminar is sold out, you are welcome to attend without a ticket, but we cannot guarantee Rodney will be able to address your plant material during the seminar.

Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bonsai-beginners-seminar-series-w-rodney-clemons-2023-tickets-573033778457

Tropicals July 22 with The Bonsai Supply

Jerome Kellerhaus with lead our club in a presentation on how to maintain and style your tropical bonsai on the 22nd of July, the perfect moment for working on your tropical trees. We will meet at the Retreat at Callanwolde at 9:00am for our beginner’s session and the regular club meeting at 10:00am that day. Bring your own tree workshop in the afternoon should you need a little extra help.

9:00am – 10:00am Beginner’s Q&A

10:00am – 12:00pm Tropicals Presentation and Club Meeting

12:00 – 1:00pm Lunch provided around noontime

1:00 – 4:30pm Bring your own tree workshop for up to eight persons at a cost of $75.00 per person.

Annual Auction August 19!

Please join the club for our biggest fund raiser of the year in August, at Ahler’s Auction House on the West Side. The auction will be held on August the 19th, and we will post a full auction schedule and guidelines later on in 2023.

Beginner’s Event on September 13th

The Club is thrilled to continue our “bonsai beginners” series in 2023.  We will continue last year’s well received seminars, the only change being that we have added some additional dates in 2023.  The seminars will be held on the second Wednesday night most months, from 7:00pm – 9:00pm at the Callanwolde Conservatory.

The seminar will be taught by Rodney Clemons, of Allgood Bonsai.  Rodney is one of Atlanta’s longest standing bonsai professionals, a nationally recognized speaker and lecturer and just a downright funny guy.  Check out Rodney’s website here:  https://www.allgoodbonsai.com/

There are two parts of each one of our beginner’s sessions:  A discussion of the seasonal maintenance important to the time of year and a one by one, tree driven question an answer session.  Each participant is encouraged to bring a tree or two from their collection and Rodney will coach the owner on the best course of action for that particular plant.  This tends to result in a great back and forth as Rodney works on each tree with the owner and the group’s input.

Each Seminar will have a ten-person limit for those who wish to bring a tree and have Rodney, critique, comment and work that plant.  If the seminar is sold out, you are welcome to attend without a ticket, but we cannot guarantee Rodney will be able to address your plant material during the seminar.

Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bonsai-beginners-seminar-series-w-rodney-clemons-2023-tickets-573034300017

September JapanFest Exhibition at Gas South Convention Center

While the details are still all being finalized, the club is planning on a two day exhibition of fine bonsai at the Japanfest 2023, to be held at the Gas South Convention Center… More details to come as we work with the festival organizers.

October 28 Club Meeting with Rodney Clemons

October Club Meeting to be held at the Retreat at Callanwolde, on October 28st. 9:00am for the beginner’s Q&A, 10:00am for the club meeting and 12:00 for lunch! Featuring the one, the only Rodney Clemons!

Beginner’s Event on November 8th

The Club is thrilled to continue our “bonsai beginners” series in 2023.  We will continue last year’s well received seminars, the only change being that we have added some additional dates in 2023.  The seminars will be held on the second Wednesday night most months, from 7:00pm – 9:00pm at the Callanwolde Conservatory.

The seminar will be taught by Rodney Clemons, of Allgood Bonsai.  Rodney is one of Atlanta’s longest standing bonsai professionals, a nationally recognized speaker and lecturer and just a downright funny guy.  Check out Rodney’s website here:  https://www.allgoodbonsai.com/

There are two parts of each one of our beginner’s sessions:  A discussion of the seasonal maintenance important to the time of year and a one by one, tree driven question an answer session.  Each participant is encouraged to bring a tree or two from their collection and Rodney will coach the owner on the best course of action for that particular plant.  This tends to result in a great back and forth as Rodney works on each tree with the owner and the group’s input.

Each Seminar will have a ten-person limit for those who wish to bring a tree and have Rodney, critique, comment and work that plant.  If the seminar is sold out, you are welcome to attend without a ticket, but we cannot guarantee Rodney will be able to address your plant material during the seminar.

Register Here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bonsai-beginners-seminar-series-w-rodney-clemons-2023-tickets-573034520677

November 18 Decidious Seasonal Work with Sergio Cuan

Join respected Bonsai Artist Sergio Cuan, to focus on the essential work of moving your decidious treess forward in the fall. We will meet at the Retreat at Callanwolde at 9:00am for our Beginner’s Q&A, 10:00am for our club meeting and presentation, and then have a workshop in the afternoon.

9:00 – 10:00 Beginner’s Q&A

10:00 – 12:00pm Presentation on Fall Decidious Work

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch will be provided around noontime

1:00 – 4:30pm Bring your own tree workshop for up to eight persons at a cost of $75.00 per person.

December 16, 2023 Holiday Party

Details to be confirmed, but let’s all plan on having a holiday lunch together, elections should we need to have them, and our annual club meeting and send off to the year! December 16th, from 11:00 – 3:00pm.

Past Events in 2021

January 16th, 2021
Sami Amdouni – Potter – Virtual 4-6pm

February 20th, 2021
Tyler Sherrod – Grafting and Potting – Virtual 10-noon

March 20th, 2021
Jonas Dupuich – Strategies for Long-term Development of Quality Bonsai – Virtual 1-3pm

April 17th, 2021
Eli Akins of Waldo Street Pottery & Russell Baggett Talk Yamadori – Virtual – 10am-Noon

May 15th, 2021
Rodney Clemons – Air Layering Demo – Virtual 10-noon

June 19th, 2021
Adair – Workshop on Pine Decandling
10am to Noon – Workshop On-Site – SIGN UP IS REQUIRED AND LIMITED!
1:00-3:00pm – Adair Garden Tour – On-Site & Virtual – free to all members

July 17th, 2021
Kusamono with Young Choe at Callenwolde Fine Arts Center Retreat House

980 Briarcliff Rd., NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
10:00am to Noon – Demonstration
1:00-4:30pm – Workshop – SIGN UP REQUIRED AND LIMITED

August 21st, 2021
Club Auction & Fundraiser
Ahlers & Ogletree Auction Gallery
10:00am – 12 noon Check In for Sellers
1:00-4:00pm for Auction

Atlanta Bonsai Society Annual Exhibtion at the Atlanta Botanic Gardens located in Day Hall. Admission to the gardens is free with your ABS membership. This is a great opporuntiy to display a tree, view bonsai from collections around our area and enjoy the Botanic Gardens.

Thurday 10/7/2021 Set up and tree drop off from 4:30pm until 7:00pm. Please go to the “back gate” of the gardens off Piedmont Road, if you need to drive in with a tree.

Friday 10/8/2021 from 9:00am – 7:00pm

Judging 9:15 – 10:00am

Educational Walk Through and Critique 10:00am – 12:00pm

Bonsai Demonstration 2:00pm – 4:30pm

Informal Banquet 7:30pm at Dim Sum Heaven on Buford Highway

Saturday 10/9/2021 from 9:00 – 6:00pm

EducationalWalk Through and Critique 10:00am – 12:00pm

September 18th, 2021
Field trip to John Godfrey’s to talk about collecting local species. Address will be provided via email to members.

October 8th-9th – Club Exhibition
On October 8th -9th the club will host our annual Bonsai Exhibition in the Day Hall of the Atlanta Botanic Gardens.  Set up will be the afternoon and evening of the 7th.  Our guest artist for this year’s exhibition will be Tyler Sherrod of Dogwood Studios.  

Styling: Rodney Clemons Pot: Gary Allumbaugh also with The Bonsai Study Group at Smith-Gilbert Gardens

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