Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society
Dedicated to the art of bonsaiArchive for Workshops
Annual Bonsai Tree Show
The Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a free bonsai event on Saturday and Sunday, August 25-26. All are invited for free workshops, free consults, starter trees, and gorgeous bonsai displays at pfm bonsai, 7 Western Avenue in West Charlton, NY.
See bonsai trees in all stages of development. Attend free bonsai workshops and demos. Bring your trees and get free advice from Dr. Bonsai. Stock up on starter trees and supplies, pots, tools, slabs and soils. Enter free raffles.
You can even create your own bonsai each day at 1:00. The $40 fee for this workshop includes a nursery-grown Portulacaria Afra bonsai tree, expert styling, PLUS an annual MHBS club membership (a $40 value).
“If you’ve ever been interested in these little trees but don’t think you can keep one alive, this event is for you,” says bonsai master and club member Pauline Muth.
This is also a great opportunity to meet club members. Founded in 1968 by a group of local enthusiasts including TV personality Earl Pudney, the Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society has become one of the leading bonsai clubs in the northeastern United States. In recent years, MHBS has hosted a “Who’s Who” of bonsai masters including David Knittle, Mark Argpag, Ted Matson, Jim Doyle, Colin Lewis, Mauro Stemberger, Mary Madison, Juan Andrade, Tony Tickle, Frank Mihalic, Martin Schmalenberg, Young Choe and Pauline Muth. For more information about the 50th anniversary event or the club, call Pauline at 518-882-1039 or email her at pauline@pfmbonsai.com.
Special 10:00 AM Club Meeting
Just a reminder that the MHBS club meeting for Sunday, July 22 will be 10 AM, not the usual noon time. At 10:00 AM we will present an accent plant demo with guest artist Young Choe. Following the club meeting Young will do a workshop, pre-registration required. Be sure to bring containers and plants for the workshop. Visitors are always welcome to attend a meeting and monitor the workshop.
July and August with MHBS
On July 22nd, MHBS does accent plants with guest artist Young Choe. Great timing for our club show on August 25th and 26th. Be sure to sign up. Young will not be bringing any materials for her lesson so gather together containers and plants for the meeting.
On July 29, the club visits Martin Schmalenberg’s studio in New Jersey. If you haven’t signed up for the car caravan yet, do it quickly and plan on bringing a picnic lunch to share. Martin will have some trees for sale.
On August 25 and 26, MHBS will celebrate its 50th Anniversary with a club show at pfm bonsai in West Charlton (note the change of venue). All are welcome for displays, material, free advice and workshops, including a “create your own bonsai” workshop. Club members, start prepping your show trees.
And mark your calendar for the U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition, September 8 and 9 in Rochester, NY. Not to be missed!
NEW June Club Events
The planned June collecting trip has been postponed to a future date, so here’s a late entry for June.
On Sunday, June 24, at 12:00 noon, the Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society will host a demonstration and lesson
on bonsai techniques to develop great bonsai. Pauline will demonstrate a number of techniques that will help you develop your trees over time, and one of the demo trees will be raffled. The demonstration and lesson will start after lunch and a brief meeting. Club members, please bring something to contribute for the lunch.
We’ll also hold a Club Garage Sale and Exchange—a great opportunity to obtain, swap or sell trees, pots, tools, whatever shows up. Bring your extra trees and pots for the club garage sale to sell and/or exchange . We’ll set up tables in the parking area for this and if you have things to bring you may come early to set up. Email pauline@pfmbonsai.com if you will be selling items.
Preview: In July, we’ll do accent plants with guest artist Young Choe on the 22nd. Young will not be bringing any materials for her lesson so gather together containers and plants for the meeting.
Then on July 29, the club will visit Martin Schmalenberg’s studio in NJ. We will do sign ups for this car caravan at the June meeting. Check your calendars now. Martin will have some of his trees for sale. Plan on bringing a picnic lunch to share.
And on August 25, it’s a special one day bonsai show at Proctors Theatre in Schectady. All are welcome!
Think Small
Fans of shohin displays and brush painting will enjoy a pair of upcoming events at MHBS, including a shohin display workshop with Pauline and Dorothy on January 28, and brush painting with guest artist Linda Schultz on February 25. Both events will be held at pfm bonsai in West Charlton and guests are more than welcome. Club members, remember to bring your shohin trees on January 28.
Miliea Chiem Rocks Bonsai and Other News
Guest Miliea Chiem seeks negative space in her demo tree at MHBS’s September club meeting. Ms. Chiem, a student of Colin Lewis, hosted a workshop as well and helped select club trees for the upcoming MABS event.
In coming months, MHBS is looking forward to brush painting with guest artist Linda Schultz in February, a March visit from Mark Arpag with bonsai material, an April event with guest artist Tony Tickle from England. Plus Young Choe, bench making, rock plantings and more. Download the latest MHBS TWIG newsletter here.
Juan Andrade Bonsai Workshop
Another chance to learn from a bonsai master. August 19 and 20 from 9am to 4pm, Juan Andrade, hailing from San Jose, Costa Rica, will hold a bonsai workshop at pfm bonsai in West Charlton, NY. Apprenticed at Aichi-en in Nagoya, Japan, for four years, Juan brings a deep knowledge of bonsai, including bending techniques, to this workshop. Bring your own material or buy something new.
The workshop is $60 per day and is limited to eight participants each day. Register for either day or both by contacting Pauline@pfmbonsai.com or 518-882-1039. Bring your lunch or order in, and remember your tools and material.
