Midwest Bonsai Society 18th Annual May Bonsai Exhibit

Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

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A newer tradition for the Midwest Bonsai Society is the May Bonsai Exhibit.  Started in 2004, the show is smaller than the August Bonsai Exhibition but is well worth the trip to view the displays of trees.  The Garden Bonsai trees are displayed in the two courtyards.  Vendors offer an amazing selection of trees, accent plants, pots, stands, tools and Bonsai books and literature.  There are also workshops, including a children’s workshop, and bonsai demonstrations.

The May Exhibit is held in the Burnstein Hall of the Regenstein Center at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The theme of the show is education and trees-in-training that are not quite ready for our August exhibition. Members are invited to bring trees in various stages of training, accompanied by explanations of what processes are being used.

There is no cost to attend the bonsai show once inside of the Garden, but regular parking rates and per-person admission ticket prices apply for entry into the Chicago Botanic Garden. Please see the Garden’s dedicated webpage for pricing details.


Workshops

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All workshops have a registration fee, which varies depending on the workshop type, payable to the Midwest Bonsai Society. Additionally, workshops may have a plant/materials fee, which is paid directly to the vendor at the time of the workshop.  Plant/materials fee costs vary. Signup online, securely, using the link included with each Workshop. Workshops are held at different locations around the Regenstein Center. Please review the Chicago Botanic Garden map for location details.

Workshops will be offered by both BC Bonsai and Kawa No Oka Bonsai. The always-popular children’s workshop will also be offered on both Saturday and Sunday.

Check back soon for details on the workshops!


Vendors

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BC Bonsai

Local grower of Bonsai starter stock grown at their nursery.  Grown without grafting they have both container and field grown trees.  Their Bonsai work stands are amazing. Linda Camp and Jim Beck also offer Bonsai supplies and classes.  www.bcbonsai.com

 

Don Lindstrom Bonsai

 

Fred Follansbee Ceramics

 

Kawa No Oka Bonasi

Kawa No Oka Bonsai is a family run business in southern Indiana. Owner Jason Parrish has been involved with bonsai since 1997. He prides himself on producing and offering quality, healthy pre-bonsai, and to make the bonsai art and hobby affordable and available to anyone that has the interest. He will be displaying trees from his personal collection as well as offering pre-bonsai, bonsai material, and supplies. www.kawanookabonsai.com

 

Morning Sun Bonsai

Victor Zurczak is a local bonsai artist from Skokie, IL. He has been practicing bonsai and exhibiting for 24 years.

 

Pottery Cat Studio

Mark Cook began throwing pottery in the Spring of 2020. Based upon local retail success, Mark and his wife founded Pottery Cat Studio in 2021. Mark has since been receiving input and guidance from local bonsai artists and looks forward to attending our show and meeting the needs of the bonsai community.

 

Still Bonsai

Maria is the owner of Still Bonsai, is Polish born, and attended art school in Poland.  Maria and her daughter, Caterina, are bonsai enthusiasts who enjoy all aspects of the art and its related accompaniments.  Still Bonsai offers young, initially styled deciduous and juniper trees, and some kusimono along with wooden rings and stone pieces for bonsai display.

 

Tom Phardel Pottery

Tom Phardel is known for making high quality high temperature stoneware bonsai containers.

 

Midwest Bonsai Society

The Midwest Bonsai Society will be selling memberships, as well as pins, patches, and branded clothing items with the Society’s logo on them.


Raffle Tree

The Midwest Bonsai Society will offer a wired bonsai tree for raffle - a Japanese Silverberry (Elaeagnus umbellata).  Valued at $120, raffle tickets are 1 for $1 or 7 for $5. A photo of the tree will be available soon.


Bonsai Demonstration

More information to come!


Volunteers Wanted!

The success of the May Exhibit hinges on the countless volunteers who dedicate some or all of their weekend to the smooth operation of the Exhibit. We’re always in need of more volunteers across a number of areas:

  • Exhibit setup

  • Vendor unloading

  • Tree Registration

  • Membership Sales and general Exhibit information

  • Exhibit Docents (answer general Bonsai questions, ensure safety of the show and the trees)

  • Children’s Workshop Helpers

  • Exhibit tear-down and vendor load-out

All are welcome to volunteer, irrespective of skill-level or Society membership tenure. Please check back closer to the show to sign-up, easily, for a volunteer slot!


Tree Registration

Tree registration is open to all, regardless of residency, membership, or skill.  The May Exhibit is focused on trees in training, and we encourage all members of the Bonsai community to show their trees.  There is no cost to enter this non-judged Exhibit.

Trees can be registered between 12:00 noon and 6:30 pm on Friday May 17th, the day before the show.  Speed-up your tree registration by preregistering your tree using our online form listed below.

Please remember that no Boxwoods will be allowed in the show as they are banned from the Chicago Botanic Garden.  Additionally, please remember to water your trees thoroughly before registering them for the exhibit, though trees will be spot-watered throughout the weekend.

Please check back closer to the show for more registration details!