47th Annual Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition
August 15-17, 2025
About | Guest Master | Vendors | Schedule | Workshops | Volunteers Needed! | Dinner and Auction | Tree Registration
2022 Show-winning trees: Colorado Blue Spruce by Steve Jetzer, Satsuki Azalea by the Matthaei Botanical Garden of Ann Arbor Michigan, courtesy of Jack Sustic
Our August Exhibition has the longest history, going into its 47th year in 2025. It is one of the largest regional shows in the nation. Centered on the Chicago Botanic Garden's Permanent Collection, featuring over 50 world-class trees, it’s a showplace of trees from across the Midwest and beyond. Enthusiasts from across the country bring their trees to be judged in the main hall at the Garden's Regenstein Center.
We have a review of the August 2017 Exhibition available here. We also have a review of the 2015 Exhibit available with that year's winners.
Ponderosa Pine by Andy Smith, as shown at the 2021 August Exhibition. Photo by Jen Fonseca.
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.
Traveling from out of town? Many of the hotels near the Chicago Botanic Garden offer discounted rates.
The Midwest Bonsai Society is proud to announce that Jonas Dupuich will be our guest master for the 2025 Exhibition. Jonas is a full-time, award-winning bonsai expert and creator of Bonsai Tonight, one of the top bonsai websites in the world. He tours the country, giving bonsai classes, lectures, and workshops, he has been featured in major bonsai publications and also published two bonsai books, The Little Book of Bonsai & The Essential Bonsai Book.
American Bonsai Society
The American Bonsai Society is an association of individuals dedicated to promoting an interest in the art of bonsai. Through its publications, symposia and other educational activities, ABS supports the development of bonsai styling and production techniques that reflect the diverse personality of North America and encourages the use of plant species indigenous or best suited for bonsai in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Ancient Art Bonsai
Mark Passerrello has been growing bonsai for more than 30 years and he started experimenting with clay about 3 years ago. His exploration of clay began specifically with the intent to make pots for bonsai, especially for smaller size bonsai (miniatures of miniatures) as well as containers for the companion plants that are part of a traditional bonsai display. He’s also made some Japanese style tea vessels as well as orchid pots and general purpose plant pots. Just because the container was intended for a miniature tree doesn’t mean it won’t look great with your cactus, succulent or pothos in it! Mark likes the feeling of wabi and sabi that comes from the handmade pieces he makes. They have a rugged and organic feeling, and are clearly one of a kind made by a person in a workshop, not an automated process in a factory. Mark will be bringing pots, ‘finished’ bonsai and some other oddities as well. Also, bonsai and Japanese themed collectables, art pieces and some vintage books on bonsai. Stop and say hello!
Asian Artique Scrolls
Specializing in vintage and antique Japanese scroll paintings and offers other Asian collectibles. Kristy Majeske has been selling scrolls for over 20 years, and is also an artist, painter, sculptor and wood worker. She offers her own reproductions of small Japanese panels for bonsai for display and takes custom orders in all three mediums.
A Windowsill Paradise
Banks Services LLC
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.
Black River Bonsai
Founded in 2019 in northeast Ohio, Black River Bonsai offers a budget-friendly collection of bonsai and pre-bonsai specimens, along with all the tools and accessories you need. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned enthusiast, we believe bonsai is more than a hobby – it's a passion that unites us. Embrace the beauty of nature's miniature wonders and Cultivate your Calm with Black River Bonsai.
Bonsai by Fields
Mark Fields is a noted Bonsai artist. His nursery is located in Greenwood, IN. Mark leads workshops, lectures and demonstrations. We welcome his return and look forward to the workshop he will be leading.
Bubba's Backyard Bonsai
American Bonsai Artist, Craig M. Morse. Since childhood Craig has been inspired by the power of nature and the beauty of trees on the landscape. Bonsai allows him to combine artistic creativity and horticulture.
Dasu Bonsai Studio
Dave Lowman operates DaSu Bonsai Studios on his 800 acre farm in central Iowa. He provides workshops, demonstrations and classes on Bonsai. Dave started in Bonsai in 1981 and has been coming to Chicago for our Exhibition for many years.
Don Lindstrom Bonsai
Fred Follansbee Ceramics
Fred Follansbee started doing bonsai around 2000 and pottery around 2003. He enjoys visiting Japan for the pottery and bonsai. He works with clay at Lillstreet Art Center and lives in Chicago.
Gary Charnea
Golden Arrow Bonsai
For over 20 years, specializing in transplanting wild trees from the mountains of the American west for bonsai training. Some of the most desirable trees to use for bonsai training are specimens collected from nature that may already be quite old and show the distinctive character and charm that comes with a long and relentless struggle for survival.
Green Witch Gardens
Michigan’s largest Bonsai Nursery is returning to our Exhibition. Located in Monroe, Green Witch Gardens has been providing Bonsai and pre-bonsai trees for many years.
Kawa No Oka Bonsai
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.
Ken's World of Bonsai
Ken Huth of Ken's World of Bonsai will be returning to the Show this year and bringing more and new Azalea, Trident Maple, Elm, Larch, Cork Bark and Regular Pine and more like last year. See you there!
Kusa-Farm
We are a Shohin Bonsai nursery focused on bringing the highest quality of plant material to our customers.
Lakeside Bonsai
Lucky Bonsai
Josh, owner of Lucky Bonsai, is a biologist and avid bonsai enthusiast. All of his bonsai trees are made with care and passion. Enjoy taking care of your bonsai tree as much as Josh enjoyed creating it!
Morning Sun Bonsai
Victor Zurczak is a local bonsai artist from Skokie, IL. He has been practicing bonsai and exhibiting for 24 years.
Mulberry Creek
Mulberry Creek returns to our Exhibit. Mulberry Creek is well known for Bonsai accent plants, Faery Garden plants, and ground covers. They also have a line of Bonsai starter trees that are sure to generate a lot of interest. They are located in Huron, OH. www.mulberrycreek.com
Pottery Cat Design 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.
Quattlebaum Bonsai Nursery
Sansei Artisans
Jack Ken Matsumoto of Buffalo Grove, IL retired from teaching and has taken up Japanese calligraphy and scroll design. He has exhibited regularly at the Japanese American Festival in Illinois and will be joining us once again at our August Exhibit. His booth also as other interesting collectables.
Sara Raynor Pottery
Sara Rayner Pottery is located in the small river town of Red Wing, Minnesota just south-east of Minneapolis-St.Paul on the Mississippi river. Sara has been a potter since 1977, having transitioned to solely producing pottery for bonsai since 1990.
Satsuki Bonsai-En
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.
Treegami
Treegami specializes in plastic training pots (Bonsai Shoes), Wire Condo premium wire caddies, bonsai seeds and Tree-Shirts! treeigami.com
Waters Edge Bonsai
Kurt and Lita Smith formerly owned The Flower Market bonsai nursery for 35 years. Now semi-retired, Waters Edge Bonsai is their newer bonsai business. They sell bonsai on-line and at a few shows annually. They sell a variety of tropical and hardy pre-bonsai, potted specimen and collect trees. They have a wide range of ceramic pottery, and have increasingly focused on Asian art and accessories including mudmen, Asian paintings, stands, suiseki and vases.
Wild for Bonsai, LLC
Yang Qing Hao Tea
Yume-En
Robert Hoffman of Yumi-En Bonsai from Ohio will be returning to our exhibition. We’re still asking him to bring the dogs!
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.
Putting on the August Exhibition is no small feat. Be it the setup of the show space, supporting our vendors unload and setup, helping direct patrons to the workshops, providing eyes and ears over the trees, or answering questions from those viewing the Exhibition, your volunteer hours help make the Exhibition run smoothly!
Please plan ahead and save some time on your calendar to volunteer!
Tree registration for the Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition is open to all, regardless of residency or skill level. There is no fee to register trees. Trees are judged by our Guest Master, and critique sheets are provided to tree owners after the show. Trees are registered into four classes: Novice, Open, Professional and Non-Judged.
Novice – Any person who not won any ribbons or awards for any trees in a Midwest Bonai Society event
Professional – A person engaged in a specified activity, especially a branch of the preforming arts, as a main paid occupation rather than as a pastime. Said Bonsai professional should receive 50% or more of his or her total annual income from Bonsai related activities
Open – Everyone who is not a Novice or a Professional
Please note that due to a ban at the Chicago Botanic Garden, no Boxwoods will be allowed at the Exhibition. Our page dedicated to Boxwood Blight has more information.
At drop-off (Thursday) and pick-up (Sunday) carts will be in short-supply for exhibitors to move their trees. Please try to bring your own cart, if required, to move your tree in and out of the exhibition.
While trees are spot-watered throughout the weekend of the Exhibition, please make sure your trees are thoroughly watered before tree registration.
The Midwest Bonsai Society reserves the right, in conjunction with Senior Member and Guest Master feedback, to reorganize and move trees and displays around the Exhibition at its discretion, for aesthetic or logistic purposes, at any point during the Exhibition. Lighting is fixed within the Exhibition hall; tree owners are not able or allowed to modify the lighting above or around his/her tree(s).
Check back closer to the Exhibition for on-line pre-registration forms!