Midwest Bonsai Society 20th Annual May Bonsai Exhibit

May 16 - 17, 2026

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.

All workshops have a registration fee which includes plant and materials costs, which varies depending on the workshop type, payable to the Midwest Bonsai Society. 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.

Workshop schedule, details and costs to be announced soon!

Ancient Art Bonsai

Barrington Bonsai

BC Bonsai

Brian Kritzman Bonsai

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. greenwitchgardensmi.com

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. www.kawanookabonsai.com

Lakeside Bonsai

Morning Sun Bonsai

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

North Branch Bonsai

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.

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.

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 15th, the day before the show.  Please fill out a form on-site to register your tree.

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.

Disclaimer: Midwest Bonsai Society is not responsible for loss, theft or damage of items placed for Exhibition.