WELCOME

Welcome to the San Diego Bonsai Club. We are a group of people who have developed an appreciation and great enthusiasm for the ancient art of bonsai design and care. Our club is open to anyone who shares this enthusiasm or just wants to try their hand at it. Feel free to explore this site to get a sense of why the art and craft of bonsai continues to attract novices and masters alike.

Monthly Meetings Have Resumed!

Thanks to everyone for your patience. We resumed in person meetings on July 18th. See the schedule for upcoming meetings.






​Welcome to Summer!

'Is it summer yet?

Doesn't matter. This Bougainvillea in the Bonsai Pavilion at San Diego Zoo Safari Park couldn't wait any longer. Look at this gorgeous tree!

The tree was donated by Aldo Pia who was a long time member of SDBC and San Pu Kai. It reminds us that although we may refer to them as our trees, in the great scheme of things, we are just caretakers of nature's beauty.  

Shortcut to:
​My Favorite Tree

Part of the fun that comes with joining the San Diego Bonsai Club is the chance show your trees to other enthusiastic members. To help do that, we are putting your trees in this virtual display. Send in a picture and short story for your tree and we will collect them here. NO PRESSURE. This is not your best tree or your worst tree, necessarily, just your current favorite. Looking forward to seeing your tree.
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SDBC Online

Shortcut to current issue:
​The Bonsai Wire

SDBC publishes a monthly newsletter. Use the shortcut to get to the current issue and look under the Resources menu to find earlier issues as well.

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World Bonsai Day

The World Bonsai Friendship Federation established this international day of celebration to pay homage to bonsai Master Saburo Kato's mission to promote peace and friendship through the art of bonsai. The day is celebrated on the second Saturday of May each year, which this year is May 8th!

Check out the latest repotting video:
If you have begun to build a collection of bonsai, then you know that repotting is a fundamental skill that you will need to nurture your trees. Bob Hale takes us through the process in this club video.

The Bonsai Wire Wins Prize

Our own newsletter, The Bonsai Wire, was awarded second place in the 2020 GSBF Newsletter competition. Congratulations to the editor and all the members who provided the content. What did we win besides fame and glory? Check it out here in their flyer. As always, any Bonsai Wire can be found here.

​August Guest Speaker
Click in speaker box to enter

Guest Speaker: Neil Auwarter
Topic: Japanese Friendship Garden

​Neil takes us on a tour of the Bonsai collection in the Japanese Friendship Garden at Balboa Park. This is a collection of trees maintained by the Sand Diego Bonsai Club where Neil serves as curator with his team of volunteers. You may begin his presentation as a tourist, but be prepared to learn a few things as Neil gets into the details of bonsai horticulture and this fine collection of bonsai.

June Guest Speaker

Looking for Fred's excellent video? It has been moved to a new page called Time Traveler. That page will become a collection of past content. It is not intended to be a dusty archive of old stuff, but rather a place to casually browse through SDBC's past. Presently, Time Traveler will only take you back in time, we don't yet have the technology to display the future.*

*We are aware that some physicists are deeply involved in studying the direction of the arrow of time, but as of now, all work remains theoretical. 

Quick Note for Members

Were you aware that one of the perks of being a member of the San Diego Bonsai Club is having access to the knowledge of more senior members? If you are a member, one of the educational benefits is being able to arrange for private one-on-one or small group lessons with a club expert.
Check it out here.

Not a Member?

Interested in becoming a member? There are several benefits to joining the San Diego Bonsai Club.

2020 Virtual Spring Show
Click on gate to enter

​The pandemic forced our show to go virtual last year. But the ancient art of bonsai teaches patience and perseverance. Through this gate you will find trees that have lived through two world wars and the pandemic of 1918. They are a testament to the resilience of nature and of man. 

Current Activities

  • The schedule of up coming events is here. 
  • Plans are in the works for resuming our semi-annual shows starting this fall.​ If you are a vendor or show participant, it is time to start planning.

Great bonsai in SD

Buy bonsai and supplies
Picture
GSBF has converted Golden Statements to a free digital download. They are available on the GSBF web site.
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to San Diego Bonsai Club whenever you shop on AmazonSmile and you designate the club.