MV Bonsai Club
All MVBC meetings are open to prospective new members. Invite friends and share with them our love for bonsai. We can be reached at mohawkvalleybonsai@gmail.com
"The object is not to make the tree look like a bonsai, but to make a bonsai look like a tree." — John Naka
Next meetings:
Saturday, November 14, 1-3 pm
Saturday, December 12, 1-3 pm
NEW location: Artspace Utica Lofts 1020 Park Ave., Utica
We will have sale tables at BOTH the Nov. and Dec. meetings, with donated bonsai items, all reasonably priced, so please come prepared with cash (preferred) or checks. If you would like to donate or sell a bonsai-related item you can bring them to either meeting.
We will talk about any seasonally appropriate work, preparing for winter and as always - bring your healthy trees for work, questions or just to enjoy!
We also will discuss the positions and responsibilities for our club. Please consider what you can do.
- Determine and confirm monthly location
- Determine monthly programming, communicate and confirm with presenters
- Send monthly email to members
- Maintain website
- Maintain Facebook page
- Oversee annual exhibition
- Maintain inventory and location of club items (wire, turntable, stands, tablecloths, large sign, misc)
Treasurer: collect dues, pay invoices, maintain MVBC bank account. Matt VanDuesen has agreed to continue in 2027
If desired, I am happy to give some presentations about caring for bonsai at meetings, and be the lead for our annual exhibition, but I will be stepping away from the administrative tasks listed above, so the club needs volunteers!
UPCOMING MEETINGS 2027
Jan 9 NY Energy Zone
Feb 13 NY Energy Zone
Mar 13 NY Energy Zone
Thank you to the more than 500 people who viewed our exhibition on July 11 & 12, 2026!
MV Bonsai Club extends a HUGE thank you to Sean Smith for his wonderful presentation at our March meeting. We all learned a great deal and truly appreciate his long drive and all the trees, display items, ‘travel’ tokonoma, pre-bonsai, etc. that he brought with him.
The Hoshun-in Bonsai Collection at Daitoku-ji temple complex, Kyoto, Japan Photo Catherine D Brown Nov 2025
MVBC sends a big thank you to Jon Stewart and Brandon Herwick from the Mohawk Hudson Bonsai Society for their informative and enjoyable presentation about the craft of stand making and display.
Thank you Mark Arpag for another great lecture/demonstration! We are always grateful when you come and share your expertise.
A little inspiration from the Kokufu Bonsai Exhibition, February 2020 (photo C. Brown)
Award-winning Japanese White Pine, Pinus parviflora, at the Kokufu-ten, Tokyo, February 13, 2020
Award-winning Japanese Quince, Chaenomeles japonica 'Chojubai,' at the Kokufu-ten, Tokyo, February 13, 2020
KOKUFU-TEN PHOTOS BY C. BROWN
(Below) January 2016; Chojubai (flowering quince) displayed in tokonoma at Kunio Kobayashi’s Shunka-en bonsai museum in Tokyo.
(Below) January 2016; flowering Ume (Japanese apricot) displayed in tokonoma at Kunio Kobayashi’s Shunka-en bonsai museum in Tokyo.
Browse the Omiya Bonsai Art Museum (Saitama, Japan) website:
Mohawk Valley Bonsai Club Mission
Providing opportunities to have fun while developing skills, the Mohawk Valley Bonsai Club is a forum for learning, inspiring, building knowledge, and connecting with the greater bonsai community.
The group first met in a park in July 2005 and has grown to include newcomers to the hobby as well as those with 20+ years of experience!