TAKE THE COURSE!

Learn how to create and care for bonsai in Manitoba.

The Bonsai Society of Winnipeg presents an introductory course on Bonsai. More...

Prabir giving a visitor to the annual exhibit some insights to the world of bonsai.

Member Services

Education

A successful club is about learning from each other, and the Bonsai Society of Winnipeg considers itself a “learning” club. There are several key components to this aspect of the Society. An Introductory Bonsai Course is offered every year and provides the basics for anyone interested in this exciting hobby. This course is highly recommended as a starting point to provide some guidance not only on the basics of bonsai styling, techniques, and care, but regarding what species are recommended for the Canadian Prairies, and where to obtain various tools, pots, soil components, and starter trees.

Meetings

Regular Society meetings are another aspect of learning. Regular meetings will normally include some of the following activities:

• demonstrations of styling, pruning/pinching, repotting, or general care
• panel discussion on over wintering, pest/disease control, fertilizing/watering practices
• sharing experience with various challenging species
• group workshops such as building training boxes, making pots, working with a certain species
• guest speakers on specific topics
• various member's trees are displayed for interest, for advice, or just for fun.

Workshops

In the spring and early summer, informal summer workshops are held in member’s backyards, where experienced growers are available to help with or give advice on any aspect of growing bonsai. These hands on events are the best way of learning specifics on your trees.

Members of the club often give talks at various events in the city on different aspects of growing bonsai.

Library

The Society’s library is a growing source of information. Books, videos and magazines are available to Society members. Some reading is essential for anyone interested in bonsai.

Many experienced club members are also more than happy to give advice at any time to anyone interested in the hobby. You may have to tell them when it’s time to stop talking though, it’s something they love to discuss. Bonsai involves art and horticulture, two subjects involving life long learning. You never know it all, you just know more than you did yesterday.

Group Purchases

The Bonsai Society does assemble a number of group orders during the year. These are advertised through newsletters and/or during regular meetings. These are generally timed so as to receive the material at the most useful times. This is one of the significant benefits of being a member. The cost per individual may be greatly reduced due to the group orders, and most of the arrangements are handled by the organizer.

Typical examples might be:
- tool orders several times through the year, one being near the end of the Introductory Bonsai Course in the fall.
- tropical tree orders occur two or three times a year; once during the course, and once or twice in late winter/early spring.
- Smaller quantities of wire are available at meetings, but full rolls may be obtained when the club places larger orders.
- pots may be ordered occasionally, but this depends on availability from suppliers
- occasionally, there may be special projects where small starter tree material may be ordered in bulk.

Newsletter

Club newsletters are sent out several times a year to all members. They are available by email or hard copy, although we encourage saving paper and postage.

Volunteer Opportunities

The club is always happy to receive helping hands. There is a great variety of things that any member can do to help the club, to meet some very interesting people, and to have fun in the process.

Club Guided Digs

Two of the most interesting activities that the Society plans each year are the Spring and Fall Digs. A day trip is planned to an area usually within about an hour’s drive of Winnipeg. Members meet at a pre-arranged location, then form a convoy (car pooling encouraged) to a pre-scouted site in search of the perfect bonsai starter tree. Experienced members demonstrate the right way to dig a tree in the wild.