Our Ship Has Come In!
2025 Soil Sales are Live at: https://dirtmerchantsrus.com/
Pick Ups are schedule this Friday January 10th and Saturday January 10th at 1:00pm on both days.
We have plenty of stock remaining, and will schedule more pick ups based on demand.
January Club Meeting at Waldo Street Pottery
For our January 18th Club meeting we’re back at Waldo Street in January to learn from one of Atlanta best, Eli Akins! Eli will give us a tour of his studio, updates on what’s new for 2025 and do a hands on demonstration of his unique combination of wheel throwing and hand building pottery techniques.
Details: January 18th at 10:00am at 514 Waldo Street Southeast, Atlanta, GA 30312. Please park along Waldo Street, taking care not to block alleys or driveways. The studio is on an alley just off Waldo Street, walk up the alley to reach the meeting.
In the afternoon, Eli will run a hands on workshop, to build your own ceramics for seven participants. The workshop costs $95.00 per person. Make your reservations here:
On February 12th at 7:00pm at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, at 980 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30306 please join the club for our first Bonsai Beginner’s class of the year. Featuring local hero and bonsai teacher Rodney Clemons of All Good Bonsai. There is no one better suited to take on the task of teaching how to grow bonsai in Atlanta, as Rodney has been an active grower and resident of the area for over 30 years.
Our format for these sessions is simple: Anyone may attend, but to bring a tree (or trees) we ask that you reserve a ticket. Participation is highly encouraged and we hope you will bring your trees and your questions!
Details: Wednesday February 12th at 7:00pm at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, at 980 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30306. Final location on the property is yet to be determined.
Reserve your ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-bonsai-with-rodney-clemmons-tickets-1136914093659?aff=oddtdtcreator
February Club Meeting on Collection in Monticello
Join us at 9:00am on February 22nd on Russ Baggett’s woodland property for a very special club meeting all about responsible collecting here in Georgia. For our morning session we will meet at Russell’s hunting lodge, and go on a guided hike of the area, during which Russell will explain the ins and outs of his collecting method. We’ll go for a reasonable hike through the woods, demonstrate how to collect native plant material and return to the lodge so Russell may demonstrate how he “processes” newly collected plant material. This is a day out in the woods! Wear sturdy shoes or boots, pants suitable for brush and a rain jacket if you have it. Bring water, or essential snacks with you.
For the afternoon workshop at a fee of $100.00 per person, Russ will lead up to six persons back into the woods to collect their own specimens for future development. This is a rare opportunity to go collecting for your own material with an experienced hand to guide you.
Details: February 22nd at 9:00am at Freedonia Road Montecello, GA 31064
Register for the workshop here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/responsible-collection-with-russ-baggett-tickets-1128909160689?aff=oddtdtcreator
Annual Club Show in March at the Botanical Gardens
The club will host its annual Bonsai, Kusamono and Suiseki exhibition on March the 15th and 16th at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, located in Day Hall.
This year we will feature a special exhibit in memory of Dennis McHugh consisting of several of his trees. If you own one of Dennis’ tree’s please reach out to the show organizers via email bcurrey@curreyco.com We’d like to have as many of his trees as possible on display.
We will also feature a special Ikebana centerpiece provided by the members of the Ikenobo School of flower arranging. You can learn more about their local chapter here: https://www.facebook.com/hananoiyoriatlanta/
The show is open to all club members, and everyone is encouraged to exhibit, especially if you have never displayed a tree before. This year’s show will be member judged as we have done for the past few years. Reach out to an experienced club member if you need assistance preparing your tree for the show!
This year the club will feature Jonas Dupich of https://bonsaitonight.com/ as our visiting Artist. Jonas will offer a critique of the show on Saturday and Sunday mornings, a presentation on techniques for bonsai propagation on Saturday afternoon and a “bring your own tree” workshop on Sunday afternoon.
We’ve got a full slate of vendors already signed up for this year. We’ll have past vendors returning and several new sellers this Spring!
Details:
Set up is Friday March the 14th 1:00pm at Day Hall at the Atlanta Botanic Gardens
Tree Drop off is Friday March the 14th 5:00pm at Day Hall at the Atlanta Botanic Gardens
Saturday March the 15th
9:00am the show opens at Day Hall
10:00am Critique
2:00pm: Lecture on Propagation for Bonsai
3:00pm Member Guided Tour
6:00pm Show closes for the Day
7:30pm Informal Banquet at Dim Sum Heaven
Sunday March 16th:
9:00am the show opens at Day Hall
10:00am Critique
1:00pm Workshop “Bring Your Own Tree”
2:00pm Member Guided Tour
5:00pm Show Closes and Breakdown Register for the workshop here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bring-your-own-tree workshop-with-jonas-dupich-tickets-1129059931649?aff=oddtdtcreator
April Beginner’s Meeting
On April 9th at 7:00pm at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, at 980 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30306 please join the club for our Bonsai Beginner’s class. Featuring local hero and bonsai teacher Rodney Clemons of All Good Bonsai, there is no one better suited to take on the task of teaching how to grow bonsai in Atlanta, as Rodney has been an active grower and resident of the area for over 30 years.
Our format for these sessions is simple: Anyone may attend, but to bring a tree (or trees) we ask that you reserve a ticket. Participation is highly encouraged and we hope you will bring your trees and your questions!
Details: Wednesday April 9th at 7:00pm at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, at 980 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30306. Final location on the property is yet to be determined.
Reserve your ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-bonsai-with-rodney-clemmons-tickets-1136914093659?aff=oddtdtcreator
April Club Meeting on Kusamono
Join your fellow club members on Saturday April 19th at 10:00am at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center for the return of Young Choe to Atlanta! Young will guide us through a demonstration on Kusamono and Shitakusa in the morning and an afternoon workshop.
Spaces for the workshop are quite limited, so if you are interested, please register now! For the workshop plant materials and potting soil will be included for the price of $100.00. Bring your own containers (preferably more than one) and feel free to be creative, you can bring pottery, stones, driftwood anything you can think of!
Details: Saturday April 19th 10:00am at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. Exact location on the Callanwolde property still to be determined.
Register for the workshop here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kusamono-workshop-with-young-choe-tickets-1139295215659?aff=oddtdtcreator
May Club Meeting and Yard Sale!
On May the 17th at 9:00am at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, please join your fellow club members for a Bonsai Yard Sale in the parking lot! This is a friendly, accessible “swap meet” style bonsai sale. Bring your bonsai “wares”, and a blanket or a folding table and sell, swap and bargain them away to your fellow enthusiasts!
At 10:30am Shannon Salyer will offer a lecture and demonstration on the smaller side of bonsai, Shohin or “palm sized trees”. Shannon will walk us through the finer points of how to build, style and enjoy these small bonsai.
In the afternoon, at 1:00pm Shannon will lead a “bring your own tree” style workshop, so if you need help with cut back, a little wiring or tree design he can very much help you. You bring the tree and your tools, the club will provide the wire and Shannon will provide the expertise! The workshop is limited to eight persons and costs $85.00 per person.
Details: May 17th at 9:00am at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center at 980 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta GA 30306 exact location on the property to be determined.
Reserve your spot for the workshop here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/shannon-salyer-on-shohin-tickets-1139311654829?aff=oddtdtcreator
June Beginner’s Meeting
On June 11th at 7:00pm at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, please join the club for our Bonsai Beginner’s class. Featuring local hero and bonsai teacher Rodney Clemons of All Good Bonsai, there is no one better suited to take on the task of teaching how to grow bonsai in Atlanta, as Rodney has been an active grower and resident of the area for over 30 years.
Our format for these sessions is simple: Anyone may attend, but to bring a tree (or trees) we ask that you reserve a ticket. Participation is highly encouraged and we hope you will bring your trees and your questions!
Details: Wednesday June 11th at 7:00pm at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, at 980 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30306. Final location on the property is yet to be determined.
Reserve your ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/introduction-to-bonsai-with-rodney-clemmons-tickets-1136914093659?aff=oddtdtcreator
June Club Meeting
On June 21st at 10:00am at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center, visiting artist Julian Adams, will offer a presentation on growing pines for bonsai. Julian who has been practicing bonsai since 1971, is one of America’s leading experts on pine bonsai and published a well known book; “Growing Pines for Bonsai”. This will be Julian’s first trip to Atlanta for our club and we are excited to have him join us. In the afternoon, for eight participants at a ticket price of $85.00 Julian will lead a “Bring your own Tree” style workshop. This is an excellent opportunity to obtain assistance with your conifers from an expert!
Details: June 21st at 10:00am at the Callanwolde Fine Arts Center located at 980 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30306. Exact location on the property to be determined. Register for the workshop here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/julian-adams-workshop-tickets-1139319127179?aff=oddtdtcreator
Annual Club Events
The club has planned calendar of events each year. Each Spring the club will sponsor an annual bonasi exhibition at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. In late Summer the club hosts an auction fundraiser each year. This is the club’s primary fundraiser. All proceeds go directly back into the club to support our monthly activities. For the remaining months of the year the club focuses each month on a seasonally appropriate topic, usually presented by a professioanl bonsai artist. Past Topics have included: Repotting techniques, how to judge a bonsai exhibition, how to care for tropical bonsai, accent plants and moss balls, seasonal work for pines, seasonal work for junipers and fall seasonal work for decidious trees.
Bonsai Workshops
We offer novice workshops led by a local bonsai professional and advanced workshops led by various guest artists. Since bonsai have needs based on the calendar our workshops are seasonal in nature.
Depending on artist demand, we may have more than one workshop session per weekend, so check the events page for times as the monthly meeting approaches. Please remain flexible with whether you can take morning or afternoon workshop. The cost of each workshop session is currently $75 for at least 3 hours, unless we are including tree or other materials, which may be extra. The club will provide wire to use at workshops and meetings; everything else you may need should be brought by workshop participant, including tree and tools.
Recent Guest Artists
- Young Choe
- Rodney Clemons
- Adam Jones
- Kenji Miyata
- Kathy Shaner
- Tyler Sherrod
- Jerome Kellerhals
- Sergio Cuan
- Eli Akins
Membership
ATLBS Online
