The Basics

The MABA 2010 Convention will be held from Friday, June 25 through Sunday, June 27 at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan, hosted by the West Michigan Bonsai Club. There will be a large bonsai exhibit (judged and non-judged), a suiseki exhibit, individual tree critiques, workshops (including one for children), demonstrations, raffles, auctions, a banquet, and vendors from around the midwest and beyond.

Registration for the MABA 2010 Convention is now open. Early full registration, before March 31, is $195 per person. Beginning April 1 registration will be $235. After June 1 registration will be $250. Full registration includes one (1) ticket to the Saturday night banquet. Single-day registration is $95 for Friday or Saturday, $50 for Sunday. (A banquet ticket is not included in single-day registrations.) Additional banquet tickets can be purchased for $50. (See the registration document at the end of this page for complete information.)

Guest Artists

Kathy Shaner, Headliner: First non-Japanese and first woman certified by Nippon Bonsai Kyodo Kumaii, the professional bonsai grower's branch of Nippon Bonsai Association; curator of the Golden State Bonsai Collection-North at Lake Merritt in Oakland, CA; resident bonsai master at the El Dorado Bonsai School in Placerville, CA.

Jim Doyle*: Owner of Nature’s Way Nursery in Harrisburgh PA since 1973, teaches and demonstrates bonsai nationwide; attends many symposia, teaches year round to both adults and children at his studio and travels extensively.

Pauline Muth*: Owner of pfm bonsai studio in West Charlton NY, in bonsai for 35+ years, extensive experience with national and international bonsai organizations.

Andy Smith*: Owner of Golden Arrow Bonsai in Deadwood SD, contract forester and collector in the Black Hills.

Frank Mihalic*: Second generation owner of Wildwood Gardens, Chardon OH, author of books and CDs on bonsai, including Bonsai for Kids Made Easy.” Founded first Internet bonsai magazine.

Jack Douthitt: Bonsai enthusiast for over 40 years, very active in local, national and international bonsai organizations, has trees in both the National Arboretum Collection of American Bonsai in Washington DC and the Weyerhaeuser Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection in Tacoma WA. Author of Bonsai – The Art of Living Sculpture.

Jose Cueto: Involved in bonsai since 1973, registered architect in Ohio, has lectured, done demos and workshops throughout the Midwest since 1982.

Steve Pilacik*: Owner, Matsu Momiji Bonsai in Charlotte, NC, known as the American Pine Master, the most experienced grower of Japanese Black Pine in the United States, specializing  in Japanese Black Pine and Japanese Maples since 1977.

Jack Wikle: A Great Lakes-area bonsai grower for 45 years, perhaps best known for pioneering efforts in growing very small bonsai indoors under cool white fluorescent light. Curator of bonsai collection at Hidden Lake Gardens in Michigan.

Scott Yelich*: Owner of Eagle Creek Bonsai in Indianapolis, specializes in tropical bonsai, particularly ficus and collected buttonwood.

*Will also be vending.

Bonsai & Suiseki Exhibits

The bonsai exhibit will be located in the Imperial Ballroom on the lobby level - 1st floor at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. There will be both judged (max. 2 trees, $35 fee per tree) and non-judged exhibits. Open to full registrants, bonsai entered in the judged exhibit can win one of three cash prizes:
* First place winner will receive $300.00 (Three hundred US dollars).
* Second place winner will receive $200.00 (Two hundred US dollars)
* Third place winner will receive $100.00 (One hundred US dollars)

See the registration document for complete rules. Also, a People’s Choice Award, judged by the general public, will be given. All trees will automatically be entered in this category. Winner will receive a ribbon. The suiseki exhibit will be on the Mezzanine level of the Imperial Ballroom. (No awards for suiseki will be given.)

Demonstration and Workshop Schedules

Demonstrations

Friday, June 25
8:00 AM-Noon, Kathy Shaner - Japanese Weeping Willow
9:00 AM-Noon, Andy Smith - Ponderosa Pine
9:00 AM-Noon, Jose Cueto – Small Group Planting with Japanese Maples
2:00-3:30 PM, Jack Wikle – Lecture: Growing Bonsai Indoors Under Fluorescent Light Jack will show examples of his indoor bonsai work and share his perceptions from 35 years of growing small bonsai, indoors, year around, relying completely on cool white fluorescent light. He will also respond to questions as time allows.
7:30-9:30 PM, Kathy Shaner & Andy Smith - Side-by-Side Shimpaku Junipers

Saturday, June 26
8:00 AM-Noon, Jim Doyle - Coastal Redwood
9:00 AM-Noon, Pauline Muth - Blended Mame Planting
9:00 AM-Noon, Steve Pilacik - Japanese Black Pine Small Forest
10:00-11:00 AM, Jack Wikle – Lecture: Bonsai Display at Hidden Lake Gardens In this PowerPoint presentation, Jack will review the history of bonsai display at Michigan State University’s Hidden Lake Gardens and supplement the broad view with illustrated case histories of some of the most noteworthy trees.
2:00-3:30 PM, Jack Wikle – Lecture: Things I Didn't Know as a Bonsai Beginner (45 Years Ago) In this PowerPoint presentation, Jack will share insights gained in his 45 years of experience as a bonsai grower giving special emphasis to concepts he now sees as being important but underpublicized.

Sunday, June 27
9:00 AM-Noon, Kathy Shaner - Species TBD

Additional on-going demos will also be presented throughout the convention in the registration hallway.

Workshops

Instructions for care of your new bonsai will be provided in all workshops. Plant material provided for all workshops are of excellent quality and monetary value. Please bring bonsai tools and pencil and paper to all workshops. All workshops will be booked on a first come, first served basis

Friday morning, June 25
#1 9:00-Noon, Scott Yelich - Dwarf African Strangler Fig, 8 participants, Beg, $90
Pruning techniques, repotting and styling of these unusual tropical ficus plants.
#2 9:00-Noon, Jack Douthitt - Two Mame, 8 participants, Int, $95
Choose two small, 3” to 4” trees from among Chamaecyparis, dwarf elms, cotoneaster, pines or shimpaku junipers (all outdoor trees) to style into tiny bonsai.
#3 9:00-Noon, Frank Mihalic - Kids’ Ficus Grove, 10 participants, All, $45
Accompanied by a parent, children from ages 7 through 12 will plant a forest made up of tropical ficus plants.
CR1 11:00-Noon, Pauline Muth - Bonsai Exhibit Critique, All, $35
Learn what makes a great bonsai from this discussion of many exhibit trees.

Friday afternoon, June 25
#4 1:00-5:00, Kathy Shaner - Japanese Weeping Willow, 7 participants, Int-Adv, $295
Trim, wire and style a large, 20” to 30” weeping willow with a 1” to 2” curving trunk, supplied by Brussel’s Bonsai Nursery. We're sorry. This workshop has filled to capacaity and is no longer available.
#5 1:00-5:00, Andy Smith - Ponderosa Pine, 8 participants, Int-Adv, $195
Wire and prune collected ponderosa pine to get them started on their development as bonsai. The trees were collected in May 2009, or before, and average about 75 years old with interesting trunks. Most are between 25” and 30" tall, but will be reduced in height during the workshop. The workshop will focus on designing a tree out of collected raw material and the use of wire in shaping the trunk and branches.
#6 1:00-5:00, Jose Cueto - Group Planting/Jap. Maples, 8 participants, Beg-Int, $135
Using Japanese maple “whips” (tall seedlings) learn how to combine three to five plants to make a composition that would be better than what each separate plant would be as a single bonsai specimen. Jose will draw a sketch of the group planting to help visualize the end result for future training of the bonsai. (A slide presentation for the group planting will be done during the demo on Friday.)

Saturday morning, June 26
#7 8:00-Noon, Kathy Shaner - Shimpaku Juniper, 7 participants, Beg-Int, $195
These well-branched trees are 8-10 years old, grown in ground 6-8 years.  Their height is 12” to 16", and trunks are ?” to 1.
#8 9:00-Noon, Scott Yelich - Buttonwood, 8 participants, Beg, $95
Good-sized tropical buttonwoods with many interesting knots and deadwood will be trimmed and styled, but not repotted. These beautiful trees are quite uncommon in this area.
CR2 10-11 AM, Jack Douthitt - Bonsai Exhibit Critique, All, $35
Learn what makes a great bonsai from this discussion of many exhibit trees.

Saturday afternoon, June 26
#9 1:00-5:00, Kathy Shaner - Bring Your Own Tree, 7 participants, All, $95
Bring a bonsai from your own collection (or buy one from one of the show vendors) and Kathy will work on it with you, trimming, wiring, styling and care.
#10 1:00-5:00, Jim Doyle - Four Shohin Trees, 8 participants, Int-Adv, $175
Work on four medium-sized plants to complete a Shohin presentation offering year round interest and variety. The following plants will be available: Winged euoynmus (collected) with pot, Dwarf Mondo grass with pot, Jacqueline Verkade Chinese elm, Dwarf Mugho pine "White bud"
The workshop will concentrate on design, culture and display of Shohin.
#11 1:00-5:00, Pauline Muth - Blended Mame Planting, 8 participants, All, $135
Combine around five very young trees to create one larger, older-looking bonsai.
#12 1:00-5:00, Steve Pilacik - Japanese Black Pine, 12 participants, All, $150
Trim, wire and style a shohin (medium-sized) black pine with the assistance of this pine master.

Sunday morning, June 27
#13 9:00-Noon, Jose Cueto - Bring Your Own Tree, 8 participants, All, $75
Following a short slide presentation on bonsai design, participants will be assisted with the design and styling of your own plants applying the principals covered on the slides.  In addition, Jose will draw a sketch of the plants to help visualize the future end result. This drawing will help participants in the training of your bonsai.
#14 9:00-Noon, Jack Douthitt - Ficus Salicifolia, 8 participants, Int, $145
Tropical willow-leaf figs grow naturally as a large shrub or smallish tree. Participants will trim, wire and style these well-formed plants into beautiful bonsai.

Registering - For More Information

Download the registration form (Microsoft Word) by clicking here. (PC users, right click and choose "download link". Mac users, right click or option-click.) A separate registration form must be filled out for each person. If you have any questions about the convention, contact Mollie Hollar, info@basicallybonsai.com.

Book Your Hotel Room

Once you've registered for the convention, be sure to book your room at the Amway Grand Hotel. Registrants have been given a very special rate of only $119 (about half-price for the convention dates). Rooms can be reserved by calling 800.253.3590. Be sure to mention that you are with the MABA 2010 Convention.