Joining the TBS

Joining the Toronto Bonsai Society has many benefits. It’s simple to become a member, scroll down and fill in the membership form, send in your fee and voilà! You can email our Membership Coordinator with any questions regarding memberships.

Current TBS activities:

  • General monthly meetings (2nd Monday of each month during the school year, 7pm)

  • Bonsai 101 (Online Zoom sessions, 4th Wednesday of each month during the school year, 7pm)

  • Workshops (monthly during Summer and Spring)

  • Special Sessions (as needed and requested)

Benefits of joining

The Toronto Bonsai Society has been very active online throughout the lockdowns in Toronto and Ontario. Zoom sessions will continue to be held until in-person meetings can resume at the Toronto Botanical Garden. Links to the Zoom sessions are provided in our monthly newsletter.

Monthly meetings

Monthly general meetings are held every 2nd Monday of the month at 7pm. Currently, due to the circumstances surrounding Covid-19, we are meeting virtually. During these meetings, we cover a variety of topics from horticultural care to aesthetic principles in a range of formats, including show and tells, critiques, demonstrations, and much more.

Bonsai 101 Course

For the novice and beginner members, the TBS has created a series of sessions covering the basics of bonsai care and maintenance. The sessions are held virtually every 4th Wednesday of the month at 7pm. When we resume meeting in person, there will also be a Spring and Fall intensive beginner weekend workshop that will complement the series.

Newsletter

All information pertaining to club related activities and events is relayed to members via one more more monthly newsletters. Access links to virtual session, discount rates and internal sales offers and sign up sheets will always come through the newsletter.

Access to trees, tools and supplies

There is a range of high quality Japanese steel tools, wire and other supplies available for purchase from the club. From time to time special orders of soil, pots, and other items are available. You can rely on the club to advise you on what you need. In addition, many of our members are talented potters, word workers who sell their creations to club members.

Workshops*

Every year, the TBS hosts workshops during which you will get hands-on experience working on your own trees, guided expertly by professionals and high level instructors. In the last few years, our speakers included Bjorn Bjorholm, Sergio Cuan, Mauro Stemberger, Young Choe, Éric Auger, Maliea Chiem, Marco Invernizzi and we are planning more as soon as we are able to have in-person workshops.

*The cost of these workshops is not included in the annual membership fee.

Bi-annual show and sale

Every year, the Toronto Bonsai Society holds a number of special events, including both a Spring and Fall bonsai show and sale. All TBS members attend the show for free, and get first access to the sale before opening to the public. Members also get a few free admissions to the show and sale for their family and friends.

Club library

The TBS has an amazing collection of books, journals, periodicals, and CD’s in our club library that members can sign out. The library purchases new material regularly to keep the collection current and our resident Librarian can help you find what you need.

Special events

The TBS also holds fun annual social gatherings, including a silent auction and social, raffles, collecting trips as well as guided nursery visits for beginners and a members only walk-through critique of each show.