Midwest Bonsai Society 19th Annual May Bonsai Exhibit
Saturday May 17 and Sunday May 18, 2025
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
A newer tradition for the Midwest Bonsai Society is the May Bonsai Exhibit. Started in 2004, the show is smaller than the August Bonsai Exhibition but is well worth the trip to view the displays of trees. The Garden Bonsai trees are displayed in the two courtyards. Vendors offer an amazing selection of trees, accent plants, pots, stands, tools and Bonsai books and literature. There are also workshops, including a children’s workshop, and bonsai demonstrations.
The May Exhibit is held in the Burnstein Hall of the Regenstein Center at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The theme of the show is education and trees-in-training that are not quite ready for our August exhibition. Members are invited to bring trees in various stages of training, accompanied by explanations of what processes are being used.
There is no cost to attend the bonsai show once inside of the Garden, but regular parking rates and per-person admission ticket prices apply for entry into the Chicago Botanic Garden. Please see the Garden’s dedicated webpage for pricing details.
Workshops
All workshops have a registration fee, which varies depending on the workshop type, payable to the Midwest Bonsai Society. Additionally, workshops may have a plant/materials fee, which is paid directly to the vendor at the time of the workshop. Plant/materials fee costs vary. Signup online, securely, using the link included with each Workshop. Workshops are held at different locations around the Regenstein Center. Please review the Chicago Botanic Garden map for location details.
Please check back closer to the show for our workshop schedule!
Vendors
Asian Artique
Specializing in vintage and antique Japanese scroll paintings and offers other Asian collectibles. Kristy Majeske has been selling scrolls for over 20 years, and is also an artist, painter, sculptor and wood worker. She offers her own reproductions of small Japanese panels for bonsai for display and takes custom orders in all three mediums. antiquejapanesescrolls.com
BC Bonsai
Local grower of Bonsai starter stock grown at their nursery. Grown without grafting they have both container and field grown trees. Their Bonsai work stands are amazing. Linda Camp and Jim Beck also offer Bonsai supplies and classes. www.bcbonsai.com
Black River Bonsai
Founded in 2019 in northeast Ohio, Black River Bonsai offers a budget-friendly collection of bonsai and pre-bonsai specimens, along with all the tools and accessories you need. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned enthusiast, we believe bonsai is more than a hobby – it's a passion that unites us. Embrace the beauty of nature's miniature wonders and Cultivate your Calm with Black River Bonsai. www.BlackRiverBonsai.com
Bubba’s Backyard Bonsai
American Bonsai Artist, Craig M. Morse. Since childhood Craig has been inspired by the power of nature and the beauty of trees on the landscape. Bonsai allows him to combine artistic creativity and horticulture.
Don Lindstrom Bonsai
Kawa No Oka Bonasi
Kawa No Oka Bonsai is a family run business in southern Indiana. Owner Jason Parrish has been involved with bonsai since 1997. He prides himself on producing and offering quality, healthy pre-bonsai, and to make the bonsai art and hobby affordable and available to anyone that has the interest. He will be displaying trees from his personal collection as well as offering pre-bonsai, bonsai material, and supplies. www.kawanookabonsai.com
Lakeside Bonsai
Lucky Bonsai
Morning Sun Bonsai
Victor Zurczak is a local bonsai artist from Skokie, IL. He has been practicing bonsai and exhibiting for 24 years.
Pottery Cat Studio
Mark Cook began throwing pottery in the Spring of 2020. Based upon local retail success, Mark and his wife founded Pottery Cat Studio in 2021. Mark has since been receiving input and guidance from local bonsai artists and looks forward to attending our show and meeting the needs of the bonsai community.
Still Bonsai
Maria is the owner of Still Bonsai, is Polish born, and attended art school in Poland. Maria and her daughter, Caterina, are bonsai enthusiasts who enjoy all aspects of the art and its related accompaniments. Still Bonsai offers young, initially styled deciduous and juniper trees, and some kusimono along with wooden rings and stone pieces for bonsai display.
Tom Phardel Pottery
Tom Phardel is known for making high quality high temperature stoneware bonsai containers.
Too Much Stuff
A varied selection of slightly used but never abused Bonsai items collected over many years. It includes pots, stands, Bonsai books, Suiseki stones, accent items and scrolls at reasonable prices.
Waters Edge Bonsai
Kurt and Lita Smith formerly owned The Flower Market bonsai nursery for 35 years. Now semi-retired, Waters Edge Bonsai is their newer bonsai business. They sell bonsai on-line and at a few shows annually. They sell a variety of tropical and hardy pre-bonsai, potted specimen and collect trees. They have a wide range of ceramic pottery, and have increasingly focused on Asian art and accessories including mudmen, Asian paintings, stands, suiseki and vases.
Yang Quin Hao Tea
Midwest Bonsai Society
The Midwest Bonsai Society will be selling memberships, as well as pins, patches, and branded clothing items with the Society’s logo on them.
Volunteers Wanted!
The success of the May Exhibit hinges on the countless volunteers who dedicate some or all of their weekend to the smooth operation of the Exhibit. We’re always in need of more volunteers across a number of areas:
Exhibit setup
Vendor unloading
Tree Registration
Membership Sales and general Exhibit information
Exhibit Docents (answer general Bonsai questions, ensure safety of the show and the trees)
Children’s Workshop Helpers
Exhibit tear-down and vendor load-out
All are welcome to volunteer, irrespective of skill-level or Society membership tenure.
Check back closer to the show for volunteer opportunities!
Tree Registration
Tree registration is open to all, regardless of residency, membership, or skill. The May Exhibit is focused on trees in training, and we encourage all members of the Bonsai community to show their trees. There is no cost to enter this non-judged Exhibit.
Trees can be registered between 12:00 noon and 6:30 pm on Friday May 16th, the day before the show. Speed-up your tree registration by preregistering your tree using our online form listed below.
Please remember that no Boxwoods will be allowed in the show as they are banned from the Chicago Botanic Garden. Additionally, please remember to water your trees thoroughly before registering them for the exhibit, though trees will be spot-watered throughout the weekend.
Please check back closer to the show for tree registration links and forms!
Disclaimer: Midwest Bonsai Society is not responsible for loss, theft or damage of items placed for Exhibition.