The Officers and Board of Directors of Puget Sound Bonsai Association are proud to present the Club’s new logo. The creation of the logo, designed by club member Thaison Kawal in collaboration with past president Tony Fajarillo and current vice president David De Groot, has been a five year process which began with club member logo design submissions that led to the selection of Thaison as the designer of choice by the board.

Coming Up:

Our remaining events lineup for 2025 at a glance:

October 20th - 5:30PM at CUH, Technical Series program - Josef Leibfried will discuss bonsai pots and the process of selecting the right pot for your tree
October 20th - 7PM at CUH, General Meeting with guest artist Mauro Stemberger
November 8th - PSBA’s Annual Fall Sale - Saturday from Noon to 3PM, at CUH - It’ll be bigger and better!! See below.
November 24th - 5:30PM at CUH, Technical Series program - John Schmied will present on Azaleas
November 24th - 7PM at CUH, PSBA Business and General Meeting with guest artist Carmen Leskoviansky

THE PSBA BONSAI TECHNICAL SKILLS SERIES IS HERE!

By member request, PSBA is initiating a series of pre-program presentations dealing with bonsai technical skills and seasonal care.

All presentations will take place inside the CUH Merrill Commons (glassed-in room in CUH courtyard) from 5:30 – 6:30 prior to our general meetings when we have a guest artist.

The pre-program presentations are open to all members without cost or reservation, like our general meetings.

October 20th - 5:30PM at CUH, Technical Series program - Josef Leibfried on bonsai pots

October 20th - General Meeting with guest artist Mauro Stemberger at CUH, 7:00PM

Please read our Guest Artist Workshop Suggestions before registering for any guest artist workshops. Register by contacting Lynn at psba.workshops@gmail.com

PSBA’s Fall Sale - Saturday November 8th, 2025 at Noon until 3:00PM

November 24th - 5:30PM at CUH, Technical Series program - John Schmied on Azaleas

November 24th - General Meeting with guest artist Carmen Leskoviansky at CUH, 7:00PM

Please read our Guest Artist Workshop Suggestions before registering for any guest artist workshops. Register by contacting Lynn at psba.workshops@gmail.com

Happy Holidays!! We look forward to seeing you in January!

Puget Sound Bonsai Association Winter Silhouette Show 2026

WHEN: January 31 - February 1, 2026 10AM-4PM Open to the Public

WHERE: Bellevue Botanical Garden - Aaron Education Center

The Puget Sound Bonsai Association invites you to experience the wonder of bonsai in their winter form. Join us, as we explore the subtle beauty of bonsai trees in their winter silhouette form.

In the quiet beauty of winter, ancient bonsai trees reveal their purest form. Stripped of leaves, each branch and trunk stands in sharp relief, showcasing the artistry of structure, balance, and design.

This exhibition invites you to discover the intricate framework and branching of deciduous bonsai trees. In the winter, elegance is found not in the foliage, but in the graceful architecture beneath.

If you wish to exhibit your tree, what you need to know:
The submission window is October 15th – November 15th.
Now is the time think about your tree display at this beautiful venue.

PSBA members are encouraged to submit up to two bonsai displays (one as alternate)

Complete guidance on submitting a Bonsai display will be in a special announcement in early October and the next issue of Sound Bonsai

Preference will be given to displays that include at least one deciduous tree

July 26th - August 3rd - Stone Images XV

See our new photo gallery from the show.

Check out the new photo gallery of our Spring Show 2025

Many thanks to two PSBA presidents of the past!!

Check out our new photo gallery “Spring Show 2024”,
photos by Aki Yamakawa

and … our new photo gallery “Spring Show 2025”, photos by the PSBA website group.

Volunteers at our 2025 Auction held at PBM.

Suggested:

Recommended Read by Ladd Smith

The book is “The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsessions”, by Amy Stewart (who lives in Portland). I could not put it down. One of my people sent me this link below about a zoom presentation with Amy Stewart.

The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession with Amy Stewart - Northwest Horticultural Society | Northwest Horticultural Society

The really cool part is the book mentions the PBM and the chapter about bonsai is on Enrique Castaño, our PSBA guest artist in November!

Here’s a link to a Seattle Times story about Local Bonsai featuring club members Tony Fajarillo, Bruce Williams, and others.
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattles-thriving-bonsai-community-tells-stories-through-tiny-trees/

Check out a New Yorker article on Portland area bonsai artist, Ryan Neil (link to New Yorker Magazine article)

Maria Walton’s interview with Dan Robinson at Elandan Gardens (YouTube)

Video coverage of the Puget Sound Bonsai Association 2021 Public Bonsai Auction (YouTube video by Ben Nguyen)