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EnglishWhat Is the American Bonsai Society?
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The American Bonsai Society (ABS) is a national membership organization for bonsai enthusiasts, based at americanbonsaisociety.org. It serves people who want structured learning, a regular publication, and connections to local clubs and competitions. It is most useful if you are looking for ongoing bonsai education and community rather than one-off plant shopping. Membership details and pricing sit behind the site's Membership page, so check there for current terms before joining.
What the ABS provides
The site lists these member benefits and public resources:
- BONSAI: The Journal of the American Bonsai Society — the organization's main publication.
- Monthly newsletter delivered by e-mail.
- Care guides and articles on the website.
- Education materials and ABS Learning Seminars.
- Awards and contests, including the ABS Award of Merit, the John Naka award, and the Joshua Roth / ABS New Talent Contest.
The homepage also links to a Bonsai Species resource, a Bonsai Collections section, a journal archive and index, and an online store for branded apparel, accessories, and collectibles.
Programs worth knowing about
Learning Seminars
The next Learning Seminars are scheduled for March 11–14, 2027, in New Orleans. The site advises keeping your calendar open and points to a "Learn More" page for details. Registration for a separate event is announced as "opening September 12," with a brochure available for download — confirm which event that applies to on the registration page before planning.
New Talent Contest
The Joshua Roth / ABS New Talent Contest is open to any person living in North America who has been involved with bonsai for fewer than 10 years. This is the clearest entry point for newer growers who want judged experience.
Local clubs
The site maintains directories of bonsai clubs in the United States and Canada, plus a "Find a Club" tool. For most beginners, a nearby club is the fastest route to hands-on help; the ABS directory is a reasonable starting point for that search.
Who it suits
| If you want… | ABS is a good fit because… |
|---|---|
| A regular journal and newsletter | Both are core membership benefits |
| Structured learning events | Learning Seminars and education materials are listed programs |
| Competition as a newer grower | The New Talent Contest has a clear eligibility rule (under 10 years) |
| Local, in-person community | Club directories for the US and Canada |
| Merchandise or branded gear | A fully online store with shipping |
If you only need a quick care answer, the free care guides and articles on the site may be enough without joining. If you want the journal, seminar access, and contest participation, membership is the path — review the Membership Options page for what each tier includes.
Getting started
- Visit americanbonsaisociety.org and open Membership to compare options and confirm current terms.
- Browse Resources → Bonsai Species and the care guides to sample the educational content.
- Use Find a Club to locate a group near you.
- If you have under 10 years of experience and live in North America, look at the New Talent Contest sign-up.
- For the 2027 New Orleans seminars, check the Learning Seminars page for registration timing and the brochure.
One caution: the homepage carries several calls to action (join, donate, register, shop) with limited detail in the summaries. Verify dates, eligibility, and costs on the linked pages rather than relying on the banner text alone.