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What is Bergen Bonsai Society?
Bergen Bonsai Society (BBS) is a membership club for people interested in bonsai — the Japanese art of growing and shaping trees in containers. It describes itself as an association of individuals dedicated to promoting the artistry, horticultural knowledge and appreciation of bonsai, and it welcomes members of all ages, backgrounds and experience levels, from complete beginners to advanced artists. Its main activity is education and exchange among members and the wider community, largely through a calendar of workshops, guest-artist sessions and exhibitions.
What membership involves
Annual dues are listed as $50 for an individual and $65 for a family, payable by cash or check. Meetings and workshops are generally held on the third Sunday of each month at the Teaneck Greenhouse, according to the society's 2026 calendar. That calendar mixes hands-on workshops (for example, a lacebark elm forest workshop and several guest-artist workshops), a picnic potluck, an open workshop and annual meeting, a holiday luncheon, and larger regional events such as the Mid-Atlantic Bonsai Societies gathering and the New Jersey Bonsai Societies Exhibition & Sale.
Who it suits
- Complete beginners: the stated mix of experience levels and the workshop format make it a low-pressure way to learn basic pruning, repotting and tree selection.
- Improvers: guest-artist workshops and monthly sessions give regular access to critique and demonstration.
- Families: the family rate and social events such as the picnic and luncheon suggest a casual, social side beyond technical study.
- The simply curious: exhibitions and sales are a way to see finished trees and meet growers before committing to dues.
Trade-offs to weigh
A club like this is strongest for hands-on learning and local community, but its value depends on geography and schedule: monthly Sunday meetings at a fixed location suit people within driving distance of Teaneck, New Jersey, and the calendar assumes you can attend regularly. If you travel often or live far away, the dues buy less. Note also that meeting dates shift around holiday weekends, so the calendar is worth checking rather than assuming.
Next step
If you are near Teaneck, the most useful first move is to attend a monthly workshop or a nearby exhibition as a visitor before joining, then decide whether the dues match how often you can realistically show up. Start at Bergen Bonsai Society to confirm current dates and location.
How much does it cost to join Bergen Bonsai Society?
Annual dues are $50 for an individual and $65 for a family, payable by cash or check, according to Bergen Bonsai Society.
What that membership gets you
The society describes itself as a group for all experience levels, from complete beginners to advanced artists, with a focus on bonsai artistry and horticulture. Dues support a calendar of workshops, guest-artist sessions, and community events rather than just a newsletter.
A typical year on the published schedule includes monthly workshop gatherings at the Teaneck Greenhouse, guest artist workshops, a picnic potluck, an open workshop and annual meeting, and a holiday luncheon. Members also get the chance to take part in larger regional events, such as the Mid-Atlantic Bonsai Societies gathering and the New Jersey Bonsai Societies Exhibition & Sale.
Is it worth it for you?
- Beginner with one or two trees: the monthly workshops and open sessions are the main draw, since you can get hands-on guidance instead of learning alone.
- Family with shared interest: the $65 family rate only makes sense if more than one person will actually attend, since it is $15 above the individual rate.
- Advanced hobbyist: guest artist workshops and regional exhibitions are the stronger reason to join, especially if you want feedback on more developed trees.
Next step
Check the current calendar before paying, since dates and locations shift between the Teaneck Greenhouse and off-site events. If you are unsure, ask whether you can attend one meeting as a guest first; that is a common way to test whether the meeting style and travel distance suit you before committing to a year of dues.
What bonsai workshops and events does Bergen Bonsai Society hold each month?
Bergen Bonsai Society (BBS) runs a monthly calendar built around workshops at the Teaneck Greenhouse, plus exhibitions, a show, a picnic and a holiday gathering. Its own listing shows most activities falling on the third Sunday of the month, with some exceptions.
Recurring rhythm
- Workshops at Teaneck Greenhouse: the backbone of the year, including guest-artist workshops and an open workshop.
- Third Sunday pattern: the society notes this as the general slot, though several events shift (for example, the February and May dates).
- Annual meeting: combined with an open workshop in November.
- Holiday luncheon: December, moved to the second Sunday when it clashes with holiday weekends.
2026 events listed by the society
| Month | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| February 8 | MABS Tree Selection | Teaneck Greenhouse |
| March 15 | Lacebark Elm Forest Workshop (Bob Hunter) | Teaneck Greenhouse |
| April 17–19 | Mid-Atlantic Bonsai Societies | Grantville, PA |
| May 17 | Guest Artist Bob Mahler Workshop | Teaneck Greenhouse |
| June 24–29 | Longwood Gardens Bonsai Show | Longwood Gardens |
| July 19 | Guest Artist Bob Entrekin Workshop | Teaneck Greenhouse |
| August 16 | Picnic Potluck | Teaneck Greenhouse |
| September 20 | Guest Artist Bob Mahler Workshop | Teaneck Greenhouse |
| October 3–4 | New Jersey Bonsai Societies Exhibition & Sale | Lincroft, NJ |
| November 15 | Open Workshop & Annual Meeting | Teaneck Greenhouse |
| December 6 | Annual Holiday Luncheon | — |
The society also lists an upcoming exhibition and sale on October 3rd and 4th in Lincroft, NJ, and describes itself as open to all experience levels, from complete beginner to advanced artist. Annual dues are stated as $50 for an individual and $65 for a family, payable by cash or check.
Practical next step: if you are deciding whether to join, pick one Teaneck Greenhouse workshop and one larger event such as the New Jersey exhibition, then check the society's own calendar close to the date, since venues and guest artists can change. For broader regional context, the Mid-Atlantic Bonsai Societies covers the wider circuit referenced in the April event.
Where does Bergen Bonsai Society meet for its workshops and events?
Bergen Bonsai Society holds most of its workshops and monthly events at the Teaneck Greenhouse in Teaneck, New Jersey. According to the society's own 2026 calendar, the Teaneck Greenhouse is the regular venue for meetings and workshops, including the February tree-selection session, the March lacebark elm forest workshop, the May, July and September guest-artist workshops, the August picnic potluck, and the November open workshop and annual meeting.
Some events are deliberately held elsewhere:
- Teaneck Greenhouse — the default meeting place for most workshops and the annual meeting.
- Longwood Gardens — the June bonsai show.
- Lincroft, NJ — the October New Jersey Bonsai Societies Exhibition & Sale.
- Grantville, PA — the April Mid-Atlantic Bonsai Societies event.
If you are planning a first visit, treat the Teaneck Greenhouse as your starting point but confirm the specific date and location before traveling, since the schedule mixes regular workshop Sundays with off-site exhibitions, a picnic and a holiday luncheon. The society describes itself as welcoming members from complete beginner to advanced artist, so a guest-artist workshop is a reasonable first event to observe. More details are listed on Bergen Bonsai Society.
What happens at the New Jersey Bonsai Societies Exhibition & Sale?
The New Jersey Bonsai Societies Exhibition & Sale is a regional bonsai show and marketplace, listed by the Bergen Bonsai Society for October 3–4 in Lincroft, NJ. Expect two main things: a judged or curated display of bonsai trees from clubs across New Jersey, and vendor tables selling trees, pre-bonsai stock, pots, tools, soil components and wire.
For a first-time visitor, the exhibition side is the draw if you want to study design — trunk movement, branch placement, pot pairing and seasonal color — while the sale side is the practical stop for supplies you would otherwise order online. Because it is a multi-club event rather than a single society's meeting, the range of species and styles is usually wider than at a monthly workshop.
How to use it
- Go on the first morning for the best selection of sale material; later in the day the best trees are often gone.
- Bring cash and a way to carry a tree safely — a box or crate, and something to protect foliage from wind on the drive home.
- Ask vendors where the tree was grown and how long it has been in its current pot; that tells you more about hardiness than the label does.
- Treat the display trees as study material: photograph a few you admire and note what makes the silhouette work.
Deciding whether to attend
| If you are… | The event is best for… |
|---|---|
| A beginner | Seeing finished trees in person and buying affordable starter material |
| An intermediate grower | Comparing pots, soils and wiring supplies from several sellers |
| An advanced artist | Judging standards, uncommon species and networking with other clubs |
The Bergen Bonsai Society itself meets around Teaneck, so if Lincroft is a long trip, its own calendar of workshops and guest-artist sessions may suit you better for hands-on learning. Its listed annual dues are $50 for an individual and $65 for a family, paid by cash or check.
Next step: check the event's own listing closer to the date for exact hours, admission and vendor lineup, and confirm the location before travelling. For a broader regional view, the Mid-Atlantic Bonsai Societies runs a larger spring convention, and American Bonsai Society is a national reference for show standards.
Can beginners join Bergen Bonsai Society or is it only for experienced bonsai artists?
Beginners can join. The Bergen Bonsai Society describes itself as an association of individuals dedicated to promoting bonsai artistry and horticultural knowledge, and it states plainly that its members range from the very beginner to the advanced artist. Its stated purpose includes education and communication among members and the wider community, which is the kind of framing that suits newcomers rather than excluding them.
What a beginner actually gets
- A monthly rhythm of learning. The 2026 calendar lists workshops and events on the third Sunday of each month, mostly at Teaneck Greenhouse, including guest-artist workshops and an open workshop with the annual meeting.
- Hands-on sessions, not just lectures. The Lacebark Elm Forest Workshop with Bob Hunter and the guest-artist workshops with Bob Mahler and Bob Entrekin are working sessions where members develop technique.
- Access to the wider bonsai circuit. Events such as the Mid-Atlantic Bonsai Societies gathering, the Longwood Gardens Bonsai Show, the New Jersey Bonsai Societies Exhibition & Sale in Lincroft, and the upcoming October 3–4 exhibition and sale give beginners a low-pressure way to see finished trees, ask questions and compare material.
- A social entry point. The August picnic potluck and December holiday luncheon are informal settings where a newcomer can meet members before committing to serious work.
The trade-off to weigh
Workshops assume you have a tree, tools and some basic wiring or pruning familiarity. A beginner can attend and learn, but will get more from them after a first season of keeping a tree alive. If you have never grown one, treat the first year as observation and fundamentals: attend a meeting, watch how members wire and repot, and ask which species tolerate indoor conditions before buying anything.
Practical next step
Check the current calendar and turn up to a third-Sunday session at Teaneck Greenhouse as a guest, then decide on membership. Annual dues are listed as $50 for an individual and $65 for a family, payable by cash or check, so the cost of trying it is low. For a broader view of regional clubs and shows, see American Bonsai Society and Mid-Atlantic Bonsai Societies.
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