ABS Learning Seminar 2024/Michigan All-State Bonsai Show, Grand Rapids, MI, May 9-12, 2024

[NateDyk47]

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www.americanbonsaisociety.org

I'm not seeing a lot of information online yet, but I got this flyer at a club meeting today.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

American Bonsai Society

ABS was founded in 1967 by motivated people who wanted a North American society that would cater to the needs of the individual. The founders wanted an organization that was a source of information, advice, supplies and material about this horticultural form and hobby.

www.absbonsai.org

I'm not seeing a lot of information online yet, but I got this flyer at a club meeting today.

This is the first I am seeing of it as well.

Sounds like a funny thing... but if I get advanced notification, we can definitely support the show!

 

[Esolin]

I was just in Michigan and visited the little Fall show they were having there. One of the vendors mentioned this big Spring show as well. Sadly, won't be able to attend that one, but it sounds cool. I also don't which club maintains the bonsai trees in the Meijer's Japanese garden outside, but they were lovely. The whole garden was.

 

[NateDyk47]

I was just in Michigan and visited the little Fall show they were having there. One of the vendors mentioned this big Spring show as well. Sadly, won't be able to attend that one, but it sounds cool. I also don't which club maintains the bonsai trees in the Meijer's Japanese garden outside, but they were lovely. The whole garden was.

Nice, I went to the fall show this past weekend as well. The All-State show in spring is annual & much bigger than the fall one, however the 2024 spring show is also being combined with the ABS annual learning seminar. I'm really looking forward to it, I'm hoping I can fit in a workshop with Suthin and/or Jack.

 

[John7429]

I'm planning on making the trip to this one!

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

Can confirm planning is well underway for this. More to come - I'm knee deep in spreadsheets helping organize the schedule! Should be a great event, will post more information soon.

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

I was just in Michigan and visited the little Fall show they were having there. One of the vendors mentioned this big Spring show as well. Sadly, won't be able to attend that one, but it sounds cool. I also don't which club maintains the bonsai trees in the Meijer's Japanese garden outside, but they were lovely. The whole garden was.

Thank you for coming to our West michigan bonsai club fall show! Hope you enjoyed it, it's a fun one to put on and certainly doesn't compare to our all-state show. My tree was the (very immature) dawn redwood forest

 

[Esolin]

Oh, nice! I dragged my aunt and uncle along (I was in town to visit them) and they were impressed by all the trees. They liked the redwood forest among others. We all voted for different trees. I confess I voted for the multi-trunk seiju elm--I'm a sucker for tiny leaves.

 

[johng]

You know it is really frustrating that there is not more attention paid to other shows when planning these events...

Three really big shows on consecutive weekends and all in the mid section of the country...sure seems like very poor planning...especially on ABS (this is not first time they have done this)
ABS - May 9-12 -Michigan
Bonsai-Central - May 3-5 - St. Louis
Bonsai on Bayou - April 25-28 - Houston

The Houston and St. Louis shows have been scheduled for a pretty good while already...why on earth would ABS plan something so close????

 

[Kanorin]

You know it is really frustrating that there is not more attention paid to other shows when planning these events...

Three really big shows on consecutive weekends and all in the mid section of the country...sure seems like very poor planning...especially on ABS (this is not first time they have done this)
ABS - May 9-12 -Michigan
Bonsai-Central - May 3-5 - St. Louis
Bonsai on Bayou - April 25-28 - Houston

The Houston and St. Louis shows have been scheduled for a pretty good while already...why on earth would ABS plan something so close????

Just to give a little perspective on this from someone helping plan one of these shows - you usually have to get some/all of your artists lined up and make a down payment on the venue way before you start publicizing the event (we were already locked on our date ~two years before event date). I think this is one of those unfortunate overlaps that was hard to predict, but I hope it's a learning experience for everyone because it's to everyones benefit if we can figure out how to space them out temporally in the future.

 

[mattspinniken]

Im always really excited for the Grand Rapids, Mi show, which is much better than you might expect for a regional show. The ABS will amp next year's show up even more, I for one am very excited. Also, it looks like I will most likely be doing a White Cedar Workshop with collected material.

 

[NateDyk47]

You know it is really frustrating that there is not more attention paid to other shows when planning these events...

Three really big shows on consecutive weekends and all in the mid section of the country...sure seems like very poor planning...especially on ABS (this is not first time they have done this)
ABS - May 9-12 -Michigan
Bonsai-Central - May 3-5 - St. Louis
Bonsai on Bayou - April 25-28 - Houston

The Houston and St. Louis shows have been scheduled for a pretty good while already...why on earth would ABS plan something so close????

I agree, I was already registered for Bonsai Central when this was announced and this is less than an hour from home when BC is a 10 hour drive. As @Kanorin mentioned, large events like this are planned very far in advance, so I don't hold it against the event organizers. However, now I need to figure out how to convince my wife I need to go to a large bonsai event for the second weekend in a row... on Mother's Day

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

I agree, I was already registered for Bonsai Central when this was announced and this is less than an hour from home when BC is a 10 hour drive. As @Kanorin mentioned, large events like this are planned very far in advance, so I don't hold it against the event organizers. However, now I need to figure out how to convince my wife I need to go to a large bonsai event for the second weekend in a row... on Mother's Day

For what it’s worth, there will be a ‘Mother’s Day special’ package that includes entry for 2, a tram tour of Frederick Meijer gardens, and beginner tree/pot/soil

Not sure if that will sway anyone haha!

Regarding scheduling, yes, the ABS piece was booked I believe 2-3 years in advance, and possibly more with how meijer gardens plans out their events many years ahead. I can certainly understand the overlapping frustration though!

@mattspinniken I’m going to be ‘program managing’ for the weekend but am going to try to find a way to listen in on your workshop!

 

[Carol 83]

now I need to figure out how to convince my wife I need to go to a large bonsai event for the second weekend in a row... on Mother's Day

Good luck with that...

 

[snowman04]

For what it’s worth, there will be a ‘Mother’s Day special’ package that includes entry for 2, a tram tour of Frederick Meijer gardens, and beginner tree/pot/soil

Not sure if that will sway anyone haha!

Regarding scheduling, yes, the ABS piece was booked I believe 2-3 years in advance, and possibly more with how meijer gardens plans out their events many years ahead. I can certainly understand the overlapping frustration though!

@mattspinniken I’m going to be ‘program managing’ for the weekend but am going to try to find a way to listen in on your workshop!

We've been to the gardens so this might work for her next year! She even gets a tree of her own...

 

[johng]

Just to give a little perspective on this from someone helping plan one of these shows - you usually have to get some/all of your artists lined up and make a down payment on the venue way before you start publicizing the event (we were already locked on our date ~two years before event date). I think this is one of those unfortunate overlaps that was hard to predict, but I hope it's a learning experience for everyone because it's to everyones benefit if we can figure out how to space them out temporally in the future.

I agree with you completely! This is not the first time that ABS has done this though.

 

[markyscott]

Join people from around the country for the 2024 ABS Learning Seminar in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Set in beautiful Meijer Gardens and featuring some of North America’s finest artists and teachers, a large display and vendor area, and a vibrant community of bonsai artists, this is an event not to be missed. May 9th-12th, 2024 at Fredrik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, MI. Additional information and the registration link coming soon at: https://www.americanbonsaisociety.org/abs-learning-seminars/

 

[Paradox]

At least it isnt on Memorial day weekend like it was for a few years.
That was definitely an no way in hell am I going to a bonsai event and dealing with all the traffic and other travelers plus hotels are more expensive that weekend

 

[penumbra]

Michigan is very high on my list of states to visit.

 

[snowman04]

If you have never been here, you will like it! Been here all my 71 years, traveled all over the world several times, and love coming home to it.

Grand Rapids and Meijer Gardens is a fabulous place to visit if you get the chance.