Descanso Gardens: 1418 Descanso Dr. La Canada, CA 91011
Show hours are 9am – 5pm
Free Entry to the show after $9 general paid admission to Descanso Gardens
DBS Meeting: May 15th - Will Baddeley Tree Carving Demo
Master carver Will Baddeley will be DBS's May demonstrator. He will be teaching various carving techniques on a bonsai tree. Come join us and ask your carving questions to an expert! See you there!
Read moreDBS Meeting: April 17th - Bob Hilvers - Juniper Tree Demo
It is an honor to have the curator of The GSBF Clark Bonsai Collection, Mr. Bob Hilvers, come down to provide this month's demo. Please join us on April 17th where Bob will do a Juniper Tree demonstration which will be RAFFLED OFF!
You can visit the Clark Collection Here: http://www.clarkbonsaicollection.com/
Bob Hilvers Biography:
Bob Hilvers first took up the art of bonsai almost thirty years ago as a hobby. Bob is a past president of the Hanford Bonsai society, as well as the Golden State Bonsai Federation. He holds an adult teaching credential for the instruction of bonsai at the college level, and was one of the first “Bonsai Basics” instructors certified by the GSBF. He has written many articles for bonsai and art publications, presented lectures and demonstration programs for various bonsai organizations around the state, and has several Penjing (a Chinese form of bonsai) included in the permanent collection at the Huntington Library, Gardens and Art Museum. Now retired after a 36 year career in Public Safety, Bob keeps very busy as the Curator of the GSBF Clark Bonsai Collection at the Shinzen Friendship Garden in Fresno.
DBS Meeting: March 20th - Mauro Stemberger - Tree Demo
Photo Credit: Michael Jonas
At least once a year we have the pleasure of experiencing Mauro Stemberger, a world class bonsai artist and international teacher. Please join us on March 20th where Maruo will continue the series on his Shimpaku Juniper Tree demo, repotting it into its first bonsai pot.
**UPDATE** Mauro was able to bring 10 copies of his new book with him. They are $100/per copy. Save the shipping cost from Italy!
This is Mauro's Shimpaku Juniper back in March 2017. He will continue to develop the tree at our next meeting. Please Join!
Mauro Stemberger was born in 1978 in Feltre, Italy and works as an architect and Bonsai artist. At the age of 14, he became fascinated about the art of Bonsai and started his passion with the local Bonsai club Feltre.
In the period 1994-2001 he had the chance to join workshops from well-known Bonsai artists like Hotsumi Terakawa, Marc Noelanders, Horst Crekler, Edoardo Rossi and Salvatore Liporace. In 2002, during a meeting in Arco, he had the chance to meet Alfiero Suardi and Enrico Savini. Thanks to them he could improve his Bonsai techniques while studying architecture at the IUAV university.
In 2005 he founded the Italian Bonsai Dream, a workshop place with a group of enthusiasts to work with and enjoy the Bonsai art for the fully 100 percent. In 2006 he graduated as an architect and started working in his own town.
Since 2008 he's a recognized BCI (Bonsai Club International) Bonsai Instructor and from 2008 till 2010 he was President of the UBI (Italian Bonsai Association) and director of the UBI Bonsai Magazine. Currently (for the last 4 years) he's doing demonstrations and workshops for Bonsai Clubs and Associations in Mexico, USA, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Italy, Croatia, England, Austria, France, Portugal, Czech Republic, Lithuania and Poland.
He particularly loves to work with conifers, Pines, Junipers (Itoigawa, Sabina) and especially Larch. "The continuous research of an esthetic perfection, which we will never succeed to achieve in the course of our short life. That's what makes us appreciate these small living pieces day by day, having the honor to see them on the stands in our garden. Therefore the passion for this particular art holds alive in me and in the time coming."
The Huntington: Bonsai-a-Thon Feb 24-25
DBS is a member of the Golden State Bonsai Federation of bonsai clubs. GSBF has three bonsai collections, in Oakland, in Fresno and our own GSBF South collection at the Huntington Gardens in San Marino. The Huntington yearly Bonsai-A-Thon is coming up on February 24 and 25. This is the big fund raiser for the collection, and all the money made goes to maintain the bonsai there. So take a look around your home and see if you have any bonsai related things—tools, pots, wire, trees, etc.— that you could donate to the Bonsai-A-Thon raffle or auction. If you love bonsai, this is a great cause!
Read moreDBS Meeting Feb 20 - Ted Matson Bring Your Own Tree Critique
Ted will be doing a critique, so bring a tree or two you would like him to look out. He’ll give you some ideas of ways to improve your tree, or answer any question you may have about your bonsai.
Everyone who already knows Ted Matson knows that he is one of the best bonsai artists and teachers that you’ll find anywhere. Ted began studying bonsai in 1979 in San Francisco and moved to Los Angeles in 1980, where he became involved in a number of clubs and began a serious pursuit of the art, taking classes from leading masters in Southern California. Although Ted is a lover of shohin bonsai, his collection includes trees of all sizes, styles and a range of species. His trees are known for their proportion and detail. Today, in addition to his own classes, he maintains a busy teaching schedule, traveling throughout the country. He is the curator of the bonsai collection at Huntington Gardens, which is near his home in Pasadena. Furthermore, he is internationally known bonsai master, DBS member and has been teaching bonsai for over twenty years while started doing bonsai over forty years ago. Ted spends days with the 400 plus trees at the Huntington, so he has a great eye for what’s needed or what might help both in the design and health of a bonsai.
Read moreDBS Annual Banquet 2018
Please join us for our Annual Banquet held Sunday, January 28, 2018 at The Angeles National Golf Club at 1PM. Have a great time eating, drinking, and catching up with fellow DBS Members. Raffle starts at 3PM. Below is the address, meal and sign up instructions. See you there!
October Demonstrator - Roy Nagatoshi
Roy will be styling a juniper at the DBS October demo. Bonsai master and Fuji Bonsai Nursery owner Roy Nagatoshi has practically grown up with bonsai. Though born in the United States, he spent his early years in Japan. After junior high school, he and his family moved to California where Roy’s father, Shigeru, practiced the art of bonsai and eventually opened Fuji Bonsai Nursery in Sylmar. Roy holds classes weekly at his nursery, and travels around the US and abroad giving lectures and demos as he has been doing since 1976.
July Demonstrator - Ken Fuentes
Descanso Bonsai Society’s July demonstrator is Ken Fuentes, a Founding member of the Conejo Valley Bonsai Society. He has been active in bonsai for close to 40 years. Originating in Miami, he was a member of the Bonsai Club of Miami where he worked with many Bonsai experts including some past and present California Masters like John Naka, Ben Oki and in California, Warren Hill.
Ken will be demonstrating the many techniques that can be used to grow and style the Ficus “Salacaria”, or better known as “Willow Leaf “Ficus. His recommendations can be used with all Ficus with slight variations. Feel free to bring in any problem Ficus trees of any variety and Ken will give you advice on them!