Bonsai club founded in 1981, in Santa Rosa, CA. Dedicated to learning and promoting the living art of bonsai. Visit our website to discover more about the club.
The 34th Redwood Empire Bonsai Society (REBS) Annual Show was held on August 26 and 27, 2017, at the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building, in Santa Rosa, California. The club exhibition displayed 208 bonsai and a large display of suiseki (viewing stones), courtesy of the San Francisco Suiseki Kai.
On August 26 & 27, 2017, Redwood Empire Bonsai Society (REBS) held their 34th Annual Bonsai Show at the Veterans Memorial Building in Santa Rosa, California. It took all day on Friday, August 25, to set-up display tables, the Bonsai Café, members and vendors sales areas. Show hours were 9:00am to 4:00pm for members sales, 10:00am to 5pm on Saturday and 10:00am to 4:00pm on Sunday. Demonstrations by Kathy Shaner were conducted both days from 1:00 to 3:30pm. Raffle followed each demonstration with Johnathon Burton winning a Sierra Juniper and Dan Mannion winning a Cork Oak. Upon closing Sunday, it took about two hours to tear-down and clear the building. Another two hours or so to return show materials and supplies to storage. Stay tuned for individual displays.
Saturday, 26 August 2017 – 10 am – 5 pm
Sunday, 27 August 2017 – 10 am – 4 pm
Featuring Bonsai Master Artist Kathy Shaner
Bonsai demonstrations both days 1 – 3 pm
Demonstration trees to be raffled
* See the largest bonsai exhibition
* Large bonsai vendor area
* Large member trees area
* Exciting silent auctions or “buy it now”
* Free admission and parking
* Free refreshments by the Bonsai Cafe
Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building
1351 Maple Avenue
Santa Rosa, California
For information, contact Bob Shimon at
707-884-4126 or email shimon@mcn.org
– George Haas
The Redwood Empire Bonsai Society (REBS) created its first Annual Bonsai Show at the Veterans Memorial Building in Santa Rosa, California on October 21, 1984, featuring a then Club Sensei Mas Imazumi demonstration, raffle, door prizes, and no admission fee.
That first bonsai exhibition may have been displaying a small quantity of bonsai and lasting only six hours in duration. By the next year, the annual show was expanded to seven hours and featured a similar demonstration, general raffle, special raffle, plants for sale, and refreshments.
Ever since that very first bonsai show, there have been other features added, including the additional day, Sunday. A large vendors area is well stocked, where one can buy bonsai, pre-bonsai, pots, stands, suiseki, books, tools, and other bonsai related items, plus accent plants. The large members sale area offers a wide variety of bonsai, pre-bonsai, stands, pots, and more. There is the Bonsai Café that offers refreshments. There are quality bonsai, bonsai related items, wine, and other donated gifts for silent auction or “Buy It Now”.
As the club membership grew, so did the annual show. Now in its 34th year, the annual show has expanded to become the largest, single club sponsored bonsai exhibition in the US.
The 34th REBS Annual Show will take place on August 26 and 27, 2017 and features the renown, certified Master Bonsai Artist and Instructor Kathy Shaner, as Club Sensei and demonstrator. The Veterans Memorial Building main hall currently exhibits more than 200 bonsai. There are additional Shohin (bonsai less than eight inches tall) on display, as well as Suiseki (viewing stones).
Kathy Shaner will demonstrate bonsai advanced techniques on quality material, both days, from 1-3pm. Demonstration material will be raffled upon completion of each demonstration.
On Sunday, July 30, 2017, the club’s members and guests enjoyed our annual BBQ & picnic at the Lone Pine Bonsai and Gardens in Sebastopol. Ian and Janet Price have hosted the club picnic at their home and gardens since the founding of Redwood Empire Bonsai Society (REBS) more than 30 years now. The weather in July can be very hot, but on picnic day it was cool and pleasant. The picnic afforded time to relax, socialize, enjoy good food and family recipes. Bob Shimon and Ned Lycett prepared BBQ tri-tip and chicken that is always outstanding.
There was time to observe the Price’s gardens and bonsai nursery. Also, it was a good time to shop for bonsai and that perfect accent plant.
The picnic comes every year about one month before REBS’ annual bonsai show. So, it was a good time to have a conversation about who is showing what, obtain member sale tags for selling bonsai related items and bring up the subject of show tree forms, which provide our club sensei Kathy Shaner with a photo and description of all the show trees to be put on display. There is still time to make your decision on which trees to display, which to sell or donate and complete the essential forms.
This year we have a board meeting and general meeting before the annual show. These will take place on August 22, 2017, from 6:30 – 7:30 PM and 7:30 – 9:30 PM, respectively. That is a good date to set as a deadline for completing and turning over your forms. By the way, Kathy Shaner will be the demonstrator on August 22, and available to answer any questions you might have about the annual show.
– George Haas
