The Officers and Board of Directors of Puget Sound Bonsai Association are proud to present the Club’s new logo. The creation of the logo, designed by club member Thaison Kawal in collaboration with past president Tony Fajarillo and current vice president David De Groot, has been a five year process which began with club member logo design submissions that led to the selection of Thaison as the designer of choice by the board.

Coming Up:

Our remaining events lineup for 2025 at a glance:

  • Happy Holidays!!

2026

  • January 26th at CUH - Technical Series 5:30 - 6:30, Will Schnicke on bonsai wound treatments.

  • January 26th at CUH - General Meeting 7:00 - 9:00 PM, guest artist Todd Schlafer

  • January 31st - February 1st 2026 PSBA’s Winter Silhouette Show at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens - see details below!

  • February 23rd - “Bring Your Own Tree” study group style meeting at CUH 7:00 - 9:00 PM. (no technical series)

THE PSBA BONSAI TECHNICAL SKILLS SERIES IS HERE!

By member request, PSBA is initiating a series of pre-program presentations dealing with bonsai technical skills and seasonal care.

All presentations will take place inside the CUH Merrill Commons (glassed-in room in CUH courtyard) from 5:30 – 6:30 prior to our general meetings when we have a guest artist.

The pre-program presentations are open to all members without cost or reservation, like our general meetings.

Technical Skills Presentation 
Monday, January 26th, 2026, 5:30 - 6:30 PM at CUH
The Technical Skills Presentation in January will be by Will Schnicke.
He will be speaking on “Wound Management Approaches and Techniques”

General Meeting

Monday, January 26th, 7:00 - 9:00 PM at CUH

Todd Schlafer at PSBA Monday January 26th.

For more information on workshops and to sign up, contact Lynn at psba.workshops@gmail.com

Puget Sound Bonsai Association Winter Silhouette Show 2026

WHEN: January 31 - February 1, 2026 10AM-4PM Open to the Public

WHERE: Bellevue Botanical Garden - Aaron Education Center

The Puget Sound Bonsai Association invites you to experience the wonder of bonsai in their winter form. Join us, as we explore the subtle beauty of bonsai trees in their winter silhouette form.

In the quiet beauty of winter, ancient bonsai trees reveal their purest form. Stripped of leaves, each branch and trunk stands in sharp relief, showcasing the artistry of structure, balance, and design.

This exhibition invites you to discover the intricate framework and branching of deciduous bonsai trees. In the winter, elegance is found not in the foliage, but in the graceful architecture beneath.

Submitting a tree?? Now is the time think about your tree display at this beautiful venue. PSBA members are encouraged to submit up to two bonsai displays (one as alternate).

The submission window has been extended to December 15th.
Displays can be submitted by following the link below. Guidance is provided for the form. Photos of the tree are required. 

SUBMIT YOUR TREE HERE
(link to our external tree submission form)

If you have questions about the form or the submission process, please contact psbawintershow@gmail.com.

Preference will be given to displays that include at least one deciduous tree.

PSBA Members, please volunteer to help with this event. Sign up here.

Monday, February 23rd, 2026, 7:00 PM at CUH
Bring Your Own Tree (B.Y.O.T.) General Meeting
Bring your own bonsai, tools, and whatever else you need to work on in the company of your fellow PSBA members. There will be advanced members available to provide suggestions, guidance, and help if needed.

See you there!!

Many thanks to two PSBA long time and hard working members!!

Kathy, Elsa, and Guy

Kathy and Elsa

Check out our new photo gallery “Spring Show 2024”,
photos by Aki Yamakawa

and … our new photo gallery “Spring Show 2025”, photos by the PSBA website group.

Volunteers at our 2025 Auction held at PBM.

Suggested:

Recommended Read by Ladd Smith

The book is “The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsessions”, by Amy Stewart (who lives in Portland). I could not put it down. One of my people sent me this link below about a zoom presentation with Amy Stewart.

The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession with Amy Stewart - Northwest Horticultural Society | Northwest Horticultural Society

The really cool part is the book mentions the PBM and the chapter about bonsai is on Enrique Castaño, our PSBA guest artist in November!

 Here’s a link to a Seattle Times story about Local Bonsai featuring club members Tony Fajarillo, Bruce Williams, and others.
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/seattles-thriving-bonsai-community-tells-stories-through-tiny-trees/

Fall Yamadori in the Pacific Northwest (YouTube video by Ben Nguyen)

PSBA 2021 Margaret Holton Winter Silhouette Show

PSBA 2021 Margaret Holton Winter Silhouette Show