ABS Learning Seminars

Exhibition and Awards!

This spring (May 9^th-12^th, 2024) Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan brings you a collaborative project between Meijer Gardens Michigan All-State Bonsai Show, American Bonsai Society, and the West Michigan Bonsai Club: ABS will be conducting Learning Seminars, workshops and demonstrations for all skill levels and interest. You are invited to present your bonsai, suiseki and kusamono at this very special event.

Judging this event will be Suthin Sukosolvisit and Hugo Zamora.  They ask us to remind all Exhibitors to refrain from entering trees for competitive judging that they have personally worked on in the last 6 months.  If you plan on exhibiting a tree that Suthin or Hugo has worked on since November 10^th, 2023, please mark it DO NOT JUDGE when completing the registration. Such trees are welcome to be entered for EXHIBITION ONLY.

Exhibiting Trees, Bonsai containers, suiseki or kusamono for display.

• Electronic registration is required. Registration will be open Sunday, April 21^st through May 7^th, 2024. Forms may be emailed to submit@thisisbonsai.com or by completing a fillable form.
• Display delivery is between 2:00pm and 7:00 pm on Thursday, May 9^th, 2024. And must remain on display till Sunday 5pm. Please do not bring your trees early as staff will not be available to accept them before 2:00pm.
• Exhibitors are responsible for watering and caring for their trees while in the exhibit.
• All displays should fit on a standard table with a depth of 30”. Please contact us if you plan to display an imperial size or very heavy tree that requires a specially constructed table.
• All exhibition items will remain on display from 9:00 a.m. Friday, May 10^th through 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 12^th, 2024. NO early removal of items from the Exhibition area will be allowed.

Award Categories

Open: 

• 1^stPlace: Best of Show ($500.00 cash prize)
• 2^ndPlace: award of Excellence
• 3^rdPlace: award of Excellence

The ABS John Naka Award best North American Bonsai (no imports) ($250.00 cash prize)

The ABS Pauline Muth Award of Merit for best North American Native Tree ($250.00 cash prize)

Professional: 

• 1^stin Professional
• 2^ndin Professional
• 3^rdin Professional

Category: 

• Best Deciduous
• Best Conifer
• Best Broadleaf Evergreen
• Best Tropical
• Best Suiseki
• Best Shohin Display
• Best Use of a Scroll

New Talent Contest:

• 1^st ($1000.00 gift certificate for Joshua Roth)
• 2^nd ($500.00 gift certificate for Joshua Roth)
• 3^rd ($250.00 gift certificate for Joshua Roth)

People’s Choice Award – On Sunday the ballots will be tallied up, for people’s choice awards

• 1^st
• 2^nd
• 3^rd