Join us for our September meeting and learn about working with Ponderosa Pines bonsai.

What if your next incredible bonsai is sitting in a local nursery just waiting to be discovered?

Join the Pikes Peak Bonsai Society for one of our most exciting educational events of the year—a Nursery Crawl at Phelan Gardens! This hands-on experience is designed to teach you how bonsai artists look beyond the landscape plant and recognize the hidden potential within.

Local bonsai artist David Kuntz will lead the group through the nursery, explaining exactly what experienced bonsai artists look for when selecting material. You'll learn:

• Which species make the best bonsai—and why.

• How to recognize exceptional trunks, movement, taper, and nebari.

• What characteristics to avoid when purchasing nursery stock.

• How to spot hidden potential in ordinary plants.

• Tips that can save you years of frustration and money when selecting future bonsai.

After everyone has selected their plants, David will perform a live styling demonstration, showing how he begins transforming nursery stock into a bonsai. You'll see the first design decisions, branch selection, pruning techniques, and the overall thought process behind creating a successful tree.

🌳 PPBS Nursery Challenge!

Here's where the fun begins...

PPBS members are invited to purchase a plant during the nursery crawl and transform it into a bonsai over the following month.

Bring your tree to the October PPBS meeting, where the entries will be judged.

🏆 Grand Prize: $100 Phelan Gardens Gift Card!

The challenge isn't about having the most expensive tree—it's about seeing the most potential and making the best design decisions with nursery material.

Please Note: Participants are welcome to join the nursery crawl regardless of membership, but only current PPBS members are eligible to compete for the $100 gift card.

Whether you've never purchased nursery stock for bonsai or you're looking to sharpen your eye for quality material, this event is a great opportunity to learn from an experienced artist, ask questions, and spend the morning with fellow bonsai enthusiasts.

We hope you'll join us for a fun, educational day of hunting for hidden bonsai treasures!

Join us for an exciting Shohin Olive Workshop! PPBS President Dave Kuntz will lead this workshop which is limited to 9 participants and costs $225 per person, which includes a 3–6 inch olive tree selected by participants at the workshop. Members will meet at Della Clark’s home in Black Forest on Saturday, August 29 at 10:00 AM. Participants must be a current member of Pikes Peak Bonsai Society. This workshop is expected to fill quickly—early signup is strongly encouraged. Bring all your wire, tools, a chair and snacks. The workshop will last about 3 hours. Please contact Dave Kuntz at 719-352-1593 with any questions.

Join us for our August meeting. Topic is planning for the annual Pikes Peak Bonsai Show.

Join us for our July meeting and learn about tropicals. David McPeters, Executive Member of the Rocky Mountain Bonsai Society, will discuss tropical species and how to design and care for these bonsai.

Join us for our June meeting and learn about the art of kusamono from President of the Pikes Peak Bonsai Society, Dave Kuntz. Kusamono are potted arrangements of wild grasses and flowers and are commonly used as companions in bonsai displays at shows.

Andrew Robson of Rakuyo Bonsai will be joining us for two exclusive, hands-on workshops May 19 (Colorado Springs) and May 20 (South Denver). This is a rare opportunity to study with a highly respected bonsai professional known for his refined technique, deep horticultural knowledge, and thoughtful approach to tree development. Participation is limited to just 8 people, ensuring personal guidance and meaningful time working directly with Andrew. The cost is $125 per person. Attendees are encouraged to bring one to three trees suitable for refinement; please note that very young material without established branching is not appropriate for this workshop. To help participants come prepared, Club members will have a small number of quality trees available for purchase. Space is extremely limited, and demand is expected to be high—early signup is strongly recommended. Location: The Jagged Spruce Bonsai and Nursery in Colorado Springs (May 19) and at Graham's house in Denver near University of Denver (May 20). You must bring all your tools, wire, and snacks. Tables, chairs, and turntables will be provided.

Andrew Robson is an award winning deciduous artist in the American bonsai community. He completed a 3-year apprenticeship with Michael Hagedorn, after graduating from Yale University. Andrew also studied shohin bonsai display with Daisaku Nomoto, an award-winning Japanese shohin master and judge at Gafu-ten, Japan's premier Shōhin Bonsai exhibition. Andrew is the President of the Bonsai Society of Portland, the largest bonsai club in the United States. He regularly exhibits work at the Portland Japanese Garden and lectures at the garden's Japanese Arts Learning Center. Andrew is a host of the Bonsai Wire Podcast and regularly creates new episodes with the other hosts and prominent figures in the bonsai community. Andrew resides at his deciduous garden RAKUYO-en with his golden retriever Bailey, where he teaches and shares the art of deciduous bonsai.

Andrew Robson of Rakuyo Bonsai will be joining us for two exclusive, hands-on workshops May 19 (Colorado Springs) and May 20 (South Denver). This is a rare opportunity to study with a highly respected bonsai professional known for his refined technique, deep horticultural knowledge, and thoughtful approach to tree development. Participation is limited to just 8 people, ensuring personal guidance and meaningful time working directly with Andrew. The cost is $125 per person. Attendees are encouraged to bring one to three trees suitable for refinement; please note that very young material without established branching is not appropriate for this workshop. To help participants come prepared, Club members will have a small number of quality trees available for purchase. Space is extremely limited, and demand is expected to be high—early signup is strongly recommended. Location: The Jagged Spruce Bonsai and Nursery in Colorado Springs (May 19) and at Graham's house in Denver near University of Denver (May 20). You must bring all your tools, wire, and snacks. Tables, chairs, and turntables will be provided.

Andrew Robson is an award winning deciduous artist in the American bonsai community. He completed a 3-year apprenticeship with Michael Hagedorn, after graduating from Yale University. Andrew also studied shohin bonsai display with Daisaku Nomoto, an award-winning Japanese shohin master and judge at Gafu-ten, Japan's premier Shōhin Bonsai exhibition. Andrew is the President of the Bonsai Society of Portland, the largest bonsai club in the United States. He regularly exhibits work at the Portland Japanese Garden and lectures at the garden's Japanese Arts Learning Center. Andrew is a host of the Bonsai Wire Podcast and regularly creates new episodes with the other hosts and prominent figures in the bonsai community. Andrew resides at his deciduous garden RAKUYO-en with his golden retriever Bailey, where he teaches and shares the art of deciduous bonsai.

Join us for our May meeting and learn all about maples. Club president Dave Kuntz will discuss maple varieties and demonstrate working with maples.

Join us for our April meeting and learn about the basics of potting and repotting trees. Club president Dave Kuntz will provide a live demonstration of potting a tree.

Join us for our March meeting and learn about bonsai pots. Expert bonsai artist and Rocky Mountain Bonsai Society Executive Board member Graham Stenke will present on bonsai shows in Japan, bonsai pot types and styles, and show a variety of pots from ceramic artists.

Join us for our February meeting and learn how to plan and prepare for the spring potting season. Topics covered will include the basics of selecting pots, building bonsai soil, and how to make and use bonsai chopsticks.

Monthly meeting for members. The topic will be winterizing techniques for bonsai.

Not a member? First meeting is free, then membership is $35 per year.

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