This popular event was held on February 3-5, 2023 at the newly remodeled Mission Del Oro Hotel in beautiful downtown Santa Nella, California. Over 125 full registrants participated in workshops, lecture-demonstrations as well as many day pass walk in visitors.

The main emphasis for this event was 29 workshops as well as eight lecture-demonstrations plus an elegant room full of beautiful developed shohin bonsai as well as shohin bonsai compositions.

Maidenhair Tree, Ginkgo biloba

Tamarix, Tamarix  ramosissima

None of the demonstrators, workshop leaders and committee got paid. Everyone donated their time, talent, travel expenses and hotel fees volunteered to help support the three California Bonsai Federation’s bonsai collections. All proceeds were split three ways to help support the shohin bonsai in each of the collections. This year, following the most delicious banquet meal I have had the pleasure of enjoying (and I have attended numerous banquets around the world) empty envelopes which will eventually have a $10,000 check to each of the three bonsai collections. This was the proceeds from the last California Shohin Bonsai Society’s Seminar from three years ago. The evening finished up with a large collection of donated items for the popular raffle, which is where the funds originate

In addition to the Shohin Bonsai Exhibit there were two rooms full of vendors offering their ware in the vending area. Everyone had fun, learned a lot, as long-time friends met once again while supporting shohin bonsai in California.