Nashville Bonsai Society upcoming events

Chop and chat with Garden Tour (September 12, 2026)

Sat, 12 Sep 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Drop in Hagenau house between noon and 3. Snacks on hand 4506 Gra Mar Dr, Nashville TN 37216

At around 3 PM we will progress to tour the garden of David Supica, only a short drive

Japanese Moon Viewing (September 27, 2026)

Sun, 27 Sep 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Andrew Robson Morning Workshop (October 08, 2026)

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 14:00:00 GMT

BYOT. Great with all species....Amazing with deciduous!

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. 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 Afternoon Workshop (October 08, 2026)

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

BYOT. Great with all species....Amazing with deciduous!

Knoxville 25th Anniversary Bonsai Show (October 10, 2026)

Sat, 10 Oct 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Multiple clubs, including ours participating

See their website for details. Contact Sara if wanting to show a tree or attend

NBS Auction and Picnic (October 24, 2026)

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Open to Members and Public. One of our most popular events. Superb place to get great prices on trees, supplies, opinions and tall tales

Creekside Nursery 6304 Hills Chapel Rd, Nashville, TN 37211

Shannon Salyer shohin study group (November 07, 2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Shannon is based in East Tennessee. He is widely known for artistry of shohin bonsai.

John Eads Morning Workshop (November 14, 2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 14:00:00 GMT

John is from the prairies of west Texas, where he was surrounded by millions of acres of ten-foot tall shin oaks, and so he says ‘his formative years were spent with little trees’. His background is in small business development. The numbers of beings at the studio residence will swell with the addition of this family of four, including his wife Leah and children Amos, 11, and Clara, 7. I hear the kids are particularly excited about the cats.

Additionally, John has expressed interest in making a development nursery for bonsai—setting young plants on the road to aesthetic brilliance—which will continue to build the local bonsai community in unique ways (John plans to stay in Portland). I’ll keep everyone up to date on that and of course any new developments on the dark paths.

John's first farm-based business was in middle school, raising and selling water lilies out of a pond that he built in his family's front yard in West Texas. He moved with his wife to Portland in 2007 and their family soon grew to include two kids and several food carts.

After many successful years of serving wood-fired pizza, a new interest was sparked when the family visited the Japanese Garden and there happened to be a special bonsai event. John has been down many rabbit holes on YouTube related to various crafts and hobbies, but this one was truly captivating. He began to acquire trees and volunteer, learning all he could about growing and refining bonsai. Eventually the family moved to Milwaukie, OR and John apprenticed for two years with Michael Hagedorn to prepare for the launch of his own growing operation.

In 2021, the family moved on to the farm in Gales Creek, about an hour west of Portland, where John grows many species of bonsai material and teaches a variety of classes and workshops. He also travels to teach growing bonsai study groups, speak at clubs around the country, and occasionally vends at events.

John Eads Afternoon Workshop (November 14, 2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Randy Bennett Morning Workshop (December 05, 2026)

Sat, 05 Dec 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Randy Bennett is a well-regarded bonsai artist, primarily known for his work with collecting and developing collected Bald Cypress trees. He is based in Louisiana and has been practicing bonsai for over 50 years. Bennett also teaches bonsai workshops and lectures as a traveling artist.

He specializes in working with Louisiana native species, including Bald Cypress, Hackberries, and others.

He is known for his expertise in collecting trees for bonsai, particularly Bald Cypress.

With over 50 years of bonsai experience, he has a deep understanding of the art form.

Bennett travels to various locations to teach bonsai workshops and give lectures.

He has extensive knowledge about the unique growth patterns and challenges of working with Bald Cypress, including how they develop a flat-topped canopy.

Bennett has recently been featured in videos and posts related to workshops and demonstrations, including one on reviving a Prostrata Juniper bonsai.