About HBS

The Hanford Bonsai Society was established in 1955 as a private club devoted to the study, cultivation, and exhibition of bonsai as a unique and interesting art form. Thirteen years later, on January 15, 1968, it was formally incorporated as a non-profit organization. HBS was a founding member of the Golden State Bonsai Federation in 1977, and we continue to be an avid supporters of GSBF's state-wide activities. In 2003 the Hanford Bonsai Society co-organized GSBF's very successful bonsai convention in Fresno, California.

The Hanford Bonsai Society is one of the few bonsai clubs in the state that remains active throughout the entire year, holding meetings, workshops, and field trips on a monthly basis. The general HBS meeting is held on the third Thursday of each month starting at 7:00 p.m. in Suite F of the Kings County Ag Building located at 680 North Campus Drive in Hanford, California. If you need directions to our meeting location, please click the maps link on our home page.

After the usual welcoming remarks each meeting begins with the scheduled program, which is usually about a 30 minute lecture or demonstration. Refreshments are served following the program and then members work on the trees they brought with them. At the conclusion of each meeting raffle tickets are sold at a very reasonable price and member donated bonsai items are raffled. The proceeds from our monthly raffles are used to sponsor workshops, field trips, and other club activities.

In an effort to provide individualized support for new members, HBS has implemented a mentorship program, which partners experienced members with less experienced one who may need a little extra support as their new skills are developing. If you are a current HBS member and would like to take advantage of our mentorship program, please speak with the club president. When linked with our bonsai basics classes, currently being incorporated into the workshop portion of our general meetings, our mentorship program will ensure that even our newest and least experienced members will enjoy successful experiences designing and growing

How to Join HBS

If you would like to join the Hanford Bonsai Society, click on the Join HBS link and follow the directions. The annual dues are $20.00 per person or $30.00 per couple. We hope to see you at our next meeting.

Membership Benefits

● Monthly meetings and bonsai programs

● Monthly HBS newsletter (mailed and online)

● Mentorship program

● Regularly scheduled low-cost workshops

● Low-cost field trips

● Plant collecting trips

● Bonsai exhibitions

● A friendly and constructive learning environment

Mentorship Program

One of the ongoing problems we have experienced as a club over the years is maintaining new members, who often experience doubts about their ability to successfully grow bonsai after their first tree dies. As a result, many new members often stop attending meetings and participating in workshops soon after joining.

Welcome to the Hanford Bonsai Society's web site.

As the current president of the Hanford Bonsai Society, I would like to invite you to review our web site and read about all of the exciting and interesting activities in which our club is involved. If you are interested in bonsai, I would like to also encourage you to join us. Whether you are an experienced bonsai grower or just beginning to learn about this beautiful and interesting art form, I can assure you that HBS will strive to meet your needs and interests in 2007.

Come grow with us!

Bob Hilvers

Workshops

For our more advanced members, as well as those who are less experienced, HBS hosts several five hour workshops throughout the year with the nationally recognized professional bonsai artists Kenji Miyata and Ted Matson. Since the club sponsors a substantial portion of the costs, these workshops are very affordable for our members, usually just $25 to $30 per workshop.