Iowa Bonsai Association

to the Iowa Bonsai Association's website. IBA was
founded in 1979 to promote appreciation and
development of bonsai. Meetings are held at 7:00 PM
the third Tuesday of every month (except December)
at the Des Moines Botanical Center (909 Robert Ray
Drive, Des Moines, IA).

Join us! Members will enjoy a helpful, supportive
atmosphere no matter what your experience level,
opportunity to participate in workshops, bonsai shows
and collecting trips, access to the association's library
of books and DVD's, and a monthly newsletter. If you
are interested in becoming a member or would like
to get to know more about bonsai, please attend one
of our meetings or contact us.

Bonsai is perhaps the only pet that will outlive you.
(more bonsai truths)

East meets West, the first annual Spring Ahead
Festival at the Des Moines Botanical Center, was
held February 7-10. Iowa Bonsai Association
provided tokonoma exhibits and some of the
programs for this event. Reaction to the tokonoma
was very positive, and included the comments:
"almost spiritual," "meditative." View a photo
of East meets West tokonoma.

News & Updates

IBA Spring Bonsai Show The IBA returned to holding a spring bonsai show as well as an annual fall show. The theme of the spring show was The Art of Bonsai, held on April 19-20 in the Des Moines Botanical Center's splendid show house. The goal was to highlight not only bonsai but also the Iowa Bonsai Association and the future of the Bonsai collection at the Botanical Center. Associated exhibits and demos supplemented the bonsai display.

Bush Budget Closes National Bonsai
Collection - The president's FY09 budget
will, if approved, almost certainly close the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection and
its related components at the National Arboretum. The doors to the finest bonsai
collection in the United States, owned by the people of the United States, will be closed on the people of the United States.
(read more)

Sean Smith, the renowned diaza maker and suiseki master, was the visiting artist at a set of IBA programs held the weekend of March 15-16. On Saturday morning there was a program on exhibit of bonsai and suiseki. Saturday afternoon Sean led a workshop on diaza making for suiseki; everyone left with a stone in a fitted diaza. On Sunday, Sean led a workshop on bonsai styling, another of his many areas of expertise.