Welcome to the Iowa Bonsai Association's website. IBA was founded in 1979 to promote appreciation and development of bonsai. Meetings are held on the third Saturday of each month from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. You may come and go as your time permits and work on trees or just socialize and observe. See the calendar page for details! We meet at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.
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 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.
By jenjo on September 1, 2017
Too much of a good thing can be sad. Just enough is useful. Too little and it doesn’t work. For wiring, we want the middle one, just enough. Blogs are wonderful for making grand statements that have marginal utility, unhinged to useful reality. Hopefully photos will clarify this commentary about what is just enough… September […]
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By jenjo on August 16, 2017
On the way back to our cabin we encounter another vehicle. In these “parts of the country”, you stop to visit with other vehicles since you may not see another person for days. The driver was looking for an obscure road where his friend, the “bear lady” was camping. August – 2017 DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER
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By jenjo on August 16, 2017
JUDGE Todd Schlafer, Denver, Colorado Best of Show Ron heinen , Ames, Iowa The George Roupp Award Ron heinen , Ames, Iowa The Helen Fagan Award Ron heinen , Ames, Iowa Open Class First Place –Ron heinen, Ames, Iowa – 4 blue ribbons First Place –Cat Nelson, Washington, Iowa – 1 blue ribbon First Place […]
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By jenjo on August 16, 2017
Helene Magruder of the Iowa Bonsai Association was announced the winner of the biggest prize at June’s American Bonsai Society Show and Exhibition held in Florida. June – 2017 DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER
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By jenjo on August 15, 2017
The workshop was held at the Magruder farm. I arrived with two trees that I had first worked on with Bjorn while at Brussels. The first was a large Prostrada juniper and the other was a small, not quite shohin sized white pine. May – 2017 DOWNLOAD NEWSLETTER
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By jenjo on April 14, 2017
The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden hosted the Earth Day Spring Bonsai Exhibit, Saturday April 22nd & Sunday the 23rd. Our Earth Day hands-on participation activity this year featured a tree, on a turntable stand, with signage inviting the public to find the side they prefer as a front.
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