30th Annual Bonsai-a-Thon

Name: 30th Annual Bonsai-a-Thon | The Huntington
Start: Sat, Feb 22 - Sun, Feb 23 2025
Location: The Huntington

Event

Southern California bonsai masters share their passion for the art form in this exciting annual event that includes exhibits, demonstrations, prize drawings, a bonsai marketplace, and a live auction.

Gardens

Schedule

10 a.m.–5 p.m. Extensive bazaar area with vendors selling top-quality tools, pots, and plants
10:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Demonstrations: Initial training and advanced styling by local bonsai artists
∘ Saturday: Kathy Benson, Marcus Juniel, Bill Ward, Tom Vuong
∘ Sunday: Jason Chan, Mitch Matsey, Bob Pressler, Jason Saito
11 a.m. Guided tour
∘ Saturday: Japanese Heritage Shōya House
∘ Sunday: Bonsai Nursery
11 a.m.–2 p.m. Lecture by bonsai artist Jonas Dupuich (auditorium on the lower level of Banta Hall)
∘ Saturday: Deciduous trees
∘ Sunday: Black pines
2:30–4:30 p.m. Live auction followed by raffle of demonstration trees and donated trees, pots, tools, and more

Proceeds from this event support the Golden State Bonsai Federation Collection at The Huntington.

A group of people stand behind a table filled with bonsai.

People sit and stand behind a long table while working on bonsai.

A person stands near potted plants on a stage in front of an audience.

A juniper bonsai tree with red bark and an exposed bleached-white trunk.

Kusamono workshop participants with their creations. Young Choe (center front) is a world-renowned kusamono artist and was the 2024 Golden State Bonsai Federation Bonsai-a-Thon visiting artist and workshop leader.

Each day, you can expect four to five demonstrators working in an inviting setting, allowing you to ask questions and get to know each expert.

Ted Matson, The Huntington’s curator of the bonsai collections, points to the winner of one of many auction prizes, including kusamonos made by Young Choe.

California juniper bonsai (Juniperus californica), styled from plant material approximately 500 years old. Photo by Andrew Mitchell.

| The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

About the Organization

Golden State Bonsai Federation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization comprised of member and affiliate clubs in California and adjoining states. The federation promotes the art of bonsai.

About the Bonsai-a-Thon Visiting Artist

Jonas Dupuich got his start in bonsai over 20 years ago when he met Boon Manakitivipart while working at his family’s nursery. After seeing a tree Manakitivipart had styled—a neglected black pine—Dupuich was hooked. That experience kicked off more than two decades of study with Manakitivipart. During that time, Dupuich became a founding member of Bay Island Bonsai and started the Bonsai Tonight blog. In 2015, Dupuich’s hobby became his profession. He now teaches classes, works on trees, and runs a small bonsai business full time. His primary aim in bonsai is the same now as it was more than 20 years ago: to help as many people as possible appreciate beautiful bonsai.

The Bonsai-a-Thon visiting artist is sponsored by Joshua Roth Limited.