CBS Annual Bonsai Show

July 19th-20th | 960 King Ave

Come visit!

 

Location
The KING
960 King Ave
Columbus, OH 43212

Hours
Saturday | 10am-5pm
Sunday | 9am–5pm

Workshops

SATURDAY

  • Learn the art of Japanese Flower Arrangement and take home your own display and supplies.

  • We will be repotting from nursery pots into bonsai pots and doing an initial styling on a shohin-size red stem sea hibiscus. Beginners welcome. The trees can be kept indoors year-round if desired.

  • Learn the general tips and tricks of Hinoki, while styling and pruning a sought after cultivar - 'Sekka' hinoki cypress, as outdoor bonsai trees.

  • Participants choose between various wild-collected yamadori boxwoods. These landscaping shrubs make for great bonsai due to their small leaves but it takes some careful pruning to get them reduced in size while surviving the operation. Using trees dug in the past 1-4 years, you will learn how to prune them with confidence to promote backbudding and airflow as well as how much foliage is okay to remove. We can also advance into wiring and deadwood techniques if time allows or discuss those ideas for future stylings.

SUNDAY

  • Learn to wire and prune various types of conifer outdoor hardy bonsai trees.

  • Learn to style and prune japanese black pines for shohin outdoor bonsai.

  • We will trim some and wire as much as wanted.

  • Participants will receive a plant, artisan pot, soil and other supplies plus a set of shears to keep + "expert" instructions on creating and caring for portulacaria bonsai especially emphasizing clip and grow maintenance. The plants used here are tropical and can be kept indoors if desired.

Last updated 6/17/2025

The outline for the weekend is included below. As we get more information, we will continue to update this page. Mark your calendars and see you there!

Sections:

  1. Event Overview
  2. Where & When!
  3. Vendors & Guest Artists in Attendance
  4. Raffle and Sponsor Details
  5. Why & How to Exhibit Trees
  6. Award Categories (and Sponsors)
  7. Why & How to Volunteer
  8. Bonsai Time Podcast Interviews with CBS Show Vendors/Artists

I. Event Overview

            This year the Columbus Bonsai Society will be hosting our 53rd Annual Bonsai Show and we are once again making a big bash of it! While we have been spreading the news all around Ohio and beyond, we have also been at work behind the scenes to make this event special. For starters, we are at a new venue at . This collaboration allows us to be close to Columbus proper which will make it easier for people to get to the event and it is a highly transit-accessible location as well unlike in some years past. We also are proud to once again host many talented vendors and workshop instructors! These vendors and instructors include Rob Hoffman, Ken Huth, Mark Passerello, Ryan Huston, Jason Parrish, Kyle Boldy, Trey Gilmore, Joe Rotella, and Melissa, Sara, and Ellen from Green Witch Gardens. Visitors can also observe workshops silently at no charge. Please see all details below to register a tree to show, volunteer, donate to the raffle, join a workshop and to learn more.

II. Where & When!

            We hope to see you and your family at Contrast Church (960 King Ave, Columbus, OH 43212) on July 19-20th, 2025. Contrast Church will be a cozier venue than we had last year but we will still plan to use the space to its fullest (in progress, more details on layout to come). This location is in Grandview near both the famous Horeshoe Stadium and downtown Columbus. Limited parking is available on-site for free as well as in nearby sidestreets. If you get hungry during the show there are also many local restaurants in walking distance from this venue. As in previous years, admission to the show is totally free.

Event Schedule

Open to the Public (Exhibit, Vendors, Workshop Spectators, Raffles, and more!):

  • Saturday, 7/19/25, 10am-5pm
  • Sunday, 7/20/2025, 9am-5pm

Workshops:

  • SAT 7/19/2025
    • 10am-11am Joe Rotella / Central Ohio Ohara Ikebana - Create Your Own Japanese Flower Display
    • 11am-1pm Jason Parrish / Kawa No Oka Bonsai - Shohin Red Stem Sea Hibiscus
    • 1pm-3pm Trey Gilmore / Kota Bonsai - Hinoki Cypresses
    • 3pm-5pm Ryan Huston / In Vivo Bonsai - Wild Collected Boxwoods - Steps for Bonsai Transformation
  • SUN 7/20/2025
    • 9-11am Kyle Boldy / Pot Punching Potters - Conifer Styling - Shimpaku Juniper and Blue Atlas Cedar
    • 11am-1pm Rob Hoffman / Yume-en Bonsai - Shohin Japanese Black Pines
    • 1-3pm Ken Huth / Ken's World of Bonsai - Mugo Pines
    • 3-5pm Mark Passerrello - Beginner Dwarf Jade / Elephant Bush Repotting and Clip and Grow

Raffle Drawings:

  • 1 PM and 4PM each day.
  • Live Auction?? TBD

Setup, Tree Drop off, Tree pick up:

  • Friday, 7/18/2025, 12-6pm.
    • Initial setup only: 12-3pm
    • CBS Member Tree Dropoff: 3-6pm
    • Vendor setup available 3-6pm
    • (Please drop off all trees on Friday if possible. Tree carpooling with members in your area may be possible. If you must drop off on Saturday morning, you MUST be in contact with the tree curator so he knows what to set aside space for during Friday setup.)
  • Saturday, 7/19/2025, 8-10am.
    • Emergency tree dropoff (pre-coordinated with Bryan Six only)
    • Final setup and vendor setup.
  • Sunday, 7/20/2025, 5-7pm.
    • Tree pickup and teardown for the show.

III. Vendors & Guest Artists in Attendance

IV. Raffle Details

            Raffle tickets will be available for purchase throughout the weekend for a variety of
items including pots, trees, and tools. The various raffle items were generously donated by CBS members, vendors, and local businesses. The CBS Fundraiser Raffle is sponsored by the following local businesses:

Vendor sponsors
            Raffle drawings will take place at the CBS booth at 1 PM and 4:00 PM each day. The exact item list and schedule for drawings will be available at the raffle table at the show. We would prefer items be picked up on the same day or before the end of the show, but if necessary, winners may be able to pick up items at a future CBS meeting. Our raffle manager will contact the winners to arrange pickup. Lastly, contact us (columbusbonsai @ gmail.com) if you would like to join the sponsor/donor list!

VI. How to Exhibit Trees

            Exhibiting your bonsai is a great exercise as it encourages you to think differently especially surrounding long-term preparations, display ideas, and short-term actions you can take to maximize your aesthetic goals. All CBS members are eligible to enter a tree into our show. If you are a paid-up member for 2024, please search in your inbox for the information from our tree curator regarding how to submit. You can also contact him directly at Bryansix52oh @gmail.com.
  • Tree drop-off to the visitor center will be 3pm-6pm Friday and 8am-10am (preferably on the earlier side!) Saturday. Saturday drop-offs must be communicated to Bryan in advance.
  • Tree pick-up will be 5pm-6:30pm Sunday.

VII. Award Categories (and Sponsors)

  • TBA

VIII. Why and How to Volunteer?

            Volunteering is a wonderful way to get involved in the local bonsai scene and to get to know the knowledgeable local artists who can help you on your bonsai journey. We need help with the raffle table, educational tree docents/security, and vendor/workshop assistants. Thanks to everyone who helps make the show happen! To get your name added on the volunteer list, sign up for your preferred shift (coming soon) or contact Sandy, our volunteer coordinator  columbusbonsai @gmail.com.

  • Volunteers will be needed for set up, Friday 12pm-6pm and Saturday 8am-10am.
  • Volunteers will be needed throughout the show 10am-5pm on Saturday and 10am-5pm Sunday.
  • Lastly, volunteers are needed for tear-down on Sunday, 5pm-7pm.

IX. Bonsai Time Podcast Interviews with CBS Show Guest Artists

            Kevin and Ryan have had the opportunity to interview a few of the upcoming 53rd CBS Show guest artists and we hope to add more each year! You can hear their stories below ahead of the show and find other recent episodes of the "Bonsai Time Podcast" on your preferred podcast app.