Living Art Bonsai Society

Address

Huntsville, AL

Quick contact

LivingArt.HSV@gmail.com

Living Art Bonsai Society
Volunteers at the Huntsville Botanical Gardens

Being part of the community, our club members volunteer to help get the bonsai and train area back in shape or keep in good standings. Come to the gardens and enjoy.

Useful Links:

Living Art Bonsai Society FACEBOOK Page

Huntsville Botanical Garden

Nashville Bonsai Society

Brian Van Fleet

Alabama Bonsai Society

The North Carolina Arboretum

Atlanta Bonsai Society

Bonsai Nurseries

Bennett Nurseries

Brussel’s Bonsai Nursery

Catbird Seat Garden Center & Landscape Nursery

Wigert’s Bonsai Nursery

Stone Lantern

Myrick’s Bonsai Pottery

find out more

A Message from Our President Tim Doran

President’s Message – May 2026

Hello everyone,

It’s hard to believe how quickly this year is moving — somehow we blinked and landed in May. And what a busy May it has already been! Even in just the first week, LABS has had an incredible presence in our community, and I want to thank all of you who helped make that possible.

A Big Weekend for LABS: Two Festivals, Thousands of Visitors

Daikin Japanese Festival – Decatur

Last Friday evening, we were honored to participate in the Daikin Japanese Festival in Decatur. The turnout was huge — thousands attended, and our tent saw steady traffic all night long.

A heartfelt thank‑you to everyone who brought trees, helped set up, and stayed late to pack up. Your work really paid off.

We also had the opportunity to meet the Consul General of Japan, who expressed interest in supporting us further. This connection could open some exciting doors for LABS in the future.

Monte Sano Japanese Festival – Huntsville

Just two days later, we set up again for the Monte Sano Japanese Festival, which was noticeably larger than in previous years. They’ve clearly expanded and may now be partnering with Daikin — we even saw the same Consul General in attendance.

Our spot behind the Tea House was shady and comfortable, and the weather couldn’t have been better. Between the food trucks, booths, and crowds, it was a fantastic event and another strong showing for LABS.

Upcoming: Annual LABS Bonsai Show at Bennett’s Nursery

Next on the agenda is our big annual show at Bennett’s Nursery. This year will bring several exciting changes:

• We’ll be joined by the Nashville, Birmingham, and Chattanooga bonsai clubs.

• We’re introducing several new award categories, including:

– People’s Choice Award (returning favorite)

– Peer Choice Award

– Overall Winner

– Novice Category

This show is shaping up to be one of our best yet, and I hope you’ll take part — whether by showing a tree, volunteering, or simply spending the day with fellow enthusiasts.

A Special Thanks to Our Vice President

Thanks to the hard work of our amazing Vice President, LABS has received its first donations as an official 501(c)(3). Roger has been invaluable to the club, and all he asks in return is that we read his newsletter each month and let him know it didn’t go unnoticed.

So please — send him a quick email. He deserves it.

Mentorship Program Gaining Momentum

Our mentorship program continues to grow, with more members signing up each month. If you’re a mentee, remember that you’re welcome — and encouraged — to reach out to any mentor for one‑on‑one learning. The value of hands‑on guidance is enormous, and this is a resource worth taking advantage of.

If you’ve misplaced the mentor list, just let me know and I’ll send it your way again.

Be Sure to Check the May Bonsai Work Calendar

The May calendar is full of helpful seasonal guidance for beginners and experienced artists alike. Please take a moment to look it over — your trees will thank you.

I wish you all a wonderful month of May, and I’ll be back with more updates (and probably more rambling) in June.

Tim Doran

LABS President

18 Apr 26
LABS Meeting

Monthly Meeting

Times 1:00pm to 4:00pm Varies

Discuss Coordination about the up coming Shows
Presentation on Fertilization by Dennis Coad
Work on trees

Location: Huntsville Botanical Garden

4747 Bob Wallace Avenue, Huntsville, AL 35805

Here are directions to the meeting room called Volunteer Classroom:

The Linda J. Smith Building is located to the right of the Guest Center. Drive straight to the Guest Center, take your first right in the traffic circle, and park in the parking lot (Dogwood Lot on the map) at the top of the hill. Go to the red brick building with the wooden ramp in front of it next to the pavilion. When you walk up the ramp, the volunteer classroom is the door on the right.

Current Trees that you may find in our collections

BOXWOOD

Boxwood (Buxus) are very robust and can grow even on barren ground, in fu ll sun or shade. As boxwoods tolerate constant trimming very well and can bud from old wood, they are very well suited for bonsai.

CYPRESS

One of the best bonsai trees for beginners is the Bald Cypress, or Taxodium distichum. A member of the Redwood family, Taxodiaceae, it is a primary tree species & can reach heights of 100-120′ with a trunk diameter typically between 3-5′.

AZALEA

Azaleas can be trained for either flowers or bonsai but not really for both. Azaleas trained primarily for flowers usually have a shrubby appearance – Azaleas bloom in various colors and are an ideal species for bonsai.

ELM

The Chinese elm is a very popular choice of Bonsai for beginners, as it is a strong tree that reacts well to pruning and can be kept outdoors as well as indoors. The fine ramification, tiny leaves and beautiful bark are characteristics most loved for this tree species.