Lecture/Demonstrations (Fri.-Sun.)
Workshops (Sun. pm)
Masterpiece Bonsai Exhibit - Expanded Display Area (Sat. - Sun.)
Bonsai Critiques( Sat.)
Raffles of Demo Material (Sat. - Sun.)
Silent Auctions (Fri.-Sun.)
Banquet & Bonsai Auction (Sat)
Large Bonsai Vending Area (Fri. - Sun.)

Isao Omachi. (Japan) Mr. Omachi studied bonsai as an apprentice of Mr. Takeo Kawabe for five years beginning in 1992. (Mr. Kawabe had been an apprentice of Mr. Kimura). In September of 1999 he became a member of the prestigious Japan Bonsai Kyodo Kumiai. In Sept. 2006, he was certified as a bonsai instructor by the Japan Bonsai Association. In December of 2006 he won the coveted Prime Minister’s Award at the 32nd Sakufu-Ten bonsai exhibition. He first visited MABS as an assistant to Mr. Shinji Suzuki in 2006 and so impressed the attendees that he was invited back as a headliner in 2009. Among his professional activities, he travels to Korea every year to maintain the spectacular Sumsund Bonsai Collection.
In March 2011, Mr. Omachi’s home and nursery were swept away by the tsunami which struck his home in Sendai, Japan. While his family is safe, he lost his entire collection. It is with great pleasure that MABS has invited Mr. Omachi to join us again in 2012 to share his deep and stimulating understanding of bonsai.
Mr. Omachi and his assistant will present lectures/demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday. He will also conduct a critique of the MABS Exhibit trees. Mr. Isao’s translator will be Ms. Hideko Metaxas who has worked with MABS many times in the past.
On Sunday afternoon, he will conduct a workshop with junipers. The workshop cost is $200.00 and is limited to 8 participants.*

John (JT) Thompson (USA) is a bonsai enthusiast, lecturer, demonstrator, and artist who lives in San Jose, CA. He says that his ideas about bonsai have been influenced by nature, John Naka, Kathy Shaner, Harunobu Tokita, and Boon Manakitivipart, and many others. He has served on the board of directors for both ABS and GSBF. He has demonstrated, taught, and led workshops at conventions and many clubs. He writes a monthly care column for several Bay Area clubs and has authored articles for ABS and other publications. In his workshops and demonstrations, he tries to utilize the unique characteristics or flaws in each tree that will set it apart from others of the same species. He emphasizes transplanting, wound healing, grafting and effective wiring in the process of developing bonsai. JT’s experience and bonsai collection encompass a wide range of species and styles. He is perhaps best known for his driving passion for oak bonsai, Sierra junipers, boxwoods, pines and other collected trees. Touching and enjoying his trees, if only for a few moments, is an essential part of each day. He will present two lecture/demonstrations, one on Friday and one on Saturday, and will do a critique of the MABS Exhibit trees on Saturday.
On Sunday afternoon, he will conduct a workshop on boxwood. The Workshop cost is $150.00 and is limited to eight participants.*

Chase Rosade (USA) obtained a degree in ornamental horticulture before diving into bonsai by taking a bonsai apprenticeship with Kyozo Yoshida, a Japanese White Pine specialist, in Nara, Japan in the early 1960’s. He later studied with Mr. Kawamoto, an innovator in container landscapes. In 1970, he purchased land in New Hope, PA and established Rosade Bonsai Studios, since which time he has established a reputation as a fine, broadly versed bonsai artist. He appeared as a guest artist at several early MABS symposiums and he has been a guest artist at conventions in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and India. MABS is excited to welcome Chase back to share his knowledge of bonsai both in America and around the world.
Chase will present two lecture/demonstrations, one on Saturday and one on Sunday, and a critique of the MABS Exhibit trees. On Sunday afternoon, he will conduct a workshop on Shimpaku Junipers. The workshop fee is $130. Participation is limited to eight people.

New Talent Competition. On Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM, there will be a New Talent Competition sponsored by the American Bonsai Society. The winner will receive from MABS a prize of $500 for expenses to participate in the National Competition at the ABS Convention which will be held in Denver on June 21-24, 2012. The winner is guaranteed acceptance to compete in the National Competition. Applicants to the MABS-regional competition must be members of a MABS club and must have been involved in bonsai less than 10 years. Past competitors can participate unless they won the National Competition. To apply: Send photos of three bonsai designed by the applicant to Pauline Muth at ABS@pfmbonsai.com. The deadline for applying is March 10, 2012.

Exhibits. The public is invited to visit the vendor area, the MABS Bonsai Exhibit and our Second Invitational Professional Bonsai Display on Saturday and Sunday. There is a $10.00 entrance fee for the vendor and exhibit areas for non-registrants. There is no admission fee for festival registrants and children under 12 years of age