Bonsai show returns to Pioneer Park

Dungeness Bonsai Society’s meticulously cared for trees return for public view this weekend.

The free 44th annual show opens from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, July 2, at Pioneer Memorial Park’s clubhouse, 387 E. Washington St.

Organizers call it a lowkey return after more than two years off due to COVID-19 precautions.

“We’re trying to get back in the groove,” said past president Ron Quigley.

With about 25 members, the show features a variety of trees in types and sizes.

“We wanted to show what we’ve been working on,” Quigley said of the hiatus.

The show is free to attend with photography allowed, and docents on hand to answer questions and provide information on starting your own bonsai.

Some trees have not been seen in public before, Quigley said.

In the last few years, a few members have moved or passed away, he said, but they’ve added some new members. They’re always open to helping new members take on the hobby too, Quigley said.

The show is typically held in early June when the trees are usually flowering, he said. However, with the show a little later than previous years, he said it’s unclear how many trees will be blooming. There will be various kinds of deciduous trees, Quigley said.

The club returned to meeting monthly in March, with meetings at the clubhouse at 10 a.m. the first Tuesday of each month.

The Dungeness Bonsai Society formally organized on November 2, 1976, with a dedication to the living art of bonsai plants, including learning about styling, soil, watering and more.

For more information, visit https://dungenessbonsai.wordpress.com.