There's a bonsai club meeting on Monday I'm attending. First time going. Super nervous.

Oddly_Aude · 2025-01-31T16:00:43-0800

I feel silly even posting this. But I'm feeling incredibly anxious about the Monday club meeting. I'm super psyched, don't get me wrong, but I'm so new to proper bonsai I feel like a fish out of water.

They seem incredibly nice! Been talking to one of the members online and they sit around for 3 hours working on their trees and talking bonsai. It seems so chill!

I'm planning on bringing a couple trees to get critiqued on and asking for advice, a book or two with questions to have clarified, and a notebook to write down info.

I know I'm overthinking this. And I know it's going to be a lot of fun. But eeep!

TomP · 2025-01-31T16:03:38-0800

Good luck. Bonsai people are usually very nice, maybe a little nerdy
--at least when it comes to trees. They will be happy to have you

Bonsai Nut · 2025-01-31T16:15:38-0800

Anyone that cares enough about trees to go to a bonsai meeting is going to be super nice. First, because they love bonsai. Second, because they are interested in the social aspect of sharing the art form.

BrianBay9 · 2025-01-31T16:19:50-0800

The hardest part about your first club meeting is figuring out who to take advice from. Lots of folks will be giving you opinions but you don't yet know who knows what they're doing. Listen to everybody and eventually a consensus will emerge.

WIlliam_Butler_Yeets · 2025-01-31T16:30:50-0800

They're fun! I started going to my local club in October, it's been great, everybody is chill, loves talking about trees (tbh I should've started going in September because that was auction month, but I thought it might be weird to just show up for the first time and start buying trees from strangers, since it's club members only)

Oddly_Aude · 2025-01-31T16:39:16-0800

I feel a lot better hearing all this. I've never been to a niche hobby meeting and had people be mean to me. I think I'm just more nervous than usual because it's been so long since joining a new thing!

TomP · 2025-01-31T16:40:16-0800

You will be fine. Take a few trees and enjoy

Michael P · 2025-01-31T17:03:43-0800

Be curious, eager, and humble. If they don't respond well to that approach, then you don't want to join that club.

Oddly_Aude · 2025-01-31T17:15:11-0800

Michael P said:
Be curious, eager, and humble. If they don't respond well to that approach, then you don't want to join that club.

I'm writing out some questions right now. I'm feeling more excited after hearing everyone's positivity here!

penumbra · 2025-01-31T17:24:02-0800

Which bonsai club is having a meeting and when and where is it?

Oddly_Aude · 2025-01-31T17:39:43-0800

penumbra said:
Which bonsai club is having a meeting and when and where is it?

Richmond Bonsai Club, in Henrico, Va. Starts at 5:30

Oddly_Aude · 2025-01-31T17:40:27-0800

penumbra said:
Which bonsai club is having a meeting and when and where is it?

Oh hey! You're a virginian too!

rockm · 2025-02-01T03:21:05-0800

Oddly_Aude said:
Oh hey! You're a virginian too!

I'm a N. Va. club member.

FWIW, the 2025 Potomac Bonsai Association Festival is coming up quickly. May 9-11 in Washington D.C. at the National Arboretum.

There's a bonsai club meeting on Monday I'm attending. First time going. Super nervous.

Oddly_Aude

Yamadori

TomP

Yamadori

Bonsai Nut

Nuttier than your average Nut

BrianBay9

Masterpiece

WIlliam_Butler_Yeets

Mame

Oddly_Aude

Yamadori

TomP

Yamadori

Michael P

Omono

Oddly_Aude

Yamadori

penumbra

Imperial Masterpiece

Oddly_Aude

Yamadori

Oddly_Aude

Yamadori

rockm

Spuds Moyogi

Similar threads