23/10/2026
Starting Today - How amazing!! 👏
The Bloemfontein Bonsai Kai will host a South African Bonsai Association convention from the 23rd to the 25th of October at Onze Rust Primary School- the event brings together bonsai exhibitions, demonstrations, a New Talent Competition, expertise and bonsai vendors all in one programme!
The theme, “Mochikomi: Effect of Time - Time and its Effect on Aging”, highlights one of bonsai’s most distinctive qualities: the way that time, care, technique and patience shape the character of a tree. The programme also provides an opportunity for established practitioners, emerging talent and members of the public to experience bonsai as a living art form.
The New Talent Competition begins on Friday, the 23rd of October, with registration at 13:00 and the competition running from 14:00 to 18:00. Saturday’s programme begins with registration at 08:00 and includes a series of demonstrations and discussions by Ray Kingma, Jacques Nel, Andre Wiese, Scott Bredin, Liam O’Flaherty and Andre Swart. Programme highlights include “Mochikomi – BFN 40 Years / Tribute to Dot Henegan”, “Forest with a Snag”, “Young Baobabs, Old Souls”, “Understanding Mochikomi” and “Time and Nature Captured Within a Container”. The day also includes feedback on competition trees, the SABA AGM, prize-giving and a dinner/social event at another venue.
Sunday’s programme includes demonstrations by Willem Pretorius with “Ou Woude”, Denise Krige with “Literati”, and KBY with Kwet vd Merwe and Werner Hoek. The programme concludes at 12:30. Members of the public are invited to visit the bonsai exhibition.
Public visiting hours are Saturday, 24th of October, from 08:00 to 17:00, and Sunday, 25th of October, from 09:00 to 12:00. Admission for exhibition visitors is R20 per person.
