American Bonsai Association Sacramento

What it is

The American Bonsai Association of Sacramento (ABAS) is a Sacramento-area bonsai club established in 1958. The official home page mission line: to promote interest in the growing, training, showing and care of bonsai. History on the same page: roots in Sacramento Bonsai (founded 1946 by previously interned Japanese Americans, meetings in Japanese); ABAS formed twelve years later to accommodate English speakers; meetings at the mid-century Shepard Garden & Arts Center in McKinley Park (also built 1958). In 2020 ABAS became a 501(c)(3) organization (donations tax deductible). Member of the Golden State Bonsai Federation. Programming includes monthly general meetings, Dig-In / Chop-In new-member workshops, member-only workshops, an annual auction and consignment sale, holiday party, stewardship / estate-planning support for collections, and seasonal care content on the club’s YouTube channel. It is not a commercial nursery and not a museum tuition class series.

Who it’s for

Sacramento-region and nearby bonsai enthusiasts — beginners through advanced — who want club fellowship, monthly meetings with guest artists and species focus programs, Dig-In / Chop-In introductions, member-only hands-on workshops, auction/consignment participation (members sell; public may attend/bid), and GSBF-affiliated club community. New members are pointed to Dig-In on the Events / New Member pages. Guests may check the Events page for whether a given meeting is in-person, Zoom, or both.

Why it’s listed

This is a first-party club site with a printed Shepard Garden & Arts Center meeting address, published 4th Tuesday meeting hours, calendar-year dues buttons, and dated 2026 Events / Dig-In / Chop-In / auction schedule — not a Facebook-only club and not a scraped directory card.

Meeting place / schedule (home — checked 2026-09-16): in-person meetings the 4th Tuesday of each month, 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m., at The Shepard Garden & Art Center, 3330 McKinley Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95816. Events page: most general meetings are in-person and live-streamed via Zoom; recordings posted on the ABAS YouTube channel. Check each event for format.
Membership (Membership page — checked today): yearly dues $50 per family, payable in January; student or half-year membership $25 (half-year discounted in July). Pay by debit/credit on the Membership page buttons, or by check payable to ABAS mailed to PO Box 161767, Sacramento CA 95816. After paying, complete the Membership Information form (zip required for Club Liaison assignment). Physical meeting address and mailing PO Box printed on the same page.
New-member Dig-In / Chop-In (New Member / beginner-classes page — checked today): longtime member Roger Steel; class size limited; $25 per student per session. Dig-In Saturday October 3, 2026, 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (Fair Oaks area per Events) — basics, selecting pre-bonsai material at a garden center, afternoon styling workshop. Chop-In Sunday October 4, 2026, 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. — Dig-In attendance is a prerequisite; more advanced tool and material work. Sessions prepare participants for member-only workshops.
Events sample (Events page — checked today): ABAS Live Auction and Consignment Sale Saturday September 19, 2026, 1:00 p.m. (home banner; Sacramento / Shepard Center). Dig-In Sat Oct 3; Chop-In Sun Oct 4; Member Only Workshops Sat Oct 10, Nov 14, Dec 12 (Natomas area — address shared after sign-up); Monthly Meeting — Species Focus: Pines w/ Adam Toth Tue Oct 27 (Shepard Garden and Art Center); Monthly Meeting — “Mugo Pines” w/ Roger Steel Tue Nov 24; ABAS Holiday Party Wed Dec 16; ABAS Seasonal Bonsai School on YouTube (ongoing). Beyond Beginner / member workshops page: nearly monthly Saturday member-led workshops, usually Natomas; $20 toward supplies; morning 8:30–12:30 or afternoon 1:00–5:00 sessions.
Board / programs (home — checked today): Board Members term July 2026 – June 2027 linked from home; Bonsai Stewardship and Estate Planning Programs for members unable to care for trees (short-term support or help selling a collection). Host history cites visiting artists including John Naka, Ryan Neil, Bjorn Bjorholm, Kathy Shaner, Peter Tea, Jonas Dupuich, Michael Hagedorn, and others.

Dues, meeting times, workshop fees, and 2026 event dates above are what the official pages showed on the check date. They can change. Confirm on the live Membership and Events pages before joining or traveling.

Official URL

https://www.abasbonsai.org/

Membership (dues): https://www.abasbonsai.org/membership
Events: https://www.abasbonsai.org/events
New Member / Dig-In & Chop-In: https://www.abasbonsai.org/beginner-classes
Beyond Beginner / member workshops: https://www.abasbonsai.org/beyond-beginner
Bonsai Resources: https://www.abasbonsai.org/bonsai-resources

Location

Meeting place: Shepard Garden & Arts Center, 3330 McKinley Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95816. Mailing address: American Bonsai Association Sacramento, PO Box 161767, Sacramento CA 95816. Monthly meetings: 4th Tuesday, 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. (confirm Zoom vs in-person on Events). Dig-In / Chop-In and member workshops use announced Fair Oaks / Natomas-area venues (exact addresses shared after sign-up where noted).

This is a club meeting / workshop / auction address, not a retail nursery showroom and not a museum tuition desk.

Notes

Category is Clubs. First-party ABS-style club with printed meeting place, schedule, dues, Dig-In/Chop-In, member workshops, and auction. Not a nursery. Club workshops do not reclassify this card as Learning (Learning is curriculum/schedule-first class series such as Morikami).
2026 dues ($50 family / $25 student or half-year), Dig-In/Chop-In $25 on Oct 3–4, auction Sep 19 1:00 p.m., and monthly meeting cadence are transcribed from official pages checked on 2026-09-16 and may change.
Pics optional for this Wave 1 card; no listing image saved beside this file. Default club card art is used.
Not affiliated with Bonsai Plaza.
No Bonsai Plaza contact, purchase, booking, or publication action was taken.

FAQ

Q: When and where does ABAS meet? A: Home page (checked 2026-09-16): 4th Tuesday of each month, 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m., Shepard Garden & Arts Center, 3330 McKinley Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95816. Events page: most meetings are in-person and Zoom live-streamed. Confirm each month’s topic and format on https://www.abasbonsai.org/events

Q: What are the dues? A: Membership page (checked 2026-09-16): $50 per family per year (payable in January); $25 student or half-year (half-year discounted in July). Pay via the Membership page card buttons or by check to the printed PO Box, then submit the Membership Information form.

Q: I’m new — where do I start? A: Official New Member page: Dig-In Saturday October 3, 2026 (8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m., $25) introduces basics and selecting nursery stock; Chop-In Sunday October 4, 2026 (same hours/fee) requires prior Dig-In. These prepare you for member-only workshops. Also attend a monthly meeting. Confirm live signup and venue details on the beginner-classes and Events pages.