Blue Ridge Bonsai Society

Category: Clubs Also called: BRBS; Blue Ridge Bonsai Society (Asheville, North Carolina); blueridgebonsaisociety.org Last checked: 2026-10-22

What it is

The Blue Ridge Bonsai Society (BRBS) is a bonsai club in Asheville, North Carolina. Its About page says it “supports and promotes the art of bonsai in the region around Asheville, NC. We meet monthly, providing fellowship, education, and workshops from beginner to advanced level and we exhibit in various shows during the year.” Monthly meetings are “generally held on the second Sunday of the month from 1-4pm at the North Carolina Arboretum’s Education Center classrooms or other area venues.” The society is an approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Official URL

Official club site: https://www.blueridgebonsaisociety.org/

Upcoming events: https://www.blueridgebonsaisociety.org/event-list
Next meeting (Potluck and Auction, Nov 8): https://www.blueridgebonsaisociety.org/event-details/brbs-potluck-and-auction
Membership: https://www.blueridgebonsaisociety.org/join
Benefits: https://www.blueridgebonsaisociety.org/benefits
About / board: https://www.blueridgebonsaisociety.org/about
Bonsai at the NC Arboretum: https://www.blueridgebonsaisociety.org/nc-arboretum

Who it’s for

Western North Carolina growers at any level, from newcomers to experienced artists, who want regular hands-on meetings near one of the best-known public bonsai collections in the country.

Why it’s listed

It is an active, membership-based local club with a published meeting pattern, a regular venue and dated upcoming events. Checked on 2026-10-22:

Meetings: monthly, generally the second Sunday from 1 to 4 PM at the NC Arboretum Education Center (venues can vary; check the Events page). Meetings include time to share, get advice and work on your trees, plus programs by club members and visiting bonsai artists.
Next posted meeting: the annual BRBS Potluck and Auction, Sunday, November 8, 2026, 1:00–4:00 PM, at the NC Arboretum, 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, NC 28806. The event page labels it a member event.
Membership: $35 a year for an individual or $40 for a household, plus a Square transaction fee. Benefits include members-only workshops and classes, early registration, vendor discounts (for example Appalachian Plantworks), field trips such as yamadori collecting and pottery workshops, a silent auction and a chance to show a tree at the annual exhibition. The site says there are over 100 members.
Regional role: the society co-organized the 2026 American Bonsai Society Learning Seminars, “Bonsai in the Blue Ridge,” held June 4–7, 2026, at the North Carolina Arboretum.

Location

North Carolina Arboretum Education Center, 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville, North Carolina 28806 (the usual meeting venue).

Notes

North Carolina is not new (Appalachian Plantworks and the Fifth Season beginner class are listed), but this is the first NC club. OR, AZ, CA, TX, WI and PA (this week’s recent picks) were avoided.
The site doesn’t say whether guests can come to regular meetings without joining; the home page invites people to “join … or reach out to attend a meeting as a guest.” The November 8 event is marked member-only.
Platform note: the curl check counted the word “captcha” in Wix’s bundled scripts. Every cited page returned 200 with real content and no challenge page.
Listing image: the society’s own header logo (bonsai-BRBS-transparent_NEW.png), fetched from Wix as an 884×320 PNG with transparency and saved as blue-ridge-bonsai-society-logo.png. It shows on a white background.
Not affiliated with Bonsai Plaza. No form, membership payment or contact was made.

FAQ

Q: When does the Blue Ridge Bonsai Society meet? A: Monthly, generally on the second Sunday from 1 to 4 PM.

Q: Where are meetings held? A: Usually in the North Carolina Arboretum’s Education Center classrooms, 20 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, Asheville. Some meetings are at other venues, which are listed on the Events page.

Q: What’s the next meeting? A: The annual Potluck and Auction, Sunday, November 8, 2026, 1–4 PM, at the NC Arboretum. It is a member event.

Q: How much is membership? A: $35 a year for an individual or $40 for a household, plus a small card fee.

Q: Is it good for beginners? A: Yes. The society says it welcomes all levels, and the site has a Beginner’s Corner and a knowledge base.