Bonsai Society of Upstate New York

Category: Clubs Also called: BSUNY; Bonsai Society of Upstate New York Inc; bonsaisocietyofupstateny.org (Rochester / Brighton, New York)

What it is

The Bonsai Society of Upstate New York (BSUNY) is a member-run bonsai and suiseki club based in Rochester, New York. Its home page says it “was formed to promote an appreciation and practice of the horticultural art of Bonsai in upstate New York,” hosting bonsai professionals for lectures, demonstrations and workshops and staging an exhibit of local trees. Its History page says the society held its organizational meeting in October 1972 at the home of Wm. N. Valavanis and incorporated as an educational not-for-profit 501(c)(3) in April 2016. It is a club, not a nursery or a school.

Official URL

Calendar and meetings: https://bonsaisocietyofupstateny.org/calendar

Membership and dues: https://bonsaisocietyofupstateny.org/membership
History: https://bonsaisocietyofupstateny.org/about/history
Contact: https://bonsaisocietyofupstateny.org/contact
Home: https://bonsaisocietyofupstateny.org/

Last checked

2026-10-30.

Who it’s for

Beginners and experienced growers in Rochester and the wider upstate / western New York area who want monthly programs with visiting bonsai artists, member workshops, a lending library, and suiseki (viewing stone) study alongside bonsai.

Why it’s listed

It is an established bonsai club with its own calendar, a fixed public meeting place and posted dues. Checked on 2026-10-30:

Meeting place: the Calendar page says meetings are held monthly “in the lodge at the back of Buckland Park in Brighton, NY,” at 1341 Westfall Road, Rochester NY 14618 (between S. Winton Road and Lac de Ville Blvd), with free parking and a handicap-accessible building. Refreshments and BSUNY merchandise are usually available.
Upcoming on its calendar: Annual Holiday Party & Auction, Dec 15, 6:00 PM; Special Saturday Meeting featuring Harvey Carapella, Jan 30, 1:00 PM; Special Saturday Meeting (topic to be determined), Feb 27, 1:00 PM; Bill Valavanis presentation (topic to be determined), Mar 23, 7:00 PM; meeting Apr 27, 7:00 PM. Recent programs on the same calendar were Bob Mahler on azaleas (Sept 29) and Bill Valavanis on “How to Grow Bonsai from Young Trees” (Oct 27, held at the Carmen Clark Lodge).
Visitors: the Calendar page says “There is no cost to visit a general meeting.”
Dues (Membership page): $50 for an individual per household per calendar year, paid by check to Bonsai Society of Upstate New York Inc, at a meeting or by mail with the 2026 Membership Form. Dues are due in January for membership through December 31.
Member benefits: a monthly newsletter, the “Bonsai Billboard”; monthly educational programs with visiting artists; workshops; and an extensive library of bonsai books and videos.

Location

Meetings: the lodge at the back of Buckland Park, 1341 Westfall Road, Rochester, New York 14618 (Town of Brighton).

Mailing address (Membership page): Bonsai Society of Upstate New York Inc, PO Box 92215, Rochester NY 14692.

Notes

Finn flags: the Calendar table prints dates without years. The weekdays match the 2026–2027 season (Tue Sept 29, Tue Oct 27 and Tue Dec 15, 2026; Sat Jan 30 and Sat Feb 27, 2027; Tue Mar 23 and Tue Apr 27, 2027), so the listing reads them that way. No November 2026 meeting is listed. The home page still mentions a “May 18th” club show with no year, and the Recent Events page has not been updated since 2022. The Membership page describes the dues as “$50 for an Individual per household”; ask the treasurer if you are joining as a family. The Contact page is a web form only (no phone printed).
Related: Wm. N. (Bill) Valavanis, at whose home the society was organized and a frequent presenter, is referred to on the club’s Recent Events page with a separate “International Bonsai” display; that business is not listed on Bonsai Plaza. The Long Island Bonsai Society (already on Bonsai Plaza under Clubs) is a separate New York club.
Listing image: the club’s official logo from its site (listed as the organization logo in the site’s structured data), saved as bonsai-society-of-upstate-new-york-logo.png.
Not affiliated with Bonsai Plaza. No form, membership payment or contact was made.

FAQ

Q: Where does the Bonsai Society of Upstate New York meet? A: In the lodge at the back of Buckland Park, 1341 Westfall Road, Rochester (Brighton), New York 14618. Parking is free and the building is handicap accessible.

Q: When is the next event? A: The Annual Holiday Party & Auction on December 15 at 6:00 PM. The next regular programs are Saturday meetings on January 30 and February 27 at 1:00 PM.

Q: Can I attend before joining? A: Yes. The club says there is no cost to visit a general meeting, and refreshments are usually provided.

Q: How much is membership? A: $50 per household per calendar year, paid by check at a meeting or mailed with the membership form to PO Box 92215, Rochester NY 14692.

Q: Does the club cover suiseki as well as bonsai? A: Yes. The site has a Suiseki section and library, and the club has run stone-collecting outings.