Pioneer Valley Bonsai Society

Category: Clubs Also called: PVBS; formerly the Greater Springfield Bonsai Society; pvbonsai.org (Agawam and Springfield, Western Massachusetts)

What it is

The Pioneer Valley Bonsai Society is a member-run bonsai club based in Agawam, Massachusetts, in the Springfield area of Western Massachusetts. Its About page says the society, “formerly the Greater Springfield Bonsai Society,” is “a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering and expanding the knowledge and practice of Bonsai in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts” through monthly meetings, workshops, guest artists and an annual member exhibit. It is a club, not a nursery or a school.

Official URL

Events and meetings: https://pvbonsai.org/events/

November meeting: https://pvbonsai.org/event/monthly-meeting-november/
Membership: https://pvbonsai.org/membership/
Membership registration and renewal: https://pvbonsai.org/membership/registration/
About and board: https://pvbonsai.org/about/
Contact: https://pvbonsai.org/contact/
Home: https://pvbonsai.org/

Last checked

2026-11-03.

Who it’s for

Beginners and experienced growers in Springfield, Agawam, Holyoke, Northampton and the rest of Western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut who want a monthly evening meeting, hands-on help with their own trees and advice on keeping bonsai through a New England winter.

Why it’s listed

It is a non-profit bonsai club with its own dated events calendar, a posted meeting place and public meetings. Checked on 2026-11-03:

Schedule: the home and Membership pages say the society “meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm,” that “You do not need to be a member to join a monthly meeting,” and that all skill levels are welcome. Visitors are invited to bring a tree for guidance.
Next meeting: Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 7:00–9:00 pm, at the Captain Charles Leonard House, 663 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. Topic: “Preparing Your Bonsai for a New England Winter,” presented by society president Doug Taylor, covering winter protection, seasonal watering and cold-season care. The event page says: “Open to all. No registration required.”
Also posted: a Holiday Party on Tuesday, December 15, 2026, and a tentative January meeting on Tuesday, January 19, 2027, 7:00–10:00 pm.
Member benefits (Membership page): a monthly raffle of donated trees, pots and tools (bring a tree to a meeting for double raffle tickets), hands-on workshops and lectures, advice from experienced artists, early access to event registration, and an annual member exhibition each October.
Board (About page): president Douglas Taylor (26+ years in bonsai, studying with Boon Manakitivipart since 2012), vice president Joe Polaski, treasurer David Bressem and secretary Kendra B-D.
Federation: the society is a member of the MidAtlantic Bonsai Societies (MABS).

Location

Monthly meetings: Captain Charles Leonard House, 663 Main Street, Agawam, Massachusetts 01001 (per the November event page).

Email (Contact page): [email protected]. The Contact page also has a web form.

Notes

Finn flags: dues are not printed. The registration page offers a one-year or annual auto-renew membership through PayPal but shows no price. The home page says “Events are open exclusively to club members,” while the meeting pages say monthly meetings are open to the public; read that as meetings open to all and some workshops members-only (the November event page says “Some workshops & events are members only”). No phone number is printed. The About page spells it “Sociaty” in one heading.
Related: Massachusetts already has Bonsai West (Littleton, Learning) and Bonsai Outlet (Bellingham, Nurseries) on Bonsai Plaza. The Yama Ki Bonsai Society (Stamford, CT) is a separate Connecticut club. This is the first Massachusetts club listing.
Listing image: the society’s official logo from its site header (an SVG, converted to PNG), saved as pioneer-valley-bonsai-society-logo.png.
Not affiliated with Bonsai Plaza. No form, membership payment or contact was made.

FAQ

Q: Where does the Pioneer Valley Bonsai Society meet? A: The November 17, 2026 meeting is at the Captain Charles Leonard House, 663 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. Check the Events page for each meeting’s details.

Q: When does it meet? A: On the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm. The next meeting is Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 7:00–9:00 pm, on preparing bonsai for a New England winter.

Q: Do I have to be a member to attend? A: No. The site says you do not need to be a member to join a monthly meeting, and the November meeting needs no registration. Some workshops and events are for members only.

Q: How much is membership? A: The site does not print a price. Membership is a one-year or annual auto-renew option paid through the registration page; contact [email protected] for the current dues.

Q: Is it good for beginners? A: Yes. The society says all skill levels are welcome and invites visitors to bring a tree for guidance.