Commemorative Pin Celebrating our 35th Year!!

Who We Are: PBS History

The Pennsylvania Bonsai Society was founded on May 3, 1963, a pioneering east
coast bonsai organization, and one of the oldest in the United States. Its purposes since
the beginning have been to:

• promote interest in and enjoyment of bonsai
• make information available on the culture and history of bonsai
• promote the collection and exhibition of bonsai
• provide interaction between bonsai fanciers.

PBS is a non-profit, independent, regional organization with active members from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. Since its beginnings, we have maintained a close working relationship with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, a relationship that gave the Philadelphia area its first bonsai exhibit in 1964, and continues today with our presence at the well-known Philadelphia Flower Show.

Early members of PBS were instrumental in forming the national group, The American Bonsai Society (ABS), in 1967. PBS hosted two ABS national symposia in Philadelphia, in 1969 and 1976. In recent years PBS has joined with other organizations from Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and others in Pennsylvania to form a federation, or umbrella organization known as MidAtlantic Bonsai Societies.

Today as in its beginnings in 1963, PBS continues in its leadership and commitment to the betterment of bonsai culture in America.