Due to rain, Club Picnic changed to Sunday July 19th
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GREAT SWAMP BONSAI SOCIETY
New Jersey's Premier Bonsai Club Since 1976
Free monthly meetings in Roseland, NJ. Beginners welcome. Expert instruction, internationally acclaimed guest artists, and a 50-year community of bonsai enthusiasts.
Become a Member Attend a Meeting
NEXT GATHERING
*New Date*: Sunday, July 19th Doug Siedenburg's House
Details upcoming/ check our facebook page
The Great Swamp Bonsai Society was founded in 1976 and is named after the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge in Morris County, New Jersey. For its first several decades, the club met at the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morristown - one of the region's most beloved horticultural landmarks. The club later relocated to its current home at the Essex County Environmental Center in Roseland, NJ, where it continues to grow.
Today, GSBS draws members from eight New Jersey counties and Eastern Pennsylvania, and stands as one of the longest-running bonsai clubs in the region. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, you'll find a welcoming community here.
* New Date: Sunday, July 19th
Club Picnic Social Gathering
Details to follow
Hosted by Doug Siedenburg
Aug 8 Club Picnic Social Gathering
Details to follow
Hosted by Rick Myers
GSBS is one of the few community bonsai clubs in the country with a formal Artist in Residence program, annual guest artist workshops, and a 50-year legacy of education and community.
Each meeting covers a different topic - from deadwood carving and air-layering to repotting workshops and group design critiques. Over 170 newsletters document hundreds of programs.
Renowned bonsai artist and two-time Emmy winner Sergio Cuan leads three meetings per year, working one-on-one with members.
Over 35 internationally acclaimed guest artists from the US, UK, Italy, Japan, Taiwan, Belgium, and beyond - hosted directly at GSBS for exclusive workshops and demonstrations.
Every spring at Garibaldi Hall - dozens of stunning exhibits, live demos, and expert advice. Free and open to the public.
“I joined GSBS as a complete beginner with one juniper from a garden center. Five years later, I have a collection of 30 trees and have exhibited at MABS. The members here are incredibly generous with their knowledge and their time.”
GSBS Member
Member since 2019
The guest artists GSBS brings in are world-class. Boon Manakitivipart, Marc Noelanders, Jonas Dupuich - these are names you see at national conventions, and they come right to our club in Roseland.”
GSBS Member
Member since 2011
“What sets GSBS apart is the Artist in Residence program. Having someone of Sergio Cuan's caliber work one-on-one with members three times a year is something you won't find at any other club in the region.”
GSBS Member
10+ year member
“I drove over an hour to attend my first meeting and it was absolutely worth it. The demonstrations are top-notch, the members are welcoming, and I always leave with something new to try on my trees.”
GSBS Member
Drives from Eastern PA
“I was nervous about attending my first meeting, but everyone was so welcoming. By the end of the night, three different members had offered to help me with my first repotting. That's the kind of community GSBS is.”
GSBS Member
Joined as a beginner
We meet at the Essex County Environmental Center in Roseland, NJ - easily accessible from I-280 and Route 80.
Address: 621-B Eagle Rock Ave, Roseland, NJ 07068
From I-280: Exit 4A → Eisenhower Parkway South → first right at traffic light onto Eagle Rock Rd → half mile, ECEC on left.
Phone (venue): (973) 228-8776
No bonsai experience required, and you don't need to own a tree to attend. Simply show up on any second Tuesday at 6:00 PM and introduce yourself.
T. Albert - Webmaster