Santa Anita Bonsai Society
Also called: SABS; sabonsai.org (Arcadia / San Gabriel Valley, California)
- Website
- https://sabonsai.org/
- Location
- Arcadia, CA
- Last checked
- 2026-11-09
- membership
- https://sabonsai.org/membership/
Santa Anita Bonsai Society
Category: Clubs Also called: SABS; sabonsai.org (Arcadia / San Gabriel Valley, California)
What it is
The Santa Anita Bonsai Society (SABS) is a member-run bonsai club for the San Gabriel Valley, based around meetings at the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia, California. Its About page says the society was formed in 1961 after a 1960 study group around Komai Bonsai Nursery customers, and that it is one of the oldest of more than 31 California clubs and a member of the Golden State Bonsai Federation. It is a club, not a nursery or a school.
Official URL
Home: https://sabonsai.org/
- About: https://sabonsai.org/about/
- Membership: https://sabonsai.org/membership/
- Location Map: https://sabonsai.org/membership/location-map/
- Club Officers: https://sabonsai.org/about/clubofficers/
- 2026 November Update: https://sabonsai.org/2026/11/2026-november-update/
Last checked
2026-11-09.
Who it’s for
Beginners and experienced growers in Arcadia, Pasadena and the rest of the San Gabriel Valley who want monthly Saturday programs, members-only basics classes, visiting demonstrators and an annual show at the LA County Arboretum.
Why it’s listed
It is a long-running bonsai club with printed dues, a named meeting place and a dated 2026 program on its own site. Checked on 2026-11-09:
- History (About): formed 1961; May 2022 marked the 56th Anniversary Show; Annual Bonsai Exhibition at the Los Angeles County Arboretum; GSBF member.
- Meetings (Membership / Location Map): every second Saturday of the month at 7:00 p.m. Many meetings at the L.A. County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91007. Jan–June and Sept–Nov meetings scheduled in the Palm Room classroom (Membership); Location Map also describes Classroom A near the main entrance.
- November 14, 2026 program (November Update): 6:00 p.m. members-only Beginning Bonsai Basics — trimming (bring a tree and tools); 7:00 p.m. Ernie Hasan on prepping conifers for winter and heavy wiring; demo tree in the raffle; Palm Room, LA Arboretum.
- Calendar notes (November Update): December — no meeting; January 9, 2027 SABS Annual Member Meeting and Potluck, 6:00 p.m., Palm Room. “SABS meetings are always on the 2nd Saturday monthly.”
- Dues (Membership / November Update): annual dues $20 individual / $25 family (2). November Update: 2027 dues remain the same; 2027 Member Drive begins at the Jan 9, 2027 annual meeting. Contact [email protected] for membership questions (Membership page).
- Officers (Club Officers): President Dave Miles; Program Chairman/VP Frankie Alvarez; Treasurer Dave Miles; Recording Secretary David Melitz; Membership Chair Lorraine Miles; others listed for badges, raffle, hospitality, web, newsletter and social media.
Location
Monthly meetings: Los Angeles County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, California 91007 (Membership / Location Map). Palm Room / Classroom A near the main entrance.
Contact: [email protected] (Membership / officers). No club office phone is printed on the pages opened for this listing. Facebook and Instagram (@santaanitabonsaisociety) are linked from the November Update.
Notes
- Finn flags: Membership says meetings are in the Palm Room; Location Map still describes Classroom A — confirm the live room name before traveling. November Update spellings vary (Earnie vs Ernie Hasan). December has no meeting. Annual Memorial Weekend Show dates for 2027 were not printed on the November Update opened for this listing. Email contact only on Membership.
- Geography: first Santa Anita / Arcadia club listing. California already has several Clubs (San Francisco, East Bay, San Diego, Sacramento and others) and multiple Nurseries/Learning cards; this is a separate San Gabriel Valley Arboretum club.
- Listing image: the society’s official logo from its WordPress media library (
SABS-Logo-150H-101W.jpg), saved assanta-anita-bonsai-society-logo.jpg(101×150). - Not affiliated with Bonsai Plaza. No form, membership payment or contact was made.
FAQ
Q: Where does the Santa Anita Bonsai Society meet? A: At the Los Angeles County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91007, typically in the Palm Room (Jan–June and Sept–Nov).
Q: When does it meet? A: Second Saturday of each month at 7:00 p.m. December has no meeting; the January 9, 2027 annual meeting and potluck starts at 6:00 p.m.
Q: How much is membership? A: $20 individual / $25 family per year. 2027 dues stay the same per the November Update.
Q: How old is the club? A: Formed in 1961, per the About page.
Q: What is the next program? A: November 14, 2026: 6:00 p.m. members-only Basics trimming, then 7:00 p.m. Ernie Hasan winter-prep and heavy-wiring demo (November Update). Confirm the live update before traveling.