On Sunday February 24, 2008, Mr. Hiroyoshi Yamaji from Kokobunji-ku, Japan will conduct a lecture/demonstration on the art and horticulture of bonsai in the classroom facilities of MBP Bonsai Studio in Pflugerville, TX. His presentation will begin at 12:30 PM with breaks during the afternoon.

The presentation will be very instructive and will give everyone from beginner to advanced bonsai enthusiast new perspectives to add to their own practices.
There will be ample time for questions and answers both during and following the presentation. The tree Mr. Yamaji creates will be raffled at the end of his presentation. Proceeds of the raffle will be donated to The Texas State Bonsai Exhibit. There is NO admission charge for this event!

For directions to the MBP Bonsai Studio, go to their web site: www.mbpbonsai.com and click on the Map and Directions Tab.

This lecture/demonstration is open to everyone without charge. Please do not hesitate to come.

In January of 2008 TTSBE is sponsoring two collecting trips.

Some of you are familiar with the location in west San Antonio. Many nice specimens were successfully collected last year at Red Bird Ranch.
This year it is necessary to reserve a space. The weekends of January 19th and 26th are available. Please contact Donna Dobberfuhl. Two2views@yahoo.com or 210-326-0860.

The second opportunity is in Eagle Pass, TX. There are only 2 spaces left. The owner of the property is allowing 10 individuals to participate on this three-day trip, leaving Friday January 18th and returning on Sunday the 20th. The land is described as brush land that is home to many South Texas plant species popular for bonsai. Texas Ebony, Huisache, Kidney wood and desert Yaupon. The land has not been previously scouted for bonsai material so a day may be spent scouting. This trip will be a great adventure and it is likely to involve a lot of walking over hilly terrain. We have a choice of good overnight accommodations in Eagle Pass and an invitation breakfast tacos on the ranch in the morning. Please contact Mike Hansen at: mbpbonsai@hughes.net or call 512-567-7541.

Don’t forget the cameras,!! Good Hunting.

Lori Hansen with TTSBE Cedar Elm Forest with new Bonsai Tray special ordered from China. The forest was donated by the Pipitone Family of Houston.

by Donna Dobberfuhl, Secretary

Follow this link to the KUT-FM radio interviews with Mike Hansen, TTSBE Chairman and host Cecilia Nasti.
http://www.kut.org/items/show/10508 and http://www.kut.org/items/show/10999 for part 2. (Note: you may have to copy and paste the link into you browser.)

The Pioneer Society campaign closed on December 31,2007, and we thank everyone who donated during this initial fund drive. We did not quite make our goal to retire the mortgage with the Pioneer Society gifts and pledges and our need for more gifts remains.

Please, if you have not already donated or pledged, print the form below, fill in the information at the top, along with your pledge or onetime gift amount and send it to our Treasurer. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Funds received will primarily be used for Land purchase debt retirement. Infrastructure construction, architect, city and engineering fees and start up costs related to the site and fund raising efforts.

Joseph McCoy, Treasurer
13450 N. Hwy 183, Suite 116
Austin, Texas 78750

Remember, The Texas State Bonsai Exhibit, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

The Texas State Bonsai Exhibit
Pioneer Society 2007 Donor Reservation Card

Name(s)_______________________________________

Phone (____)________-_________ Email _____________

Mailing Address _________________________

City, St. Zip ______________________

Complete Name for Recognition Purposes _________________

__ I wish to remain anonymous. __ Please contact me, my company may be able to match my gift.

GIFT LEVELS

___ Contributor $100 gift ___ Living Acts $500 Gift

GIFT PLEDGE LEVELS

___ Carpenter’s Square $1000 ___ Bridge Builder $2500
___ Angel Donor $5000 ___ Foundation Stone $10,000
___ Ground Breaker $25,000 ___ Raise the Exhibit $50,000
___ Visionary Member $100,000 ___ other $___________

___ Enclosed is my full contribution of $__________________
___ I would like to make a ____ year pledge of quarterly payments.
___ I would like to make a ____ year pledge of monthly payments (auto debit only).
___ I am unable to be a Pioneer but I want to support the Exhibit. Enclosed please find my contribution of $______________.

Thank you for your support. Alisan Clarke, Chairman (aclarke@ttsbe.org)

Not shown on the map are two important new toll roads now under construction. By the end of 2008 Hwy 183 will become Texas 130. At the same time a new stretch of Texas 45 is under construction joining IH35 in Buda, TX and Texas 130. The intersection of Texas 45 and Texas 130 will be approximately 2 miles northeast of the TTSBE site.

View Larger Map

The Texas State Bonsai Exhibit, Inc. Purchases
Tract of Land as Site of Future Living Exhibit

On Friday, September 28, The Texas State Bonsai Exhibit, Inc. (TTSBE) closed on 12.2 acres on the edge of southern Travis County. Located in Mustang Ridge, the site will be developed into a living exhibit, museum, and education center dedicated to the ancient art of bonsai.

Funding was secured through the generous donation of a longtime contributor, multi-year pledges by the board of directors, and long term financing provided by a private investor. Individual and corporations are encouraged to join the TTSBE Pioneer Society through one time gifts or multi-year pledges of $100 or more. Pioneer Society details can be found on the group’s website at www.ttsbe.org. (more…)

“The gates are open—The early morning light filters through the branches. The morning dew shines like liquid crystals upon the green leaves. The Majestic Oaks shelter each individual master piece”.

Literally the ground work has been laid and there is now a place where the foundation of
The Texas State Bonsai Exhibit can be poured.

It’s located in Mustang Ridge, Texas, a short distance east of Buda. With the generous support of a private investor we now have our home for Bonsai! There are 12.2 acres of rolling farm land. We have been welcomed by the community with open arms. The access is easy, 2 minutes from 183. With the new toll-road also to be in the area by 2010 we have achieved our
most difficult goal-the land! (more…)

We at The Texas State Bonsai Exhibit would like to welcome you to our new website. Here we will be posting the latest news about the exhibit, our fundraising efforts, and information about the art of Bonsai. We hope you enjoy exploring the site, and we look forward to your questions and comments. If you’re interested in our cause or already a member, please register with us using the login link to the left. Join our forum through the community section of the site. To view a gallery of exhibit submissions and other Bonsai photos, head on over to the Photo Gallery. Contact us directly via the contact form. To receive updates via RSS, subscribe using the link in the footer. We look forward to exploring the world of Bonsai with you. Thank you.