The Society was started in
September of 1967 when Winnie
Bloom, who worked at Beaver Valley
Nursery on Rt. 202, called a few
people to exhibit bonsai at the nursery
for the weekend. Those asked to show
included Eleanor McVay, Helen
Stewart, and Doris Froning. There was
much interest shown, so an informal
group met in October and it was
decided to form a society to delve into
the art. A man named Ron (don’t
remember the last name) was elected
as President, but in three months time
he was transferred to North Carolina so
Doris Froning took his place and was
president for five years.
At the beginning we decided to be
informal and to this day we have no
formal rules and no by-laws. The
president and other officers serve for a
few years until the jobs become
tiresome and then someone else takes
over. Recently we have had a
nominating committee.
We have met at various locations
over the thirty years. We started at
Beaver Valley Nursery, then met at the
Grange Hall that used to be on 202 in
the divide between North and South
202. We also had meetings
at the Longwood Meeting
house, Vincenti’s Cannery at
Rosedale, the Kennett
Grange No. 19 and
Longwood Gardens. For
many years we met at the
Fronings’ home in Kennett
Square. For the last several
years, we have met at the
meeting center of the
Brandywine Town
Center on Route 202.
The Society has exhibited
and won prizes at the Delaware
Flower Show and one year exhibited
at the Philadelphia Flower Show. For
about twenty years we have had a
yearly exhibit at the Brandywine
River Museum. We also have a
yearly club exhibit at Longwood
Gardens and club members staff
Longwood Garden's Bonsai Expert
in Residence several times per year.
In addition, a series of members
have taught beginning and advanced
bonsai courses at Longwood
Gardens.
Over the years, Brandywine
Bonsai Society has been visited by
many bonsai masters. Our
most famous visitor was
John Naka, who came
numerous times to give
demonstrations and do
workshops. Other ‘name’
visitors are listed
separately. Our own
members have contributed
mightily to our success.
Jack Billet, Dennis Donald,
Doris Froning, Rob King,
Ski Dombrovski, and Pat
Morris have done many
programs and workshops.
Others include Joe Jacobs,
Lee Shipman, Charlotte
Smith and Charlie Mitchell.
Travel to other bonsai points of interest
can be an important way to grow. Our
trips have included Swiss Pine Gardens
and bus trips to the Brooklyn Botanic
Garden and the National Arboretum.
We’ve also had digging trips to Boucher’s
Tree Farm, Nature's Way Nursery and the
Grant farm. BBS is very active in the
MidAtlantic Bonsai Society annual
meeting and is always well represented at
other national bonsai meetings.
The Society is growing and making
plans for the future. We have around sixty
enthusiastic members who know we learn
from being together, talking pruning,
wiring, and once in a while killing a tree.
But don’t we have fun doing it.
(Adapted from Dorie Froning's 1997
history of the Brandywine Bonsai Society)
Brandywine Bonsai Society History
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