Boise Bonsai Society
A non-profit organization dedicated to educating our members and the general public in the art and culture of bonsai in the Treasure Valley, since 1996.

Welcome!

This is Our 29th Year Serving the Treasure Valley
- Thanks to all our members and elected officials for making this a 1st-Class Bonsai Society
Next Event:
BBS Monthly Meeting/Workshop: Deep Dive
Sa, 22 June, 2024; Time TBD
BYOT & Kusomono! Deciduous Tree Work, Pruning, Leaf-burn, POCD, Q&A, Aesthetics, Repotting, Cleaning, Wiring, Health, Fetilizers, Pests, & Maintenance
Location: Member Home

Coming Up:
BBS Monthly Meeting/Workshop: Deep Dive
Sa, 20 July, 2024; Time TBD
BYOT! Focus on Juniper & Pines: Styling & Tree Strategy, Deadwood work, Carving & Preservation, Tropical work, Wiring, Composition Planning
Location: Member Home


Main BBS Splash Image
Seasonal Tips
Late Spring
  • Prune Maples on a regular basis.
  • Twist candles on pines.
  • Check wired branches.
  • Tip cascades on their side to promote strong growth on the lower branches (this gives them more sun for growth.)
  • Prune vigorous growth on all trees
  • Spray for fungus and bugs if needed
  • Fertilize and water well
Random photos displayed above are from several events in our galleries.
Peruse all our photos on our 'Galleries' Page.

A Bonsai Educational Experience for All

The Boise Bonsai Society (BBS) is a group of dedicated bonsai enthusiasts from the greater Boise, Idaho area. Our goal is to educate both our members and the general public in the art form known as 'Bonsai' (pronounced 'bone-sigh'), the ancient Asian art of growing miniature trees in pots. Our club holds bonsai workshops, collecting trips, and annual shows throughout the year. All levels of ability are welcome!

Recommended Articles/Videos

Vocabulary Reference

  • Bonsai: (Pronounced 'bone-sigh') The art of growing trees in trays or pots. Derived from 'bon', meaning 'tray' and 'sai', meaning 'tree' (Pessey & Samson, 1992, "Bonsai Basics", p16).
  • Besaki: Beautiful Stone; used in formal display. Viewing Stones offer a story and serve as companions to the Bonsai in formal display.
  • Jin: Deadwood branch.
  • Kusamono: Companion Plant; used in formal display.
  • Mycorrhizal: Fungal associations between plant roots and beneficial fungi. The fungi effectively extend the root area of plants and are extremely important to most plants. Original soil contains this beneificial fungi close to the roots; care should be taken whe repotting, to maintain a good portion of this resource.
  • Nebari: Exposed surface roots, located at the base of the tree.
  • POCD: Partial Outer Canopy Defoliation (specific to Deciduous tree work).
  • Ramification: The training and development of secondary branch structure from the main branches by regular pruning, encouraging thick foliage and pad-development.
  • Schefflera: The 'Indestructable Bonsai'. A popular in-door/tropical species of tree used in Bonsai. 'Dwarf' variety of the full-sized Brassaia.
  • Shari: Deadwood on trunk.
  • Suiseki: Companion Stone; used in formal display. Note, the word 'stone' is used in Bonsai terminology; not 'rock'.
  • Yamadori: Wild trees collected for training as Bonsai.
Other Vocabulary Resources:
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