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:
BFGS: Move-In Day!
MAR 21; 2-8pm
Move-In Day at the Boise Flower & Garden Show (BFGS), Bonsai Display.
Location: Boise Centre

Coming Up:
BFGS: Annual Bonsai Display!
MAR 22-24; ending Sunday 5pm
Our Annual Bonsai Display at the Boise Flower & Garden Show (BFGS).
Location: Boise Centre
Times and Addmission: Event Hours and Admission


NOTICE: This site and 2024 Calendar of Events are in transition: Please check back as the site changes and new events are available.
Main BBS Splash Image
Seasonal Tips
Early Spring
  • Caution: Keep your trees in a protected environment, if working early in the season.
  • Bring your trees out of winter ground protection as temps increase, being careful of freezing temps.
  • Potting: This is the time to trim roots, pot, or repot trees (do not fertilize newly potted trees for 4-6 weeks).
  • Pruning: Prune all deciduous trees. Prune flowering trees after they bloom.
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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