Welcome

Happy 20th Anniversary to the Boise Bonsai Society!
- Thanks to all our members and elected officials for making this a 1st-Class Bonsai Society!

* Gallery Update: BBS Annual Picnic/Auction & Botanical Garden Show pictures have been uploaded to the 'Galleries' Page.

* This year marks the 20th Anniversary of the Boise Bonsai Society! The BBS was started in 1995 with 11 original members, becoming official with elected officers in 1996, with 'Bonsai Bob' Legget as Sensei.

Photos Displayed: Taken from the most recent picnic/auction held on 13 AUG & the Koi & Bonsai Show held at the Idaho Botanical Garden on 27 AUG.

Next Event!

Monthly BBS Meeting
22 OCT; 6-8pm

Fall Color - Please bring any tree with fall color and any tree that you would like styling help with.
Location: Farwest Nursery

* Calendar of Events

Coming Up:

BBS Annual Holiday Party
17 NOV; 5:30-8pm

This is our annual Christmas Party & Gift Exchange
Location: to be announced to members only

* Calendar of Events

Seasonal Tips

Late Summer

Water often and deeply.
Fertilize with 5-10-10 or 0-10-10.
Scrub trunks of elm, birch and zelkova with diluted lime sulfur.
Protect trees from afternoon sun.
Prune to avoid die-back. If you cannot see through the foliage, prune to allow sun light into inner branches.
Cut pine needles in half to promote secondary budding.

* more care tips

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!

A Bonsai Educational Experience for All

Our Boise Bonsai Society is Famous! - Recent Interview by KTVB Channel 7:

* News Media Coverage: The Boise Bonsai Society leadership was recently interviewed by KTVB, NewsChannel 7, and aired 26-28 May on "You can grow it with Jim Duthie". You can watch the full segment by selecting the video image below and waiting for the advertisement to complete.

Our BBS is Famous! - Interview by Channel 7, aired 26 May 2016

Most Recent Meeting Murmurings

21 July 2016 Meeting:
Topics discussed:

Fertilizer Cake: Recipe & instructions can be found on the High Desert Bonsai website.
Care Sheets: Seasonal Care Guidance can be found on our website on the Care page, and Species-specific Care Sheets are available through High Desert Bonsai.
Fish Emulsion: Apply about every 4 days.
Soil Density: Watch for packed soils that do not allow thorough watering - aerate with chopsticks as neeeded.
Zamzows Thrive: Recommended to be used in early spring, about the 1st week of February.
Differences between juvenile and mature growth on Junipers.
Demonstration of sacrifice-branch growth and long-term styling.
Demonstration of care and watering environment.
Individual tree styling guidance and advice.

16 June 2016 Meeting:

18 June 2016: PNKCA Event (Pacific Northwest Koi Clubs Association)
13 August 2016: Annual Picnic & Auction.
15 September 2016: Botanical Garden Show has been planned - calendar page has been updated; calendar products will be updated to reflect change soon.
Talk on 'Accent Plants' & Deciduous Styling - Branch pruning handout was distributed.
Recommended books: 1. "Bonsai Survival Manual". 2. "Four Seasons of Bonsai", added to 'Recommended Books' section.
Recommended Bonsai Dealer: "Evergreen Gardenworks", linked on Resources page under 'Bonsai Dealers'
Recommended Bonsai Artist: "Bonsai 4 Me - Harry Harrington", linked on Resources page under 'Bonsai Artists'
Fertilize Pines & Junipers in fall/winter for spring/summer growth.
Talk on Defoliating Maples (reference video).
Aluminum nursery tags can be purchased through Amazon.
Care Sheets: Seasonal Care Guidance can be found on our website on the Care page, and Species-specific Care Sheets are available through High Desert Bonsai.
Fertilizer-Cake Recipe & Instructions are also available through HighDesert Bonsai. Application-methods were discussed using tea-bags or sections of coffee filters, wire staples, pvc-compressed disks, etc.

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Recommended Books

'Bonsai for Beginners', by Craig Coussins — "Bonsai for Beginners"
Craig Coussins

'Bonsai School', by Craig Coussins — "Bonsai School"
Craig Coussins

'The Art of Natural Bonsai: Replicating Nature's Beauty', by David Joyce — "The Art of Natural Bonsai..."
David Joyce

'Bonsai Techniques I', by John Yoshio Naka — "Bonsai Techniques I"
John Yoshio Naka

'Bonsai Techniques II', by John Yoshio Naka — "Bonsai Techniques II"
John Yoshio Naka

'Classic Bonsai of Japan', by John Yoshio Naka — "Classic Bonsai of Japan"
John Yoshio Naka

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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.
Kusamono: Companion Plant; used in formal display.
Nebari: Exposed surface roots, located at the base of the tree.
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 Bonsa'. A popular in-door/tropical species of tree used in Bonsai. 'Dwarf' variety of the full-sized Brassaia.
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.