Brevard Bonsai Blog

Bonsai at the Zoo – 2023

Aug 19-20: Bonsai at the Zoo

The annual 2-day cooperative event between Brevard Zoo and the Bonsai Society of Brevard (BSOB) will be held on Aug 19-20, 2023. Club members will display their trees amidst the beauty and adventure of the Zoo atmosphere. See multiple bonsai trees on display and watch bonsai demonstrations by local bonsai artists.

Entrance fee to bonsai areas is included in the zoo admission.

If you are interested in showing a tree at this event, please fill in this online FORM by Aug 1st.

A beginner’s class will be offered on August 19, 2023 (10:30am to 2:30pm with a 30 min break at noon). Please see this link for more details on the class.

Please see the zoo show flyer for more details.

The zoo website has more details HERE.


Please read about our club meetings and reasons why to join a club.

The Bonsai Society of Brevard is one of the many clubs within the Bonsai Societies of Florida.

Bonsai in Brevard – June 2023

Jaboticaba Workshop – Time for the Unusual

This month’s meeting of our club on Saturday, June 17, 1:00 pm, will feature a workshop for an exotic tropical tree, the Jaboticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) aka. Brazilian Grape Tree.

The Jaboticaba tree is a very unusual tree. The smooth flaking bark is not the only interesting feature. Flowers will appear on the trunk followed by a grape-like round, purple, edible fruit. This tree can be styled in several shapes. Most common styles are broom or informal upright.

We have 7 trees available for purchase from the club for you to work on at the meeting with the guidance of our club experts. You will need to take the tree home with you after the meeting. Don’t forget to bring your tools.

Cost of $45.00 is very reasonable for these fine Jaboticaba pre-bonsai specimens. Cash, Check, or Credit will be accepted.

Club Meetings

Our club holds meetings at the Melbourne Public Library on the third Saturday of each month at 1pm.


Please read about our club meetings and reasons why you should join a club.

The Bonsai Society of Brevard is one of the many clubs within the Bonsai Societies of Florida.

Annual Orlando Japanese Sword & Antiques Show

June 23-25, 2023 in Orlando, Florida

The 9th annual Japanese Antiques, Collectables, & Sword Show will be held in Orlando at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Orlando Airport. There are Exhibitor tables and educational opportunities related to the following topics:

  • Tameshigiri – Japanese art of target test cutting. Demonstration planned.
  • Nihonto – one of several types of traditional Japanese sword types.
  • Bonsai – ancient living art of recreating nature in miniature.
  • Tosogu – art of Japanese sword fittings.

Link: Orlando Japanese Antiques And Sword Show (orlandoswordshow.com)


Antique Japanese face mask

Please read about our club meetings and reasons why to join a club.

The Bonsai Society of Brevard is one of the many clubs within the Bonsai Societies of Florida.

Bonsai in Brevard – May 2023

May 20, 2023: Convention Preparation

Did April showers bring May flowers to your bonsai trees? Many gorgeous trees are now in full bloom. For our May 20 BSOB club meeting we are requesting Members bring a colorful tree and/or pot they will allow to be shown in our club tree exhibit during the BSF Convention. We will work together to create a multi-colored bonsai display using foliage, pots, bark, and flowering trees.

Also, to involve more members that may not be at the convention, our meeting on May 20th will also include developing our club project plans for the club night competition.

Kempinski Korner – May

Have you ever heard of BonsAI? That’s where AI (artificial intelligence) is used to help generate designs for the bonsai artform. Rob gave it a try this month. Take a look at the May posting.

BSF Convention Reminders

Also, on Memorial Day weekend the Bonsai Society of Florida is having their Annual Convention at the Florida Hotel in Orlando. Online registration stops on May 19th. Go here to register.

Club Meetings

Our club holds meetings at the Melbourne Public Library on the third Saturday of each month at 1pm.

Bougainvillea glabra in full bloom on display at Epcot May 2023

Please read about our club meetings and reasons why you should join a club.

The Bonsai Society of Brevard is one of the many clubs within the Bonsai Societies of Florida.

World Bonsai Day

Saturday, May 13th: D&L Nursery Customer Appreciation Day

This is D&L’s 8th annual celebration that aligns with World Bonsai Day sponsored by the World Bonsai Friendship Federation. This event honors the legacy of bonsai master Saburo Kato who helped co-found the WBFF along with John Naka (the father of American Bonsai).

There are demonstrations held all day long by Betty Cruz Siskind, Ed Trout, Randy Clark, Dan Beeman, and Jeanne Cosenza.
Other areas of interest:
• Lunch is provided.
• Vendors will have their work for sale
• Raffles are held with proceeds going to “Next for Autism”.
• Volunteers get free t-shirts (contact D&L if interested)
• Trees will be displayed

Link: World Bonsai Day


Please read about our club meetings and reasons why to join a club.

The Bonsai Society of Brevard is one of the many clubs within the Bonsai Societies of Florida.

Bonsai in Brevard – April 2023

April 15, 2023: Proper Propagation

Propagation is so much fun. Have you ever thought “This specimen shrub or landscape tree in my yard would be ideal for bonsai.” or maybe… “I wish I could have another bonsai of this tree I love so much.”? It is possible. A few easy propagation methods can be used on most trees to gain a “clone” of the exact same tree.

On Saturday, April 15th, the Bonsai Society of Brevard (BSOB) club meeting will cover ways to propagate bonsai material to help build a collection. Club members Jan Barnes and Scot Stewart will lead the program. We encourage members and visitors to bring a bonsai propagated by yourself or a fellow club member (or any bonsai for that matter!) to share with the audience. We especially welcome the new members that took the BSOB bonsai class on April 1, 2023, to bring the trees they started on their bonsai journey. 1 PM at the Melbourne Public Library on Fee Ave.

Everyone is invited to bring a tree that needs a new design, or just a trim, and our experts will show you how to propagate a branch or cutting from that tree. Or, if you just need some advice on your tree, bring it with you. We are here to help.

Also at this April meeting, we will select a club representative tree for the May BSF Convention. Please bring a tree to the meeting to be considered for this honor. The theme of the convention is “Colors of Nature”. The members attending the meeting will vote for a favorite tree to represent our club.

Kempinski Korner – April

While you are preparing for the meeting on Saturday check out the April Kempinski Korner – A provocative discussion of the bonsai of average.

BSF Convention Reminders

Also, on Memorial Day weekend the Bonsai Society of Florida is having their Annual Convention at the Florida Hotel in Orlando. April 15th is the day to submit your trees for consideration in the display. (And then pay your Federal taxes). If you haven’t submitted a photo or finished your taxes, get cranking. At the April meeting we will be getting into and planning the Club Night and Club Display topics that will represent BSOB.


Please read about our club meetings and reasons why you should join a club.

The Bonsai Society of Brevard is one of the many clubs within the Bonsai Societies of Florida.

Bonsai in Brevard – Bonsai Class

Introduction to Bonsai Class – April 1, 2023!

Our club has recently hosted two completely full “Introduction to Bonsai” classes. We have scheduled the next class on April 1, 2023. If you are interested in attending, please contact Scot at: treasurer@bonsaisocietyofbrevard.com.

Please see the class flyer for more information.

Dwarf Jade

The Bonsai Society of Brevard is one of the many clubs within the Bonsai Societies of Florida.

Bonsai in Brevard – March 2023

March 18, 2023: FLOWERS, FLOWERS, FLOWERS

Let’s celebrate Spring’s glorious display!


On Saturday, March 18th, the Bonsai Society of Brevard (BSOB) club meeting will showcase flowering trees. Members and visitors are welcome to bring a flowering tree (or any bonsai for that matter!) to share with the audience.


Our program this month is club member, Alan Gouldthorpe, holding a discussion on Shohin trees. This unique small tree’s maintenance and care will be covered, and Alan will demonstrate styling a Calliandra emarginata, Dwarf Powder Puff tree. The styled tree will be raffled off afterwards.


Also, please bring your own tree (and tools) to work on or get advice from our experts.

Powerpuff in bloom

Please read about our club meetings and reasons why you should join a club.

The Bonsai Society of Brevard is one of the many clubs within the Bonsai Societies of Florida.

Now Pay Online for Memberships, Classes and More

BSOB website takes secure online payments

The BSOB club website has entered a blooming phase as depicted in this Paper Flower tree (bougainvillea glabra) shown at the Hwa Fong Exhibition.

BSOB has a new website service provider that enables secure online payments. Our site uses industry standard commerce tools to enable online credit card purchases.

Go to the top menu, click on SHOP, select your items, see your cart, and checkout using a credit/debit card.

Paper Flower tree, bougainvillea glabra, at Hwa Fong Exhibition
Paper Flower tree, bougainvillea glabra, in full bloom.

The Bonsai Society of Brevard is one of the many clubs within the Bonsai Societies of Florida.