Category: Club Meetings

Join us this Saturday, September 16, 2023 for our club meeting to learn all about the most prevalent size of Bonsai, the “Littles”.

Alan Gouldthorp will demonstrate how to develop small Shohin and even smaller Mame sized trees out of larger plant material. Alan will style and repot a Headache Tree (Premna obtusifolia) and a Dwarf Jade (Portulacaria afra). Both trees will be raffled at the end of the presentation.

Everyone is invited to bring trees to show to the audience, or for development guidance from our club experts.

Don’t forget your donation items for the raffle table!

Location: Melbourne Public Library

Time: 1:00 p.m.

The club meeting is cancelled August 2023. Instead, we are holding our 9th annual cooperative event with the Brevard Zoo. This is a fantastic opportunity to see trees, interact with club members, and view bonsai demonstrations.

There is also a beginner’s class on the art of bonsai. Go here to see more details on the class and register. Beginner’s Class

The link to the zoo website is here: Brevard Zoo.

On July 15, our club is honored to welcome Jeanne Cosenza (see bio below) to present a demonstration on Kusamono, Shitakusa and Kokedama composition. Jeanne will create 2 Kusamono/Shitakusa that will be raffled at the end of the program.

Accent or companion plantings are shown alongside our bonsai tree to complement the tree when exhibited. The Japanese words Kusamono, Shitakusa and Kokedama are often used to describe the specific types of accent plantings. They are placed near the bonsai and bring another element of nature to the display, adding visual interest or telling a story about the scenery being depicted with the display.

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.

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.

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.