Appreciation of Bonsai

Inland Empire Bonsai Society presents this fascinating talk on the origin, philosophy, technique, selection of trees, and care associated with this ancient miniature garden art.

From ancient origins in China and Japan, the art of creating miniature bonsai trees has grown in popularity becoming an international hobby. Today, bonsai reflects the nationalities, philosophies, and regional plants of enthusiasts worldwide.

The word bonsai literally means a tree planted in a pot. The chosen specimen can be reclaimed from nature, such as a gnarled and half-dead stump coaxed into bearing new life. Trees can also be grown from seeds or cuttings. Japanese black pine, maple, and juniper are popular choices, but nontraditional plants such as manzanita, bougainvillea, and olive are also used.

Over years or decades, the trees are painstakingly pruned to stimulate growth and trained with wire to shape branches and trunks. The goal is to achieve naturalistic or stylized beauty on a small scale. Given proper care, bonsai can live for hundreds of years. If you didn't already have a passion for bonsai before the talk, you'll almost certainly fall under its spell before you leave.

This talk is presented by Inland Empire Garden Club.

By attending library programs, you are agreeing to potentially appear in photos/videos taken at our locations that may be used in promotional materials including social media.

We strive to make events welcoming for people of all abilities. To request accommodations (i.e. hearing assistance, ASL requests, or other ADA inquiries), call the library at 509-444-5340.

Upcoming events