The Willamette Valley Bonsai
Society meets in Salem, Oregon. The Society is organized solely to
promote the art and science of bonsai through education, exhibits and social
activities. The Society welcomes anyone from the curious novice to experienced
master. Participating in the Society is an excellent way to learn the
techniques of bonsai, and to discover the local resources available for bonsai
plant material, pots and other supplies.
Meetings
The Willamette Valley Bonsai Society meets the second Tuesday of each month
except for one month in the summer when we select a weekend date for our
annual picnic and in December. Our meetings are held in the Marion County Fire
District #1 building located at 300
Cordon Road NE in Salem, OR
and serves a wide area of enthusiasts. All meetings start at 7:00 p.m.
although many members take advantage of our ‘Social & Snack” half-hour
which starts at 6:30 p.m. Assistance with member's bonsai is also available
during the 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 pm social time. For information on this
months program go to the EVENTS page.
The public is invited to come for a couple of visits on our meeting night at no
charge in order to get acquainted with this exciting and beautiful art.
What is bonsai? (pronounced BONE-SIGH)
Bonsai is an ancient and living Asian art form, thought to have originated in China over
2,000 years ago, and later adopted by the Koreans and Japanese. During the
early 1900’s, America
was introduced to bonsai and its popularity has been growing here since. Bonsai
is now an art and hobby practiced all over the world.
Bonsai are trained out of many different kinds of trees and plants. The word
“bonsai” is derived from two written characters that translate roughly as “a
planting in a shallow container”.
Bonsai are living plants that are shaped by selective pruning and bending with
wire. Bonsai differ from other potted plants in that most potted plants are
appreciated for their own physical characteristics – flowers, form or foliage.
Bonsai, however, are appreciated for their suggestive power – their ability to
represent large landscapes, trees or scenes in nature. Emphasizing certain
aspects of a plant such as thickness of the trunk or spacing of branches can
make a small, young tree suggest a large, old tree.